Hotel of the week festive special

The Park Plaza County Hall promised a sledge-load of special festive treats for its guests throughout December. Travelmole editor Bev Fearis checked in for some Christmas cheer.

As a rule, I’m not a big fan of pink, but at the Park Plaza County Hall it works. Thanks to a bit of clever mood lighting, the hotel’s glass-fronted lobby radiates a contemporary but warm neon pink glow that is particularly inviting on a cold winter’s night.

Just a few minutes walk from Waterloo Station, behind County Hall and the London Eye on the south side of the Thames, the hotel is perfect for a festive break. On your doorstep is the London Eye, a temporary ice rink, a Christmas market and a host of theatres, museums and galleries with special festive shows and exhibitions. To add to the Christmas spirit, the hotel is hosting carol singing nights throughout December, while subtle scents such as cinnamon and candied orange are being piped through the lobby and other public areas.

On arrival we were greeted by giant snowflakes, a decorated fireplace and numerous glittering Christmas trees – neon pink of course – and on our way up the stairs to the mezzanine restaurant we spied a snow scene with a family of life-size polar bears. It was all very festive, but classy too.

The bar and restaurant

The Spectrum Restaurant is set under the hotel’s 14-storey atrium and also benefits from the hotel’s glass frontage, bringing the outside city buzz inside. It’s stylish but informal, with white tables and 60s-style bucket seats in the hotel’s distinctive neon pink and turquoise colour scheme.
The menu was as warming as the décor – with hearty dishes like inside out beef wellington and organic Rhug lamb with the fluffiest and creamiest mash I’ve ever tasted. The hotel has a special pre-theatre menu, but we opted for the a la carte. As it’s Christmas (well, almost) I treated myself to the hotel’s special County Hall dessert – chocolate fondant, chocolate cardamom jelly, and space dust ice cream. Delicious.

We just had time for a quick coffee before heading out to the Southbank for a stroll through the Christmas market then on to the Royal Festival Hall, where we had tickets for the Slava’s Snow Show – magical.
Feeling truly festive, but cold, we headed back to the warmth of our hotel room. Our Junior Suite on the corner of 12th floor had stunning views of the London Eye and Big Ben. A separate living area had a double sofa bed and a kitchenette area with coffee and tea making facilities and a microwave. Over a mug of hot chocolate, we sat and watched the lights of the city. There’s something very special about London at Christmas and the Park Plaza Count Hall is the perfect place to stay.

For more details about the Park Plaza County Hall and other Park Plaza hotels, click here