Savoy Hotel
This article is about the Savoy Hotel in London. For other uses, see Savoy (disambiguation).
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel found on the Strand, London. Opened in 1889, it was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte, the owner of the nearby Savoy Theatre. It was and remains one of London's most prestigious and opulent hotels, with 230 rooms. Its name derives from the Savoy Palace which once occupied the site. Its first manager was César Ritz, who later became the founder of The Ritz Hotel. The hotel was designed by T. E. Collcutt, who also designed the Wigmore Hall.
The Savoy has long been famous for its inventive chefs. Its kitchen saw the invention of Pêche Melba, created in honour of Dame Nellie Melba by the legendary French chef Auguste Escoffier. Melba toast is also attributed to the hotel's kitchen; it is said that Dame Nellie ordered toast and was served with several pieces that were unusually thin and crisp and almost burnt, thus creating a new dish.
One curiosity of the Savoy is the fact that its forecourt is the only street in the United Kingdom where vehicles are required to drive on the right. This is to allow taxis and other vehicles to turn easily: passengers can board on the right hand side of vehicles.
The Savoy was recently purchased by the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts of Canada.
The Savoy's Pier is also a stop on the Thames Clipper commuter service, connecting the Savoy with the City of London, Canary Wharf and Greenwich via a river boat service.