Opened in 1889, The Savoy was the very first luxury hotel in London
Launching my new ‘Hotel Heaven‘ travel series!
I’ve been meaning to do this for years—collect my most unforgettable hotel stays into one series. I’m starting with a classic: The Savoy in London. I have enjoyed two significant birthdays at this gorgeous hotel. See my previous post on it from 2015 here.
This hotel carries a curious legend—Kaspar the Cat. The story goes that in 1898 a wealthy diamond magnate, Woolf Joel, hosted a dinner for 14 guests at The Savoy. At the last minute one canceled, leaving 13 at the table. A fellow diner joked that misfortune would follow. Tragically, Joel was shot dead a few weeks later in Johannesburg. After that, The Savoy decided never to allow 13 diners at a table again. If a party of 13 dines at The Savoy today, Kaspar the Cat is brought in as the “14th guest.” He’s seated at the table with a napkin tied around his neck and is served every course, complete with cutlery and a wine glass!
Kaspar the Cat
Churchill held court at The Savoy’s Grill, often inviting politicians, writers, and celebrities to join him. He called it ‘The Other Club’
Claude Monet stayed in a suite at The Savoy and painted famous views of Waterloo Bridge and Charing Cross Bridge from his window
See other hotels part of my series:
HOTEL HEAVEN
Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, and Queen Elizabeth II have all stayed here
The Savoy was built by Richard D’Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the Gilbert and Sullivan operas
The hotel has appeared in films and series, from Notting Hill to Downton Abbey
In 1927, the designer Basil Ionides carved a black cat statue named Kaspar which is the hotel’s mascot today
Many interior elements at The Savoy are preserved or restored from the 1920s and 1930s
Thank you for subscribing!
The Savoy is one of the very few luxury hotels directly on the north bank of the River Thames
This is a beautiful hotel for a retreat
Leave a Reply