The Fox Club, London, United Kingdom
The Fox Club 4 Stars
A stylish little boutique hotel in the heart of Mayfair, of just nine rooms, with a loyal following of fashionistas.
Hotel Overview
Review of The Fox Club, by Chloe Govan
Blink and you'd miss it - The Fox Club is a tiny boutique hotel tucked away on a charming, largely residential street. This private and exclusive meeting point is London's best kept secret. Guests choose whether to rap on the door, adorned with a cheeky and apt fox door-knocker, or to push on the buzzer to gain entry to the building. Frequented by businessmen during the week and families at weekends, there's something to suit every guest.
Best suiting independent visitors and regular guests who are familiar with the city, this hotel is somewhat self-catering. In return for independence, it offers discretion and anonymity a world away from the hustle and bustle of London's major haunts. The restaurant offers great fare, whilst an intimate bar delivers classic aperitifs behind closed doors. The relaxed atmosphere exudes class whilst rejecting pretention and pomp. Meanwhile if you tire of seclusion, central London is just a short walk away.
Once hosting a decadent playboy with a penchant for multiple lovers, who happened to see the abode as his principal home, The Fox Club certainly has character, and its name is no accident.
"Quite possibly the comfiest bed we've ever slept in!" asserts one satisfied customer in the guestbook in the hallway. Climbing an imposing staircase to the rooms, guests find out for themselves. This boutique hotel's nine rooms are pleasingly furnished and tastefully decorated. In suites, sofas double as beds offering children an opportunity for privacy in a separate room to their parents. Whilst there are no traces of hedonism here now, there's certainly the spirit of a vixen.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Who stays here?
Bob Geldof, Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson.
Come for...
- A fabulous Mayfair location
- Discreet celeb-spotting
- Smart, low-key glamour
Not Suitable for...
- Five-star frills and amenities
Eating in
The slick little restaurant, headed by Niccolo Pilastro, serves Modern European cuisine in a buzzy environment.
Reviews
Review of The Fox Club, by Isabel Clift
Cast aside any misgivings about stuffy members' clubs - The Fox Club stands out as a warm and welcoming alternative to the norm. Occupying the Mayfair home of 18th-century statesman Charles James Fox and courtesan Mrs Armistead, the hotel presents itself as luxurious and understated. Indeed, it's wonderfully discreet, and its illicit history makes it an all the more fun and unusual place to stay. Unlike other clubs, non-members are welcome to check in - they just pay a slightly higher rate for rooms.
The facilities
Downstairs areas are intimate and cosy, with a smattering of oil paintings counterbalancing the contemporary decor. A petite bar keeps busy throughout the day; head here for a drink among impeccably dressed regulars and business types with loosened ties. Beyond the bar, the aptly-named Dining Room is the hub of the house. Low key-chic decor rules - think hot pink leaf pattern chairs set against blonde wood and off-white walls. Modern European cuisine served changes by the month, giving rightful conviction to the oft-overused term 'seasonal menu'.
The rooms
Nine guestrooms (including three suites) are all named after Mrs Armistead's lovers. Crisp, Edwardian-inspired decor has a feminine edge, with rooms decked out with plush patterned wallpaper, soft-edged antique pieces and ornate original fireplaces. The prettiest is the green pastel-striped Fox Room, while Derby's plain black and chocolate styling will suit more conservative tastes. Wickedly comfortable king-sized beds have double-sprung mattresses, and flat screen TVs and Wi-Fi provide tech clout. All guestrooms are big and glam, with suites offering separate living rooms with low, squashy sofas. Sizeable granite bathrooms are stocked with Molton Brown goodies.
Rooms are just as frequently used as business boltholes as they are weekend love nests - members tend to have 'their' particular favourites that they come back to again and again. As well as this, smaller families can be easily accommodated in suites, where the lounge can be converted into a kids' room.