I headed to the Beaumont Hotel for an eagerly anticipated visit to The Colony Grill and a long over due team night out with my fellow #girlboss group. Perching myself in The American Bar which specialises in Bourbons, American whiskies and classic cocktails (which are strictly shaken or stirred) I occupied myself with the wine list while waiting for the rest of team TAR. The American Bar, designed as you would expect from London and Paris in the 1920s and early 30s, is the kind of place where Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald would have felt at home. Its sober walnut interior subverted by an element of fun, in the form of hundreds of photographs of British and American characters who frequented Mayfair during the period made for an amazingly atmospherical experience transporting me from 2017 back to the roaring 20s.

‘The American Bar, designed as you would expect from London and Paris in the 1920s and early 30s, is the kind of place where Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald would have felt at home. ‘

Joining me post supper was the wonderful Kate, a crucial cog in the Beaumont Hotels wheel who described the establishment as somewhere which is continuously building its already incredible reputation on its personality rather than its Mayfair location alone. With an infectiously warming vibe, you are welcomed through the doors of the hotel as you would an old friend into your own home making the harsh realities of London life drift away as if they were a dream. Positioning itself apart from its competition, the Beaumont Hotel manages to deliver that which others do not, a personalised experience for every guest without the highbrow attitude many may expect from one of London’s most exclusive areas. The staff are suited and booted yet have the ability to customise their look preventing the staff ‘twin effect’ before it has even had the opportunity to come to life. As Kate mentioned, the Beaumont is being built on its personality and with the Tatler 2016 ‘Best Front of House’ Award for “the art of professional but ever so gracious hospitality” under their belt, their approach is obviously creating the desired outcome.

With the team assembled and one glass of wine down, we made our way through to the 100 seater Colony Grill Room situated immediately next to The American Bar. Open seven days a week, from early for breakfast and throughout the day until late for supper, the dining room is designed classical in style, taking its lead from the traditional Grill Rooms originally found both in London and New York. A sense of laid back glamour filled the air which left us eager to take our seats and explore the menu we had all heard so much about. As well as grilled options, the menu offers appropriately classic dishes from both sides of the Atlantic – whether it’s a Caesar salad, grouse with all the trimmings or The Colony’s ‘do-it-yourself’ ice-cream sundae, the menu is beautifully simple yet wonderfully exciting.

‘…The American Bar and The Colony Grill Room situated at the front of the hotel have quickly become a magnet for London’s people ‘in the know’…’

With five of us seated comfortably in a red booth built into the back wall of the restaurant, we were left with our wine to peruse the menu choosing to skip a starter option, diving straight in for a main course like ravenous carnivores. Three of us opted for steak with sides including creamed spinach and fries and two opted for the heavenly sounding buttermilk chicken disregarding, on this occasion, the incredible sounding Lobster A La Russe and Dungarvan Irish Rock Oysters. Between our initial seating and receiving our main courses to the table, conversation was filled with laughter, London Fashion Week schedules, reminiscing on outrageous requests as PA’s from equally as outrageous ex-bosses and plans for The Assistant Room which you as readers will no doubt be privy to within a few months…

It goes without saying that time flies when you are having fun and before we knew it the restaurant had gone from being exclusively ours to full of exuberant diners, beautifully dressed and ready to spend a night attentively looked after by the staff who always come to your table with a smile.

‘…you are welcomed through the doors of the hotel as you would an old friend into your own home making the harsh realities of London life drift away as if they were a dream.’

Arriving with the finest silverware, our main courses were presented in a classic and simple fashion without the faff and nuisance of flamboyant details that many modern restaurants assume are required to stand out from the crowd. As refined as its diners, the food at The Colony Grill Room is sophisticated with the proof of its quality in the eating. Service was thorough throughout but not over bearing which earns big brownie points in my book and something I know would be welcomed by those I have previously supported as their PA. A pet peeve of mine is being asked how your meal is when you so clearly are in the middle of a mouthful of food which I can happily say did not happen at The Colony. Again, big brownie points!

After a beautiful fillet steak cooked to absolute perfection and with all plates on the table clean, we averted our gaze to the dessert menu, something we were all slightly reluctant to do however even the most satisfied of appetites could not resist the ‘do-it-yourself’ ice-cream sundae. A completely unique and amazing idea adding a very exciting twist to a dessert menu filled with the traditional Creme Brûlée and Apple Pie options. With our ice cream sundae checklists in hand, we all created our own bespoke dessert, mine loaded with peanut brittle, berry marshmallows, broken meringue, salted caramel sauce and honeycomb. Let’s just say I’m glad my dentist called in sick and missed my appointment in the diary set for the following morning…

‘…the dining room is designed classical in style, taking its lead from the traditional Grill Rooms originally found both in London and New York.’

As we anticipated, our ice cream bowls were not left as clean as our main course plates were however dessert at The Colony Grill certainly left an impression on us all and we all proudly announced it as the ‘go-to’ place for the ultimate ice cream experience in Mayfair.

With our evening quickly coming to a close, we reluctantly left the comfort of our red booth and made our way back to The American Bar having spent an incredible time at the Beaumont Hotel which can only be described as somewhere with timeless elegance and old-fashioned glamour. The immaculate service from the staff throughout who greeted us with open arms with an unwavering attention to our needs from the moment we walked through the front door to when we left was refreshingly brilliant.

The Beaumont Hotel are reinventing the definition of what the ‘hotel guest’ really means, giving you every reason to book your next visit before your first has even come to a finish whether you spend the night in one of their beautiful bedrooms or simply just enjoy drinks in The American Bar and supper in The Colony Grill Room as we did.