Inside The Secret Garden At Royal Horseguards Hotel
Some people claim that money makes the world go around, and for others it’s supposedly love. To those wise souls, well intended though they may be, I only have one question to ask – have they honestly never sampled a truly great Gin?
Over 100 years on since Frances Hodgson Burnett penned her magical childrens’ novel ‘The Secret Garden’, I have discovered something equally as magical. A selection of wonderful gin-based drinks with herb infusions that you can pick yourself, surely has the same magic, but this time it’s for adults! If you are a guy or girl about town, you simply have to drop into this venue.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of this delicious tipple, so I’m particularly sad that summer – and by extension, Gin season – is beginning to draw to a close for another year. Thankfully it seems that I’m not alone in this, and you can imagine how thrilled I was to be invited to London’s Royal Horseguards Hotel to visit the new Secret Herb Garden and showcase a tantalising new Gin and Tonic Garden Menu for the remaining summer nights.
Based in Whitehall Court, the terraces of the Royal Horseguards Hotel were the perfect location to relax on a breezy but warm late summer evening, with the Whitehall Gardens and River Thames providing a lovely view. Myself and the other guests in attendance were invited to sample a whole range of Gin cocktails available on the hotel’s special Garden Menu, and perhaps best of all, make a selection of herbs from the terrace that could be added to our cocktails based on our own taste preferences.
As delicious and refreshing as these unique and appealing drinks were, it was these surroundings that made the evening something special. Sipping on a drink within the terrace of the Royal Horseguards Hotel is a truly mesmerising experience, with the scents of the herbs and flowers around helping us to forget that we were in the middle of the busiest city in Europe. Honestly, it wasn’t just the Gin that made me forget that I was around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Trafalgar Square.
Naturally we were also looked after on the dining side of the evening, with a delicious selection of Tapas food made available to all guests and complimenting the drinks perfectly. This will also be the case for anybody visiting the Secret Herb Garden at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, which is open to the public seven days per week from 5-7pm. For just £20, visitors will be able to feast upon the tapas menu and enjoy two of the unique cocktails designed exclusively for the hotel – all while enjoying the tranquility that comes from this small but perfectly formed terrace. No advance booking is necessary, but it may be advisable to arrive a little earlier to avoid disappointment, as this is sure to be a hugely popular destination before the winter rolls in. I know that I will certainly be back before long.
