Romantic Winter Warmer at Miller’s Residence

With the nights creeping in earlier and earlier, and the wind picking up an arctic chill, here at Miller’s Residence we’ve designed a package that is just perfect for a luxury Winter hotel escape.

Whether you want to spend a bit of quality time with a loved one before facing the hectic Christmas rush, avoid distant family descending upon you for the festive season, or celebrate a special anniversary or birthday, have the pefect Romantic Winter Warmer stay.

Our beautiful bedrooms and inspiring decor will not fail to impress a loved one. Head out to one of the many famed restaurants of Westbourne Grove, a stones throw from the hotel, before coming back and sinking in to our huge sofas, helping yourself to a complimentary Millers Gin and relaxing to sounds of tinkling Jazz and the crackling of the roaring log fire.

Our beautiful Coleridge room

Why not take advantage of our new Romantic Winter Warmer package? Book a two night stay and, as well as adhering to our room available upgrade policy, there will also be a chilled bottle of champagne and delicious chocolates waiting for you on arrival.
This package is available from £358 + vat for the two nights in a four poster,King or Salon room. Call us now to book to avoid disappointment on 0207 243 1024 or email enquiries@millershotel.com

Martin Miller’s Gin Masterclass for the Gintelligentsia

Gin Martinis were the centre of the event that we held here at Miller’s Residence on Wednesday 5th Novemer.
Held in our atmospheric drawing room and introduced by Martin Miller himself, the Gin Masterclass for the Gintelligentsia was an evening of mixing martinis and learning about the historic of gin from Martin Miller’s Gin expert Mixologist, Craig Harper.

Expert Mixologist Craig Harper at a Martin Miller's Gin Masterclass

Inbetween telling the crowd the history of Gin Martinis, Craig pulled members of the audience to the front of the proceedings to help him mix a selection of Martinis in the chronological order in which they were first noted; from the circa 1884 Martinez to the Super Dry Martini Double of the glamorous 1950s. Even our PR Hotel Brand Manager, Frances Marden, got into the swing of things and shook up a cocktail!

Frances at the Martin Miller's Gin Masterclass in shaking cocktails

Craig’s expert knowledge and his enthusiam really had the 20 strong gathering in high spirits and the continuous flow of Martinis certainly helped!

There are two more masterclasses at Miller’s Residence in December and January, with plans for a second phase throughout England and Scotland.

For more information, or to book a tickets email masterclass@martinmillersgin.com. Tickets are £10 per person, and everyone who attends goes home with a bottle Martin Miller’s super premium gin and a Story of Martin Miller’s Gin hardback book.

In the mean time, why not mix up a cocktail yourself?

MARTINEZ, 1884-88

35ml Martin Miller’s Gin
35ml Noilly Pratt Rouge
5ml Curacoa
2 dashes of butters

SUPER DRY MARTINI DOUBLE, 1951

50ml Martin Miller’s Gin
25ml Noilly Pratt Dry
2 dashes of absinthe
2 dashes or orgage bitters and a lemon twist

Martin Miller at Miller's Residence with his eponymous gin

 

 

Can it be? It’s Miller’s on Sea!

Miller’s has expanded just that little bit further and we have opened a charming hotel by the coast!

Nestled on the small harbour of Porlock Weir, the hotel is over 200 years old  and was the hub of the community when the weir was a bustling port. Now, the port is a working harbour, with small fishing boats and yachts tied up to the shore. The location is just perfect, with the rolling sea in front and the plush forest of the Exmoor National Park behind, the hotel is nestled in the stunning natural surroundings of the South West.

The hotel is still being refurbished; there are 14 bedrooms in all, but the publics rooms are already stocked with antiques and oddities, and who can resist the glow of a real fire and a library stocked with books? Just the place to curl up on one of the plush sofas and lose yourself.

The hotel’s restaurant, The Harbourview , is already open for business too. The menu is full of seasonal dishes and also pays homage to its location, with a selection of seafood dishes and everything made with local produce. For an intimate celebration the restaurant also offers private dining and our wine menu will certainly wet your appetite!

Go to  Miller’s at The Anchor to have a look at how everything is going, or drop by for a visit if you’re in the area. A word of warning though, you may not want to leave if you do!

Staircase

Billiard Room

The Cinema at The Anchor

A more detailed look at our Drawing Room

Drawing Room

Private Dining Room

Spring Clean at Millers

And so it starts, if you have seen the images (I have placed one below!) or visited the website or stayed with us you know that this is no small task.

All the antiques, in the bedrooms have to be removed one by one and carefully polished or wiped over and replaced before the next guest checks in – this can sometimes lead to confusion – on where things were before. Yesterday was just madness and now we have to re catalogue some of the rooms as things have been moved all over the place!

We have great and expert housekeeping staff who have been with us for years so they know the drill, but it isnt easy and I sure that the dred the day when phrase ’spring clean’ is spoken.

On the topic of things being moved around – we are about the mirror the drawing room. Have a look above the bookshelves next time you are here – if its after August 2009 – as our new design feature should then be in place…

 

A weekend in Bruges

What a great place for a little weekend break -  we stayed at the Kwalito Bed and Breakfast. It has to be said that it was more like a small studio than just a B&B room, so really good value at around €80 a night. - bright colours on the walls, full kitchen and a balcony to enjoy the sun from – close to the Market square and the owners also have the supermarket next door for all your needs.

I have always held that a lot of what makes or breaks a place is the service and warm welcome of the staff or owners. Kris and Els were fantastic, so helpful on where to eat and what to see and do. I must also mention the breakfast – they place a big basket outside your door around 8am, it was totally packed with everything you could want and more than enough goodies to make a packed lunch from.

I really enjoyed our stay.

on the boat

 

 

 

 

and on to filming….

tomorrow is going to be a massive day -  we are being filmed for a channel 4 production  following some hotels as they open. The production team has chosen us to be a ‘best of the best’  – so we got to show some hoteliers how its done, in a very quirky way and Im not sure if they are really going to want to do it our way but we shall see!

just a little note to all you out there that thinks this sounds great – it is! but filming makes a total mess of the hotel and the guests dont like it, they want to hang out in the drawing room…

New Member of staff

So sadly Lucy had to leave us as she was offered a PR internship at Selfridges…. we were sad to see her go, but have a new Swedish receptionist called Melanie who is already a great addition to the team. As this week is full of the fashion lot ready for the start of Fashion week, Melanie got to meet all the regular fashion guests and discovered that they do love the free bar!!!