I don’t usually start a hotel write-up beginning from the bathroom.
But this time around I am, after stepping into the charming world of Hazlitt’s in London’s Soho.
On walking into our room’s large and lofty bathroom I was left pretty speechless on casting my eyes on the loo.
There, next to the grand free-standing tub and shower unit, was one of the quirkiest hotel toilets I’d seen in a while.
A carved dark wood bench-cum-church pew stood waiting to be investigated.
I went over and lifted the lid to find a toilet bowl hidden there. It was accompanied by a discreetly-placed flush handle on the back panel.
I wasn’t surprised by the beauty of this piece of furniture after visiting both of Hazlitt’s sister properties.
All of the 18th century themed properties are brimming with eye-catching design features, from copper bathtubs, to four poster beds to swathes of silk matched with lengths of velvet.
These places ooze of old world luxury… think glasses of claret in bed, stints by the fire and back to bed again for a morning spread of breakfast treats.
Along with the most magnificent bathroom – found by climbing a small staircase – our suite included a lounge area and a leather topped writing desk in the window alcove.
Our king bed was also enormous.
If you have a partner who snores or flips restlessly around in their sleep then it’s quite easy to lose them in the night.
Before hitting the pillow, waiting for my partner to join me after flying in from America I popped downstairs to visit the honesty bar.
All of the properties in the Hazlitt’s group have this feature.
You can rustle yourself up a beverage, sign the register stating what you had and take the concoction up to your room.
In my post-dinner, semi-hazy state, I went for a twist on a Black Russian, blending a spot of Tia Maria with a dash of vodka.
I was so sleepy and the bed so soft that I never got around to drinking the DIY concoction and left it sitting on the wooden side table instead.
Another feature all of the properties have is that there are no numbers and each room is named after a character.
We’d checked into Mrs Teresa Cornelys. A leather-bound book in our room told how she was originally from Vienna and toured the courts of Europe as an opera singer. Adding a touch of scandal to the story, it was also known that she was a lover of Casanova, and went on to have his baby.
Surrounded by such dreamy tales and satisfied by a swig of Black Russian, I swiftly drifted off to the land of nod.
Waking up in Hazlitt’s (which has 30 rooms in total) is somewhat of a dream, you can’t help but feel a little regal in the company of such fine surroundings.
Breakfast in bed is a must and before you sleep – if you can’t manage to drink your honesty bar libation – do fill out your menu card.
There was a knock at the door with two friendly members of staff wielding giant wooden trays stacked with goods. They were right on time, at 9:15am as instructed.
Dressed in fluffy towel robes, we indulged in a bedroom picnic.
The smell of fresh pastries scented the room, with steaming coffee wafting through.
Getting in the decadent swing of things, we interspersed sips of coffee with sips of Bloody Mary, Buck’s Fizz and health-inspired smoothies.
While I scooped up fresh berries drizzled with honey, my partner tucked into a salmon-laden bagel.
After such activity we went back to sleep before our noon check-out.
Stepping back into the streets of Soho I was thrown from a sumptuous world of fancy toilets and fine threads to concrete pavements and building noise.
Hazlitt’s is the most wonderful place to powder one’s nose, if only for a night.
Hazlitt’s is located at 6 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 3JA
To book a room call 020 7434 1771 or visit www.hazlittshotel.com
