The Goring opens its garden for Open Gardens Squares weekend 13-14 june 2009 and offers a special rate for green-fingered guests

London, April 2009:  Tucked away deep in Belgravia, just minutes from Buckingham Palace is a secret garden.  It belongs to The Goring (www.TheGoring.com) London’s oldest privately owned 5-star hotel. 

At 41m long and 30m wide, The Goring Garden the largest hotel garden in central London.  With enough space to hold a glamorous garden party in a marquee, it is also incredibly private and a deeply peaceful retreat for its guests.  

This year, for the first time, The Goring Garden will be open to non-residents on Sunday 14 June during Open Garden Squares Weekend (www.opensquares.org).  Entering into the spirit of the event, afternoon tea will be served in the garden at special prices, and guests will be invited to join Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Caterpillar from ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ for a game of croquet on the lawn, complete with pink flamingo mallets.

To celebrate the hotel’s participation in Open Garden Squares Weekend, The Goring has introduced a special Enchanting Gardens at The Goring Weekend for horticultural, green-fingered guests.

Check in on Saturday 13th June and, having explored the shrubbery, flora and sculptures in the secluded Garden, enjoy a special dinner with the hotel’s resident gardener Alex Jones and David Lewis, Head Gardener of the famous Roof Gardens in Kensington.  Together these two have a huge professional knowledge of the horticultural world, and will be able to answer any questions and perhaps solve some long-standing gardening problems.

After a peaceful nights sleep in a sumptuous, recently renovated garden view room, take delight in a Full English Breakfast, before revisiting the Garden when it is open to the public from 10am-5pm on Sunday 14th June – and perhaps a game of croquet?

Rates are based on two people sharing a twin or double room, and include overnight accommodation, Full English Breakfast, the Gardener’s Dinner, service charges and VAT and start from £400 for a Delightful King or Twin with Garden View, to £580 for the Most Splendid Balcony Room with Garden Views. 

FOR RESERVATIONS:
The Goring, Beeston Place,
London SW1W 0JW

Telephone + 44 (0) 20 7396 9000 /
Email Reservations@TheGoring.com or visit

www.TheGoring.com

The Goring is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World


PRESS INFORMATION:
Lucinda Buxton, Mango PR

Telephone:  020 7421 2500 /
Email: Lucinda.buxton@mangopr.co.uk

ABOUT THE GORING

Four Gorings have run The Goring since it was opened in 1910, which makes it the oldest family owned hotel in the capital. Deep in the heart of Belgravia, just next to Buckingham Palace, The Goring is within strolling distance of the Royal Parks and the best shops, theatres and galleries in town.   The Goring will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010 and the interiors are currently being refreshed by some of the country’s finest designers.  There are 71 individually designed, classically English rooms and suites, many overlooking the garden.  The Dining Room is a haven for superbly cooked English food, using British ingredients, and the Bar has been gloriously transformed by designer Tim Gosling, in a theatrical, empire style, with gilded ceilings, swagged curtains and bespoke carpets. 

Above all, The Goring reflects one family’s passion for quality – whose members have prided themselves on providing comfort, good food and drink and the most attentive service for almost one hundred years.


OPEN GARDEN SQUARES WEEKEND

The weekend of June 13 & 14, 2009 will see the 12th Open Garden Squares Weekend in London. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to peer behind the walls of more than 180 of London’s private community gardens and squares ranging from historically important ones to traditional allotments through to contemporary and eco-friendly gardens..

One ticket allows entry to all venues over entire Weekend. Ticket prices will be £6.75 (including free postage) in advance and £8 if bought during the weekend. These can be bought from Advance ticket hotline 020 8347 3230 (Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm), which is provided by Capital Gardens as well as Britain and London Visitor Centre on Lower Regent Street, and from selected gardens during the weekend.

Open Garden Squares Weekend is run by the London Parks & Gardens Trust to raise awareness of the significant social, cultural, environmental and economic contribution that squares make to the capital and its inhabitants. The Trust provides a centre for education, research, and creative projects for the improvement and conservation of London’s green urban spaces. www.londongardenstrust.org

Full details about all the participating gardens and squares are included in the guide that is given free with tickets. Information can also be found at www.opensquares.org along with the latest on special events and opening times.

For further media information on OGSW please contact Rachel Aked at rachel@rachelaked.co.uk or +44 (0)7790 732448