Dorsett
Dorsett, in the Spotlight
Step into one of West London’s most elegant luxury hotels, an establishment that teems with charm, heritage, and more than a hint of drama.
WORDS BY ANGIE DUARTE
IMAGES BY GABRIEL DELA CRUZ
As I walked into the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush, in West London—smack in the middle of the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham—I felt the almost overwhelming need to saunter. It was late in the evening, and I was feeling drained on account of the 14-hour flight from Manila. But, as I stood underneath the foyer’s gilded dome-shaped ceiling, I instantly sensed the aura change. I resisted the urge to walk in an unhurried, graceful fashion, to slink and sashay—like a drama queen on the red carpet—across the room, despite the hour and my heavy luggage.
You see, the Dorsett, with its rich heritage and undeniable charm, affects you this way, and you’d best yield to its inimitable flair for the dramatic.
STEEPED IN HISTORY AND HERITAGE
The next day, I met with Hilary Cross, the hotel’s dynamic general manager. Her warm manner was as welcoming as the iridescent, golden glow cast by sunlight that poured into the stunning atrium. I sipped my tea with a flourish and felt ever-so British, as I did. Delightful conversation accompanied our tea, as Cross recounted the hotel’s rich history and heritage, up to its opening in 2014.
Shepherd’s Bush Pavilion, the original building in which Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush is located, was constructed in 1923, as a cinema. Under the British government’s historical preservation program, the establishment is listed as a Grade-II building, which means that the façade is protected by law.
Even on cursory glance, it is easy to see why architectural and design groups bestowed numerous awards upon the Pavilion, in its heyday. The creatively inlaid stone-and-brick exterior, which has withstood the ravages of time, remains impressive. However, the once lavish interiors were not quite as lucky. In 1944, a flying bomb destroyed the opulent cinema, which then lay in disuse for many years.
A decade after the bombing, the Pavilion reopened as Gaumont Theatre, only to close some years later for further renovation.
“Then, in the 1980’s it came back as a Bingo Hall, and although that’s hardly as exciting and sexy as a cinema or a theatre, it is fun and a little bit different,” said Cross, with a lighthearted laugh.
“I used to live in the Shepherd’s Bush area, and even before I knew that the Dorsett Hospitality Group had bought the building, I already loved this place,” she shared.
“Everybody in this community knows and appreciates the history of the Pavilion, and when they found out that the Dorsett Group would keep everything well-preserved, they were very happy about it.”
"When it comes to its design aesthetic, the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush is unapologetic for its flair for the dramatic. This, after all, is an integral part of its legacy."
A FLAIR FOR DRAMA
When it comes to its design aesthetic, the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush is unapologetic for its flair for the dramatic. This, after all, is an integral part of its legacy. Hong Kong-based hoteliers, the Chiu family, owners of the Dorsett Hospitality group, have taken great care to ensure that every facet of the hotel is not only striking, but also subdued in its manner.
The end result is effortless elegance: Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush is opulent and ornate, without being over the top and ostentatious. These, to my mind, are the true hallmarks of good—make that great—taste.
To be concise about it, the design sensibility of the hotel is best described as a harmonious marriage of the beauty and mystique of the East and the practicality and modernity of the West. Touches of the Orient are evident in guestrooms clad with exquisitely designed Chinese-themed wallpaper, whimsical nightingale figurines decoratively perched throughout the hotel, glass globes resembling lanterns, and the like.
Some guestrooms are more understated in motif, decorated in monochromatic hues of gray and neutral tones, but are nonetheless as elegant. The private function room on the ground floor, with its striking red color scheme and framed photos of silver screen and theatre legends, definitely caught my eye and became an instant favorite.
THAT DORSETT TOUCH
Each of Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush 317 guestrooms is reflective of the hotel group’s brand of hospitality, which seeks to make guests feel comfortable and right at home while lavishing them with life’s finer things. The Dorsett touch provides for all the expected creature comforts—from reliable, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and other such amenities, to premium sleep accommodations that make for the sweetest of dreams.
Still, the hotel strives to exceed expectations by offering conveniences over and beyond these. After all, in today’s world of frenzied competition for a traveler’s nod of approval, it is vital for hotels to offer something extra-extra.
Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush offers unique perks for a more memorable and pleasurable stay. For instance, specially programmed “Handy” smart phones in every room allow guests to make free calls to friends and family in the area (and, in some cases, even overseas!), provide useful tips and destinations for tourists and visitors, and help them navigate London’s busy streets with the use of maps and charts.
Every afternoon, a candy cart in the lobby serves up yummy treats for kids, and for kids at heart. Hotel amenities include Pictures, an all-day dining restaurant; Shikumen, a Chinese specialty restaurant; Jin destination bar; a fully-equipped gym; a spa; meeting rooms; a business centre; and the Dorsett Lounge.
SEAMLESS SERVICES
The Dorsett touch, however, is possibly best felt in the seamless and gracious service in the hands of its attentive, multi-cultural team. Dorsett staff members take pride in their work, and this ownership translates into efficiency at work and warmth of hospitality.
“The hotel is only as good as its team, that’s why I exert every effort to nurture the team we have here. Family and team are very important to us at the Dorsett,“ Cross pointed out.
Also at the crux of the Dorsett’s service philosophy is the flawless fusion of Eastern and Western cultural characteristics: Asian hospitality melding with British charm, to be specific.
“Asian hospitality is very warm and welcoming. When you add quirky British charm and openness to different personalities, then you have a great Dorsett experience,” Cross quipped.
DELICIOUSLY, DORSETT
Among the highlights of the Dorsett experience is definitely the deliciousness of its gastronomic offerings. My taste buds thrilled to the different flavors over a wonderful lunch at Pictures, in the company of Mark Jonathan Heyburn, the hotel’s charismatic operations manager. A tasting menu of some of executive sous chef Rafal Palaszynski’s finest creations proved to be an Epicurean introduction to the Dorsett’s primary food philosophy: only fresh, top-quality ingredients that promote sustainability go into the menu.
“We use a lot of local produce, and we are very big on farm-to-table sustainability. We do all that we can to help the environment. In fact, the Dorsett was recently awarded the Green Tourism Gold Award for hotels. We are also very flexible with our menu, which really helps us please the clientele,” Heyburn noted, in the course of the delectable feast.
Pleasurable palate-whetting appetizers, Goat’s Cheese and Beetroot Salad, Crispy Calamari with coriander dressing, Crayfish cocktail, and Quinoa salad, were simply scrumptious and bursting with fresh flavor. The Pan Fried Cod fillet, served with mashed potato, roasted fennel, beets with pea and Jerusalem artichoke puree, and chive hollandaise, was a succulent treat that I savored to the last bite. Miraculously, I somehow found room in my very satisfied stomach for the dessert sampler, which was an indulgent, almost decadent, combination of Vanilla Crème brûlée with Pistachio Tuiles, Chocolate brownies, Mini sponge and apple cake, and Grasshopper cake.
BEATING AROUND THE BUSH (AND BEYOND)
A stay at the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush allows for easy access to the immediate community, and beyond it. The hotel boasts a great location: right across from Shepherd’s Green park; around the bend from some of London’s famed pubs, taverns, and watering holes; minutes away, by bus or tube, from renowned tourist haunts (such as London’s West End, Portobello Market, Soho, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, to name a few choice spots); beside the famed music venue, the o2 Empire, and walking distance to shopping haven, Westfield Mall.
Add to that its proximity to Heathrow Airport—a mere 30-minute ride—and it’s no wonder the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush has become the preferred home-away-from-home of many a traveler.
From the balcony of the 8th floor, I gazed upon the rooftops of the old brick houses surrounding the hotel. My thoughts ran riot: this community, like much of London, has borne testament to centuries of humanity. Decades of life have unfolded on these streets, in full glory, grit, and drama. And there I was, in the midst of it, standing happily—if only for a few days—in the Dorsett’s spotlight.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
FOLLOW US
Copyright © 2021 AsianTraveler Magazine. All rights reserved.