The Savoy Hotel in London – is a special place of the capital of England. Big popularity of the Savoy hotel all around the world allows it to be considered not only British, but also the world legend of the hotel business.
Hotel «Savoy» is located in the center of London, between Victoria Embankment and one of the central streets of the capital - Strand. Hotel «Savoy» is located in the heart of the theater district of London, within minutes of waling distance from the famous opera «Covent Garden».
The History of the Savoy started in 1889. The reputation of one of the most prestigious hotels of the world has been brought to it by Cesar Ritz, the founder of the empire of hotel luxury Ritz – Carlton. Ten years later, the Savoy Hotel in London was famed as the most luxurious hotel in the city. The Savoy was the first British hotel, where electric light in rooms, prototypes of telephones and elevators, installed by American Elevator Company Otis, were used.
The luxury of the Savoy Hotel attracted celebrities from all over the world like a magnet. Clients of the London hotel – these were dozens if not hundreds of prominent figures. The genius painter Claude Monet, inspired by a view of Thames, during one year, from 1900 to 1901, remained the guest of the Savoy. Rooms of the famous impressionist 512 and 513 subsequently received his name and became known as Monet Suite. Charley Chaplin and American president Harry Truman stayed here in due time. The British Crown didn’t pass over the Savoy as well. The future English king Edvard VII was a frequent guest of the hotel in the early 20th century. In general, the 20th century for the Savoy was the century of celebrities. Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John - these names appeared, and continue to appear in front pages of world press.
The Savoy restaurant is considered to be the center of London bohemia. At one time it was headed by the legend of the world cuisine, the French chef Auguste Eksofe. The author of the handbook of all the restaurants Le Guide Culinaire, a friend of Caesar Ritz, Escoffier was awarded with a title «the king of chefs and chef of kings» in due time. The quality of the Savoy restaurant was rated with two Michelin stars. The American Bar of the hotel is worthy of special mention, where dozens of world-famous cocktails were created.
Nevertheless, the history of the Savoy in London is an example of that is everything in this world is transient. In 2007, the Savoy Hotel was closed for reconstruction, and its furnishing became lots in one of the most high-profile auctions in London last year. In total, there were more than 3 thousand items of the interior at the auction, including the famous white piano used be Frank Sinatra and XVIII-century furniture. Almost all the lots found their buyers. It was expected that the updated Savoy will open its doors in summer 2009.
