St Ermin’s Hotel is a luxurious hideaway in the heart of London
By Andrew Threlfall
Images courtesy St Ermin’s Hotel, London
Honey and Spice, and all things nice.
Understated as always, the almost hidden away four-star deluxe St Ermin’s Hotel in London’s St James’ Park (surely the capital’s prettiest) has recently launched its five-year-old cask-aged Spiced Rum made from molasses found in the Caribbean, blending 10 specially selected spices with botanicals and honey from the hotel’s own rooftop garden..
Infact the hives helped create the intriguing bottle design crafted to reflect St Ermin’s fascinating beekeeping heritage – they own 350,000 Buckfast Bees, a large number of which are found on the roof.
You can even sign up for bee masterclasses, ranging from a ‘Meet the Bees’ encounter out on the third-floor bee terrace, where thankfully all of them buzzed off as I enjoyed the remarkable sushi prepared by renowned chef Annanda Sankar Das.
More Awards Than Beeyonce At The Grammys
The rum cocktails brought out the hint of tobacco and tangs of orange, ginger and vanilla aromas. As winter approaches the versatile spirit will be used in cocktails in the adjoining award-winning Caxton Bar and Grill. The rum is also available to purchase in the hotel’s online shop. Price is £75 per 70cl bottle. There is also a memorable gin, part of the same range, building on the success of the St Ermin’s range, accolades including London Spirits Competition 2023 (gold award) and 2024 International Wine and Spirit Competition (silver award).
A Luxurious Retreat for 120 Years (nearly!)
This is a hotel with a truly glamorous heritage, eclectic styling, gorgeous rooms and suites, the enigmatic Caxton Bar and Terrace plus award winning signature restaurant, The Caxton Grill. I’ve been fortunate to be a frequent visitor over the past two decades and St. Ermin’s Hotel remains a distinctly individual, one off hotel of it’s type. In 2025 it will celebrate 120 years of welcoming guests. One of whom you might have heard of…
‘All the Great Things are Simple…’ Winston Churchill
We don’t know if Winston Churchill tried the delicious buffet breakfast in a room on one of the floors that was used by Special Operations Executive, an organisation that operated behind enemy lines in WWII, but we can imagine he ordered the bacon and eggs. These hotel visits occurred when nearby Whitehall was staffed by an elite set of people tasked by Winston to “set Europe ablaze”. Indeed SOE’s HQ was initially at St Ermin’s and MI6 also set up home at the hotel. Churchill was often seen enjoying his favourite tipple, Pol Roger Champagne, at the hotel’s Caxton Bar and he gave many press conferences during the war at the Caxton Hall, adjacent to the hotel. We think he’d be huge fan of the new rum.
St Ermin’s Hotel, London
The hotel is truly a hidden great, significantly better value and cheaper at around £350 a night (it varies) than similar West End hotels, almost secretly located in a tree-lined courtyard basically in it’s own private cul de sac. And all just a ten minute walk from Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square.
There will be new additions to the winter menu in the Caxton Grill restaurant, Annada tells me as I leave: ‘”with more than a hint of my Indian heritage!”
I’ll be back again. Meanwhile, where is that late night taste of honey, ok, rum… 😉
For more details of St Ermin’s rum and the bees and bar and hotel visit the Caxton Bar & Grill website here, and the St Ermin’s Hotel here.
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