Rock ‘N’ Roll at The Gore Hotel London
The Gore Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1892 and is an iconic symbol of British heritage. Built as a serviced residence for visitors who wanted to stay in the heart of the most fashionable area, Queen’s Gate Mansions had liveried staff, horse-drawn carriages and hydraulic lift – all considerable luxuries for the time. The clientele over the years came from near and far and found a tranquil refuge at The Gore. Today, following its 125th anniversary, The Gore is still one of the most charming boutique hotels in London. Step inside The Gore and be catapulted into the luxury of yesteryear, which has welcomed celebrities, famous artists and aristocrats over the years, including Judy Garland and André Simon.
A stone throw from Gloucester Road or South Kensington sits The Gore Hotel. The Gore Hotel launched a Rock ‘n’ Roll inspired Afternoon Tea in partnership with the luxury event planners La Fête. La Fête has history, working in luxury fashion for eight years for Dior and Tom Ford, amongst other brands creating experiences that make the impossible possible. The Rock ‘N’ Roll Afternoon Tea pays homage to the legendary artists from the popular music genre including The Rolling Stones, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Queen and David Bowie and many others. The Gore has a special connection with the rock stars as it was chosen by the Rolling Stones in 1968 to host their launch party for their Beggars Banquet album, an event which the décor of The Gore’s Bar 190 to this day still pays homage to.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Afternoon Tea Experience
If you think afternoon tea is only for ladies that lunch or high society! You can think again! Finely cut sandwiches – without crusts and jam-filled scones are so on-trend – have afternoon tea like a Rock Star! The location of The Gore is very fitting for the afternoon tea experience, the area is home to the famous V&A which is bursting with iconic fashion and dazzling red carpet events in all its grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall. The Gore Hotel is in a perfect location to relax after exploring all that Queen’s Gate has on offer. Stepping into to 190 Queen’s Gate restaurant you can instantly feel a sense of British luxury with rock-style chic; plush blood red and cream décor, booster cushions and butterfly decorations in glass cases decorate the bar area. The restaurant features a large crystal chandelier in the centre of the room adding to the rock & rock vibe – pure drama. The mahogany wood table and chairs add to the luxurious theme of decadence and splendour. High ceilings with elaborate designs perfectly set the scene for the Rock ‘n’ Rock experience. Rock ‘n’ Roll Afternoon Tea would be perfect for creative lovers to rediscover the story of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era, impress your loved one’s family or friends and recreate your very own Rock ‘n’ Roll experience.
We were greeted by a friendly and welcoming host who explained the afternoon tea menu options in detail and the stories connected. The curators of the Rock ‘n’ Roll afternoon did a splendid job, mini records as coasters, a mini drum-kit American and British themed. The afternoon tea was served on an imitation record deck; the cakes were garnished with miniature guitars. It was a shame to eat such an amazing creation but they tasted just as good as they looked – Wow! The background music was rock ‘n’ roll-inspired which was a great touch and helped to create total nostalgia. The tea options; Afternoon Tea is also known as the ‘High Noon Tea’, it has a particularly lovely aromatic flowery taste and is blended with long leaf teas from Darjeeling and Ceylon, it is ideal with scones and cakes. Chamomile Tea is widely enjoyed and is widely used as an aid to calming nerves and relieving pain in the digestive system.
The savoury selection; The Woodstock Chipolata hot dog – so yummy as was the ‘Popping’ Stones Paprika popcorn giving homage to the legendary Rolling Stones and their link to The Gore Hotel. Queens of Noise – Smoked salmon sandwich, chilli and avocado sandwich paying tribute to the boundary-breaking 1970s all-female band, The Runaways. The Sweet selection was so delicious; Macaroons and Goodbye Ziggy – Lightning bolt chocolate cake referring to 1973 when David Bowie killed his Ziggy Stardust character in favour of his lightning bolt – sporting Aladdin Sane persona The Lizard King – ‘Pint’ of mango and chocolate mousse homage to The Doors’ frontman Jim Morrison’s alter ego and particularly, Bobby Klein’s 1967 photograph of Morrison having a beer for breakfast, Whisky A Go-Go – was a mini Madeleine presented with a whiskey ganache and chocolate heart a tribute to Sunset Boulevard’s nightclub of the same name, which has held a key place in rock ‘n’ roll history since its opening in 1964 Sweet ‘Choux’ O’ Mine – Choux pastry filled with raspberry cream and topped with a chocolate guitarist paying homage to Guns N’ Roses’ 1988 hit track Sweet Child O’ Mine, another artistic creation was Under Pressure, selection of sultana and vanilla scones referring to Queen and David Bowie’s iconic pairing on the 1981 hit song. A drumroll and round of applauds go to the Rock ’n’ Roll afternoon tea experience amazing!
The Gore Hotel highlights
Pop into the Bar 190 to immerse you into the rock ‘n’ roll vibe. Bar 190 is best known as the location for the launch and photo-shoot for The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet, and the décor pays tribute to this event. Bar 190 serves an extensive range of spirits, whiskies and rums. Carefully curated cocktails but also extending from classics – such as Martini and Negroni – to a range of gin and tonics based on botanical and citrus infusions.
190 Queens Gate
The creation of The Gore’s very own Michelin Star chef Daniel has produced dishes that are contemporary classics, prepared and presented in a captivatingly modern way. Daniel has created a unique menu showcasing his authentic French cuisine with a British twist including locally sourced ingredients. He is a regular guest chef on BBC 1’s Saturday Kitchen so tune in!
The conclusion
Rock ‘n’ Roll Afternoon Tea experience was a great occasion packed with rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, an exciting afternoon tea menu for all, dining with friends, business associates or that special person in your life. Rock ‘n’ Roll Afternoon Tea will offer a truly unique and fun experience. The 190 Queen’s Gate restaurant offers a fantastic setting for a memorable experience to literally take you back to the Rock ‘n’ roll era. Put Rock ‘n’ Roll Afternoon Tea at The Gore Hotel on your list for a fun afternoon tea experience.
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