28 September, 2018
A boozy staycation? Yes, please. And where better to indulge in England's favourite drink than the eclectic lodgings at Notting Hill's The Distillery? This cosy boutique bolthole has the honour of being London's first gin hotel, and when combined with an evening of gin sipping at the downstairs distillery's three-hour long gin "experience", makes for a spirited sleepover indeed.
If you don't think you can stomach a lengthy gin session, the hotel's three rooms (yes, just three) are also supremely well-stocked, boasting antique drinks cabinets lined with a copper cocktail making set, glasses, plenty of gin and the lemons, limes, peppercorns and cutting board you'll need to make yourself the perfect G&T. The minibar, meanwhile, comes filled with a bottled Tom Collins, negroni and martini - and that's just a taster of what you'll find on the extensive bar menu two flights down at The Resting Room bar.
Hopefully you don't wake up with too much of a hangover, but if it's unavoidable, Portobello Road's best brunch locales are right outside - in fact, you can probably spot a few of them from your window overlooking the iconic street.
This trio are cute as a button, featuring vintage furnishings, plush grey and white linen on the sumptuous beds and bespoke record players accompanied by Rough Trade-curated vinyl collections, in case all the gin-swilling puts you in the mood for a bit of The Smiths.
Stumble down from your room to GinTonica, where head chef Greg Lewis puts a British twist on traditional Spanish dishes. Line your stomach with flavour-heavy tapas in the bright and bold dining room before attempting to make a dent in the 60-strong gin list complemented by more tonics than you can shake a cocktail stirrer at. If you prefer something lighter (not recommended if you're heading for the gin experience - you have been warned), The Resting Room one flight further down offers up deli boards and drinking snacks.
Of course, and you'll find more than just gin on the menu at The Resting Room, though opting for anything else would be a waste of their talent. As well as classic and creative cocktails, a selection of barrel-aged spirits from various global craft producers beg sampling, topped off by a respectable wine list. But really, we highly recommend The Ginstitute's immersive gin experience - after an illuminating history lesson peppered with multiple cocktails, you'll taste your way through dozens of flavoured gins before blending your own bottle to take home. See why you need the room close at hand?
With just three rooms, the list of amenities is shorter than most, but who needs a concierge and room service with Portobello Road at your doorstep?
Only Notting Hill's best cafés, restaurants, bars and boutiques.