News & Views

Fine Dining

Connected as it is to Croke Park Stadium, home of Gaelic Football, we have a divine new reason to visit The Croke Park’s fine reimagined restaurant, The Hawthorn. It’s comfortable, relaxed, supremely luxurious and opening in April 2023 - but even with an opulent refurb, the food is emphatically the star. Championing all things local – the seafood for which Ireland is globally renowned alongside seasonal veg and meat that’s taking one short step from farm to fork, cooked to perfection, the menu offers a modern twist on the classic bistro. It’s hearty, delicious fare for the discerning, accompanied by an impeccably curated list of fine organic and vegan-friendly wines. Open Friday to Sunday for evening dining and private daytime events on the adjoining terrace. doylecollection. com/hotels/the-croke-park-hotel/dining/the-hawthorn

Tea For All

You can judge a London hotel by the quality of its Afternoon Tea – everybody else does! Just one reason we felt it was high time to reintroduce Afternoon Tea at The Marylebone, bringing a new twist of fabulousness to the capital’s tea scene. Served in the rarefied surroundings of The Cocktail Bar (you’ll sit cheek by jowl with some of the West End’s best bartenders, as well as a mighty fine champagne and wine list), the new Tea is an essay in deliciousness, with impeccable brews, fine china, perfect sandwiches, heavenly cakes, cloud-like scones and all the trimmings. Tea is served Thursdays-Saturdays. Enjoy! doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-marylebone-hotel/dining/ afternoontea

A Night At The Donmar

The Donmar Warehouse in Seven Dials, Covent Garden, is one of London’s most exciting theatres and, although its reputation as a magnet for some of the world’s biggest stars (Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen and Kit Harrington, to name just a few) may precede it, regulars go for the award-winning productions. Regardless, it’s always one of the hottest tickets in town so we’re delighted to partner with the Donmar in a Suite Package on offer until the end of 2023 and including a night for two in a suite at The Bloomsbury, two tickets to the Donmar Warehouse, a three-course dinner with complimentary glass of champagne and breakfast in the morning. doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-bloomsbury-hotel/ packages/a-night-at-thedonmar

At The Kensington we’ve always been proud of our affiliation with the Royal Albert Hall and are offering our guests some of London’s most sought-after tickets for what promises to be unforgettable nights out. While 2023 offers all the highlights you’d expect, we’re thrilled that this season will feature the return of Cirque Du Soleil – unarguably the world’s most exciting circus/dance/acrobatic hybrid - or, as they call it, ‘contemporary circus’. To celebrate, we’ve created a pre-theatre menu with a cocktail list inspired by Cirque du Soleil (our Cabinet of Curiosities menu), and three courses served in plenty of time for overture and beginners at the nearby Albert Hall. Priced at £30 for two courses and £35 for three, find out more at townhousekensington. com

GREEN DAY, 17TH MARCH

For a Scots or Welsh born fourth century Brit of Roman parentage named Maewyn Succat, St Patrick (he took the name Patricius on becoming a priest) has had quite the legacy. Kidnapped at 16, he was held captive in Ireland for six years, after which he managed to escape – having become a devout Christian. After 15 years’ religious training, an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. As an Irish speaker and one familiar with the country’s nature-based pagan beliefs, Patrick was smart enough to weave the traditions of the day (taking the shamrock as his emblem) into the Christian faith and spread it by engaging with the people. Today, St Patrick’s Day is marked by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, with parades, parties and celebrations of all kinds. We will be celebrating at The Westbury, The Bloomsbury and The Dupont Circle, while every one of our cities hosts their own parades and events. Find out more doylecollection.com.

MEET THE MAESTRO Michael Sammour, new Chef at The Dupont Circle

When your hotel restaurant is a DC institution and garnerer of many the fine review, a new chef is big news. But we’re especially excited to introduce Chef Michael Sammour, whose career has taken in some of the southern States most famous kitchens and destinations.

After studying at the rigorous Le Cordon Bleu in Pittsburgh, he started his career in the Sunshine State at The Ritz Carlton before moving onto The Ritz South Beach, Miami and the Waldorf Astoria in Boca Raton. He also Executive Chef’d at Marvel Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, catering to a variety of superheroes.

We took a minute to quiz Michael Sammour himself, but like all good chef interviews, this is all we could carve from his dawn-to-dawn schedule…

AN ADVENTURER’S TEA

Our Around the World Afternoon Tea, inspired by 80 days in the life of one (fictional) Phileas Fogg is heading for pastures new, moving from the flavours of London, Paris, Rome and Cairo to the further-flung climes of Hong Kong, Yemen, Singapore and India. The Tea itself will marry some of the wonderfully exotic flavours and tastes into the classic menu that has made Town House at The Kensington something of an afternoon destination and we look forward to an unveiling for early spring (we’re hearing some pretty delicious rumours). Afternoon Tea cocktails, too, will be something of a talking point, with spicy chai, clean green tea, fruity lychee, deep wine syrup and tangy Umeshu shaken, not stirred. townhousekensington.com/afternoon-tea

Chef Michael’s father was also a chef, but even though Sammour grew up around kitchens he very sensibly waited until completing his training before taking his first professional role. Working his way up at The Ritz Carlton, Chef Michael carved out a niche for himself as a highly inventive chef forever experimenting.

Naturally, Chef Michael comes with a restaurant pedigree that’s absolutely in keeping with the super-high standards of the D.C. restaurant scene - but we’re still trying in vain to get some of those Marvel stories out of him…doylecollection. com/hotels/the-dupont-circlehotel/bars-restaurants/thepembroke