Churchill by Gin Sander

Author:Gin Sander
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781510768376
Publisher: Skyhorse
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE RITZ, LONDON

In the Marie Antoinette Suite in 1942, three men met to discuss tactics and operations during the Second World War. Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, and Charles de Gaulle gathered around the dining room drenched in gold leaf décor, inspired by a salon in the Palace of Versailles, making bold choices for the world’s future in efforts to end the conflict. This significant moment in history was one of many that took place at the Ritz, London.

Churchill’s first known association with the Ritz dates back to the spring of 1907, only eleven months after the hotel’s opening, when he hosted a banquet for thirty-four gentlemen in honor of the colonial premiers. This gathering was part of the “Imperial Conference,” an opportunity for politicians of the time to plot out the future of the British colonies. This collection of VIPs such as David Lloyd George concluded their elegant meal with port, brandy, Dewar’s Victoria Vat whiskey, and, of course, cigars. According to John Williams who wrote the Ritz London Cookbook, the final bill neared £64 or £6,000 in 2018 prices. Imagine a bill like that on today’s Parliamentary expenses . . . Another event that he hosted, a dinner for twenty in 1931, went through several cocktails and lagers, seventeen and a half bottles of wine, and fifty-five cigars!

The list of connections continues. Newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Winston Churchill set up their first married home in a red-brick townhouse on 12 Bolton Street, right around the corner from the hotel. Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston’s mother, was a frequent guest of the Ritz and once even contemplated moving there to save expenses. Churchill also worked on his memoirs, The World Crisis, in early 1923 while staying at the hotel. In fact, on January 30 he wrote to Clementine, “I am so busy that I hardly ever leave the Ritz except for meals.”

In 1934, Winston celebrated his sixtieth birthday at a dinner-dance arranged by his son, Randolph. It has been said that “there never was a party that went with such a swing from first to last.”

Wishing to grab a cocktail at the luxurious London hub in his honor? The “Churchill’s Courage” at the Rivoli Bar does indeed take a bit of courage. Intended to resemble the Churchill’s unquestionable leadership and strong character, the ingredients include butter-washed Woodford Reserve bourbon, maple syrup, and white port.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.