Grand Opening of the Savoy Hotel

Widely considered the first luxury hotel, the Savoyin London opened in 1889. Managed by Cesar Ritz on its opening and boasting head chef Auguste Escoffier, the hotel was the first to have a bathroom in every one of its rooms.

Three years ago the Savoy closed its doors for the first time in its history for a much-needed refurbishment. The refurbishment cost more than $300 million. On Oct. 10 it reopened and was fully booked, but owners Fairmont made sure that the many of the classic elements of the hotel were kept as they were, while still adding new features like a second bar and a restaurant with a view of the River Thames.

Click ahead for shots from inside the hotel's 2010 grand opening.

Posted 11 Oct 2010

The staircase that leads from the lobby to The American Bar. For several decades the bar was the place for celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier, Frank Sinatra and Richard Harris to congregate. More recently, Amy Winehouse was asked to leave the bar after some too boisterous and boozy singing.

At the Savoy's American Bar, one of London's first cocktail bars, head bartender Erik Lorincz prepares the first cocktail ever at the reopened watering hole -- a White Lady. This signature drink of gin, Cointreau, lemon and egg white was invented by head bartender Harry Craddock, the author of the Savoy Cocktail Book, a bible of recipes for bon vivants.

One of the new spaces in the hotel, the Baufor Bar brings back cabaret to the hotel with a stage for crooners. It also offers a cocktail inspired by Winston Churchill's habit of dipping his cigars in brandy. The drink involves Hennessy brandy being poured through a strainer that contains a muddled Havana cigar.

Off from the lobby, there is now a small Savoy museum that includes the first coin ever taken at the hotel, used to buy champagne, signed photos, books and other memorabilia., Guest cards that, like this one for Coco Chanel, let staff know what their guests are famous for and any special requests they had. Jimmy Stewart, a frequent guest, appreciated the staff's effort to keep his many fans at bay.

Savoy Tea, a new addition, offering hot drink and pasties and visitors and guests will have a chance to watch chocolates made in front of them. Pastry chefs will also be at work throughout the day.

The first impression guests will get is from one of the hotel's many doormen, who still wear the classic top hat. Doorman Peter Maylin worked at the hotel before the renovation and was excited to return. All staff were on hand to greet the first guest, British actor and comedian Stephen Fry.

One of the special features the hotel had for its original opening were "ascending rooms," as the inventions hadn't picked up the name "elevator" or "lift." This "ascending room" had the original red lacquer interior, just across the hall from two newly installed elevators.

For two hours the hotel was taken over by reporters, camera crews and photographers as the press was allowed to explore the new and revamped interior. At noon, guests started to arrive for the sold-out first night and access by the public was restricted.

The fountain at the Savoy forecourt, which is the only street in the UK where drivers must drive on the right side of the road. The hotel received dispensation to make it easier for carriages to drop off passengers right at the front door.

Jon Nickoll was the youngest-ever piano player in residence at the Savoy. After a stint at the luxury Dorchester near Hyde Park he returned for the reopening. Nickoll played on the last night before the hotel closed its doors and was on hand to restart the musical tradition on Oct. 10.

While the front of the Savoy is the iconic entrance, there is also a back entrance that faces out onto London's river Thames. Guests used to be able to arrive by the Thames at Savoy Pier, just south of the hotel, but the dock is no longer in use.

London's iconic hotel would naturally offer guests the chance to travel in the country's most famous make of car, the Rolls Royce. British actor Stephen Fry was chauffeured to the front door to be the first guest to check in at 10:10 am on Oct. 10, 2010.

All suites, like room 626 pictured, have views of the Thames. Along with the London Eye, which dominates the river view, guests can see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

At the Thames Foyer, guests have the opportunity for afternoon tea. A gazebo beneath a glass dome was reintroduced to bring natural light into the space.