The opulent and romantically designed King’s Lodge at The Connaught, influenced by Mughal architecture, was recently explored by Rosie Paterson.
Sir Alec Guinness, known for iconic roles in movies such as The Lavender Hill Mob, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and as Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, adored The Connaught hotel so much that a suite was perpetually reserved for him. He spent much of his time from the 1970s until his passing in 2000 in the hotel’s Grill restaurant. Today, he would likely be staying in the hotel’s latest addition, The King’s Lodge, which showcases a Mughal-inspired décor.
The suite is the fruit of a collaboration between Guy Oliver, the hotel’s resident designer, and Turquoise Mountain, a charity initiated by The King in 2006 that aids craft workers in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Middle East. They previously joined forces in 2010 to create The Prince’s Lodge within the hotel, which is decorated in a theme akin to Kabul’s 19th-century Peacock Palace.
The suite is lavishly adorned with walnut jali fretwork, a woodworking style prevalent in Afghanistan, and boasts marble panels etched by artisans who are descendants of experts from the Mughal era. It also features miniature art celebrating the first Mughal emperor Bābur’s passion for gardens and employs burnt orange, chevron-patterned textiles reminiscent of designs once showcased on Mughal columns. Remarkably, this suite is a testament to international teamwork, and part of the proceeds from every booking is contributed back to Turquoise Mountain.
Booking The King’s Lodge at The Connaught starts from £2,000 per night —www.the-connaught.co.uk
Artwork on The Connaught’s Staircase
Guests who opt for the stairs over the elevator and find their way to the fifth-floor King’s Lodge will encounter a horse portrait at each half-turn of the descent and a dog portrait as they climb. This quirky art placement harks back to the hotel’s history, paying homage to its proclamation as ‘the hotel for the best county families’ from an advertisement in the December 7, 1901, issue of Country Life magazine. The imagery recalls the times when guests would often ride out on horseback and be greeted by dogs upon their return.
