The Goring closes for lobby refurbishment
The family-owned Goring hotel in London has closed its doors to guests for the first time in its 105-year old history, while it undertakes a refurbishment of its front hall.
Work on the lobby area will complete the ongoing upgrading of the hotel which got under way after Jeremy Goring took over the running of the hotel from his father, George Goring, in 2005.
"We are aiming to introduce a glamour into the front hall to match the glamour of the bedrooms," said David Morgan-Hewitt, managing director of the five-AA-red-star, 69-bedroom hotel.
Interior designer Russell Sage, who was responsible for many of the refurbished bedrooms, is overseeing the transformation of the space which will feature hand-painted Fromental wallpaper in a silver, grey and white design and new reception desks created by Manbourne cabinet makers. The marble floor will be renovated and returned to the look of the original dating back to 1910.
The area outside the restaurant will also be refurbished to create a lobby area for the dinning room.
"It is very strange to close the hotel for the very first time, having remained open throughout two world wars," added Morgan-Hewitt.
The Goring will reopen to guests on 21 February and nine days later will celebrate its 105th anniversary.
