The maybourne papers

autumn / winter
2009 / 2010
 Welcome to the Claridge’s issue
of the Maybourne Papers
for Autumn / Winter 2009 / 2010.
A summary of news, events
and ideas for the season.
The Editor
editor@maybourne.com

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 ENJOY a timeless & in Festive spirit
In addition to our Christmas programme, between Friday
memorable Christmas 18th December 2009 and Sunday 10th January 2010 inclusive,
Claridge’s is pleased to offer guests rooms from as little as £295
per night, room only for two people sharing a Superior King-
bedded room. Minimum length of stay applies. Price excludes vat.
timeless christmas
programme

Christmas Eve Christmas Day

An assortment of mince pies, English Breakfast
stollen and mulled wine on arrival –
– Horse-drawn carriage ride
Pre-dinner Christmas cocktails through Mayfair with hot Claridge’s is helping to protect penguins, polar bears and their
in Claridge’s Bar chocolate and marshmallows habitats. Our Christmas programme therefore includes your choice
– – of a wwf “Help Save Me” polar bear or penguin pack. Included is a
5 course Christmas Eve dinner 8 course Christmas Day delightful cuddly polar bear or penguin according to your choice.
including Goose and a Bûche de lunch in the French Salon For reservations and further information about Claridge’s
Noël in the Foyer and Reading and Drawing Room Christmas programmes, please call +44(0)20 7107 8842,
Room – email reservations@claridges.co.uk or visit claridges.co.uk
– Boxing Day quoting ‘Timeless Christmas’. Please state your preference for
Overnight Christmas stocking English Breakfast
a penguin or polar bear when booking.
delivery filled with edible –
Christmas delights Receive a Claridge’s Christmas Timeless Christmas Programme Terms and Conditions
A deposit of 25% per person will be taken at time of booking to guarantee
pudding to take home
your reservation.You may cancel your reservation up to 1st December
2009, after which the deposit becomes non-refundable. Full charge payable
Arrival December 24th & Departure December 26th. for cancellations on or after 11th December 2009. Offers are subject to
availability. Rates include vat at 15% and exclude a 5% discretionary service
Rates from £1,145 per room per night based on two
charge. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other offers or
people staying in a Superior King-bedded room. Rates negotiated rates and apply to new bookings only. Calls may be monitored
exclude vat and 5% discretionary service charge. for quality control and training purposes. Lunch and dinner exclusive of
beverages. One cocktail per person. Minimum two night stay.

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 The glamorous ‘Dior Dressing Table at
Claridge’s’ offers guests a carefully curated
range of timeless accessories, including an
elegant cream silk Claridge’s dressing gown
personalised with guests’ initials, high heeled
marabou mule slippers and a rose pink
cashmere eye mask. On the dressing table
itself, Christian Dior has selected a range of
classic Dior fragrances including Miss Dior,
Diorella, Diorissimo and Dioressence – Les
Classiques created by Dior from 1947 when
Christian Dior himself said perfume was an
outfit’s ‘finishing touch’.
Further adding to the experience, a Dressing
Table Cocktail menu from Claridge’s Fumoir
Bar will be available featuring cocktails from
the 1930s including swizzles, daisies, sours,
juleps and pick me ups all from the original
recipes and served in Lalique glasses. Little
touches that will enhance the ambience
include a selection of classic works from
Evelyn Waugh and Nancy Mitford, novelists
of this magical Deco era, and a music collection
with notable songs from Josephine Baker
and Fred Astaire to complete the experience.
The ‘Dior Dressing Table at Claridge’s’ will
be available exclusively in the Linley suites
at an additional price of £300 to the quoted
room rate. (The price includes all four Dior
fragrances, beauty gifts – lipstick, nail varnish,
powder, personalised silk dressing gown,
Evelyn Waugh novel, CD and cocktails from
the Fumoir)
For reservations please call +44 (0)20 7107 8842
claridges.co.uk

Claridge’s and Dior

celebrate the return
of the Glamorous
Dressing Table

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 CLARIDGE’S
CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH
OF BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY
WEEKENDS

Enjoy ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’ at Claridge’s, a weekend

of Holly Golightly glamour. Greeted by Moon River
playing in the suite, a Claridge’s hat box filled with
gorgeous gifts; the movie and book, the essential
black sunglasses, string of pearls and beauty treats
from Givenchy. Complete the experience with Holly
Golightly manicures and cocktails.
Rates from £485 based on two people sharing a Superior
King bedded room.Valid weekends throughout 2010.
For more information please contact reservations on
+44 (0)20 7107 8842 reservations@claridges.co.uk
Offer subject to availability. Rate excludes vat at 15% and
5% discretionary service charge. Offer may not be used in
conjunction with any other offers or negotiated rates and
applies to new bookings only. Calls may be monitored for
quality control and training purposes.

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 why HAS claridge’s
HAD such a hold over
guests generation
after generation?
Claridge’s is undoubtedly a very special
place, it is absolutely beautiful and one of
the world’s best hotels. The service is intuitive
and excellent, facilities out of this world and
the food and drink to die for, however these
are things guests at Claridge’s take for granted.
What seems to captivate them most is what
they describe as the ‘mood’ of the place.
Time and again commentators describe
Claridge’s as magical and remark on how
they feel on entering the hotel’s Art Deco
lobby, they describe absorbing the timeless
glamour of Claridge’s and experiencing an
overwhelming feeling of well-being. These
observations prompted me to examine my
own feelings and try and pinpoint what it
is that this special place does to us all, how
it is possible for a place to affect one’s mood,
and why Claridge’s has had such a hold
over guests generation after generation?
We start with ‘mood’, mood is defined as:
‘a state or quality of feeling at a particular
time, a distinctive emotional quality or
character, a prevailing emotional tone or
general attitude, a frame of mind disposed
or receptive as to some activity or thing’.
So what is mood? It sounds simple, sounds
unimportant, something we don’t think or
talk about enough. But mood is powerful,
mood can make a nation rebel, a crowd kill,
an artist create, a couple fall in love and a
lone man make a stand. In the Twenty First.
Century we like to think we have control
over our surroundings, are we prepared to
understand how much influence our
surroundings have on us?
We all know people, places and businesses
that create the right mood, the hotel you never
want to leave, the shop that makes you feel like
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So what is mood? It sounds
you’re a kid in a candy store, the people you’d
do anything to please, the start up that can
take on the establishment or the landscape
that keeps pulling you back. What we don’t
simple, sounds unimportant,
know is how and why these people and places
make us feel this way, how the mood is made
and how far we can go in manipulating mood.
To begin to understand mood you must
first start with human biology and behaviour.
We’re built to listen to more than words,
something we don’t think or
we pay more attention to body language,
talk about enough. But mood
physical conditions and our environment
than we like to acknowledge and deep
down we’re a complicated brew of chemicals
constantly influenced and altered by our
is powerful, mood can make
surroundings and experiences.
If we accept the Einsteinian model of Physics
that everything is made up of vibrations
(rather than the Newtonian concept of
particles) and the whole universe is made
up of the same substance, the differentiation a nation rebel, a crowd kill,
between gasses, solids and liquids simply being
the rate of vibration - it is impossible to ignore
the relationship between ourselves and our
surroundings - or ‘we are where we are’ or
an artist create, a couple
even who and what we’re with!
fall in love and a lone man
On entering Claridge’s we are therefore
sub-consciously absorbing the Art Deco
features, the calm authority of excellence,
the generosity of space, the history, glamour
make a stand.
and bubbling energy of the place. The point is
that the body is not a finite object, it is a river
of energy and information. We are constantly
‘changing’ our bodies, take breathing for
example, every breath you take contains ten
to the power of 22 atoms, that’s how many
atoms you take in with each breath and they
end up as part of you. The same thing happens
in reverse as we breath out so we are constantly
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I’m pretty sure that if, as an
experiment, somebody was
made to stay there and given
nothing in particular to do,
pretty soon they’d have made
a huge success of themselves.
The whole place is brimming
with infectious achievement
and to wake up there is to
wake up invincible.
Alex James, A bit of a Blur
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exchanging atoms, in a year we replace 98%
of our atoms. It really makes you think about
the company you are keeping, the spaces in
which you spend your time and what effect
they may be having on you. Our experiences
are affecting us physically, changing our mood
and influencing our actions, this concept is
immensely powerful and little understood
or exploited. We only become aware when
we recognise patterns in our feelings and
behaviour and seek out people and places
that make us feel fantastic.
So if we understand the physical relationship
between ourselves and our surroundings
what about our thoughts and our surroundings? guest, I immediately recognised what he was
Back to Einstein (surely he must have been
a Claridge’s guest!), he said that if you squeezed guests have echoed and the root of the magical
all of the empty space from your body you
could put all of the solid material on the head
of a pin. Out of the empty space left come the
vibrations we mentioned, those fluctuations
of energy - on this basis we can deduce that
just as a quantum unit of light is a photon and
a quantum unit of electricity is an electron,
a quantum unit of your body is a thought.
A notion, a feeling, a concept, idea or instinct, study of luxury. It was a kind of hobby. For
that faint impulse you experience all the time
in your awareness, the reason you feel good,
safe, frivolous or anxious. So the vibrations
we exchange with our surroundings are also
making our thoughts and stranger still our
thoughts are made all over our bodies, not
just in our brains. In other words our whole
being is constantly interacting, exchanging
and responding to its surroundings
influencing our conscious and sub-conscious
thoughts and even our physical well-being.
Essentially scientists have discovered that our
cells are constantly thinking and communicating
with each other, stimulating the production
of good and bad chemicals, our body is in
constant dialogue with its surroundings.
When we describe having a ‘gut feeling’
about something we are describing a real
process, in fact we should listen to our gut
cells more, they are not bogged down with
self-conscious analysis.
As we enter an environment we are processing
the conditions in our conscious, feeling them
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in our sub-conscious, absorbing them and
exchanging energy with them and our cells
are discussing what we’re experiencing and
creating chemicals in response. Understand
this and you begin to see how powerful an
impact people, places and experiences have
on us. Mood is short hand for a myriad of
factors which may affect us and with which
we react very quickly - we are most successful
when we ‘feel’ a situation rather than ‘think’ it.
This brings us back to the beginning and
the observation that started this train of
thought. Reading Alex James’ biography his
description of Claridge’s and its effect on each
describing so eloquently, a sentiment many
experience of staying at Claridge’s - it’s all
about how it makes you feel!
“I moved into Claridge’s. Claridge’s is regal.
When Buckingham Palace is full the Queen
sends her spare guests to stay there. It’s the
Brook Street annexe of the royal household
and it’s quite simply the best hotel in the world.
I’d been making a careful, close and continuous
Mr Claridge it was evidently more of a mission.
I can’t think of anything about the whole of
Claridge’s that could be any better. It takes
thirty seconds to run a bath and an hour to
have breakfast. Everything about the place,
from its Mayfair location to its pastry chefs,
is the stuff of special occasions. I’m pretty
sure that if, as an experiment, somebody
was made to stay there and given nothing in
particular to do, pretty soon they’d have made
a huge success of themselves. The whole place
is brimming with infectious achievement
and to wake up there is to wake up invincible.”
Alex James, A bit of a Blur.
Claridge’s have long understood the power
of mood and its affect on guests. In these
uncertain times it’s good to know we can
still rely on Claridge’s to make us invincible
or at the very least lift our spirits. Now
we have the science to prove it - staying
at Claridge’s is good for you!
The Editor
editor@maybourne.com
 From Saturday 21st November 2009
until Sunday 3rd January 2010 Claridge’s will
serve a Festive Champagne Afternoon Tea
featuring traditional Christmas fare.
–
£45 per person midweek
–
£50 per person on Saturdays & Sundays
including a performance of Christmas Carols
by the Southend Boys Choir.
–
All prices are inclusive of vat and exclusive
of 12.5% service charge.
–
For reservations and further details visit
claridges.co.uk or telephone
+44 (0)20 7409 6307
Reservation lines open Monday to Friday
9am to 5.30pm.

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0 MAKING
A SCENE
Create the perfect
Christmas wreath with
Claridge’s December
Masterclass

Your front door will be the envy of your

neighbourhood this Christmas and Claridge’s
will show you how. Join our December Master
Class on Saturday 5th December 2009 and

Claridge’s very own Flowers & Gifts experts.

Following the morning session you will enjoy
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create your own beautiful Blue Pine Christmas
door wreath under the expert tuition of

a well deserved lunch, including wine, in the

stylish Claridge’s Bar. Our Master Classes are
extremely popular so please book your place
in good time.
For reservations simply call us on
+44 (0)20 7409 6307
or email dining@claridges.co.uk
£157.50 per person all inclusive Saturday
5th December 2009 11.30am – 4.00pm
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 Large or small, a gift
from Claridge’s is the
perfect Christmas treat

The Claridge’s The Claridge’s the Claridge’s Black

Christmas pudding
This festive season Claridge’s unveils
the ultimate Christmas pudding, created
from the same recipe used for over a
century in the hotel’s famous kitchens.
There are 100 limited edition Christmas
puddings on sale over the festive season
and in true Willy Wonka style, one is
housed in a golden bowl offering a
spectacular treat. The lucky guest will
be booked into a penthouse suite, to enjoy
everything from butlers to attend every
whim, to chilled cocktails in Claridge’s
bar and afternoon tea by the fire.
rocking horse
Stevenson Brothers have created an
exquisite limited edition rocking horse
for Claridge’s. The glamorous hand
carved, painted and finished zebra
sports a removable saddle and bridle
and comes with a stable rug, rosette
and nosebag all embroidered with the
Claridge’s logotype, gold onto jade in
blanket and suede. This limited edition
heirloom piece carries a plate with the
edition number and Claridge’s logotype.
A very special collectors piece or dream
toy for a very lucky little boy or girl
this Christmas.
and white collection
The Claridge’s Black and White
Collection is an indulgent selection
of bath and body products that you can
enjoy long after you check out. Perfect
for this winter is their sensuous bath
oil enhanced with essential oils including
sweet almond and Jojoba. Or to add
an atmospheric glow choose the hand-
poured candle scented with rosehip and
Claridge’s exclusive ‘parfum’. Elegantly
packaged they make delightful presents
for your nearest and dearest, or sublime
treats for yourself.
For more information please contact
info@claridges.co.uk

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London’s
Festive
Calendar
26th Sept – 11th Dec
Anish Kapoor, The Royal Academy
The exhibition surveys Kapoor’s career to date
showcasing a number of new and previously
unseen works, including a select group of
Kapoor’s early pigment sculptures, beguiling
mirror-polished stainless-steel sculptures and
cement sculptures on display for the first time.
15th Oct – 24th Jan 2010
Beatles to Bowie,
National Portrait Gallery
Never-before-seen photographs of The Beatles,
Jimi Hendrix and The Who will be featured in
a new exhibition celebrating the swinging 60s.
17th Nov – 24th Jan 2010
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Skate beneath the stars in the heart of London
this winter, as Somerset House ice rink
celebrates its 10th birthday.
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20TH Nov – 3RD Dec
The Tsarina’s Slippers,
The Royal Opera House
One of Tchaikovsky’s least-known yet most
charming works, will be staged at the famous
Covent Garden venue for six nights only.
Based on a Christmas tale by the Russian
writer Gogol, the opera tells the story of
how a blacksmith flies on the devil’s back
to the city of St Petersburg in order to ask
the Tsarina for her slippers.
1ST Dec
Claridge’s Christmas Lights, Claridge’s
Our very special Christmas Tree will be
illuminated on 1st December following
decoration by a world famous fashion designer.
20th Dec – 23rd Dec
Carols by Candlelight, Royal Albert Hall
Enjoy Christmas with this special festive
array of seasonal music and song presented
in full 18th Century costume in an exquisite
candle-lit setting.
24th Dec
Midnight Mass, St Paul’s Cathedral
In candlelit, majestic surroundings in the
middle of the city this is the perfect place
to usher in Christmas Day.
31st Dec
New Years Eve Fireworks
Launched from the foot of the London Eye
and barges on the Thames, this spectacular
display can be seen from all over London.
12TH Jan 2010 – 16TH Mar 2010
Romeo & Juliet, The Royal Ballet
Romeo and Juliet takes pride of place among
full-length 20th-Century ballets. Prokofiev’s
score has inspired dozens of productions but
none with more distinction than the staging
which Kenneth MacMillan created for
The Royal Ballet.
For further information please call the concierge on
+44 (0)20 7629 8860
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 autumn / winter
2009 / 2010

Claridge’s Brook Street Mayfair London W1K 4HR