No Time To Diet! Why James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s favourite hotel is an epicurean delight

Tucking into dainty sandwiches with the crusts cut off, my husband kept glancing around the very elegant drawing room in Dukes Hotel, a five-star hotel in London’s swanky Mayfair.

 A tea pot with lashings of Earl Grey sat in the middle of the table next to a stand piled high with all manner of dainty finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and pastries galore.

There was even a glass of champagne, but Alexio couldn’t sit still. ‘What is the matter?’ I eventually asked, and he put down his third Danish pastry.

‘Where is he?’ he asked and I frowned. Tucked down a tiny alley off St James’ and just a five-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, Dukes Hotel is the epitome of quintessential British luxury with fine china plates, cake stands and oil paintings everywhere you looked. 

Alexio, however, was clearly agitated. ‘Will he be here soon?’ he asked and I struggled to understand. ‘Daniel Craig,’ he said. ‘You know, the guy who plays James Bond.’

I would have laughed if I hadn’t just taken another bite of my cucumber sandwich. Alexio had misunderstood. Dukes is the hotel where Sir Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, frequented while writing the spy books in the 1950s, not the star of the blockbuster movies. ‘I don’t know if Daniel Craig comes here,’ I giggled.

If he doesn’t, he should. Ever since King Henry 8^th  built  a palace in St James in the 16^th century, this area has attracted writers, royalty and politicians.

The hotel dates back to 1908 but it was the booming ’50s that saw Dukes as the place to be. Bond fans now flock to the Dukes bar here where Fleming is supposed to have coined the catchphrase ‘shaken not stirred’ for his lady killer British spy.

‘I’m afraid 007 won’t be here today,’ I told my confused husband, ‘but we can head downstairs to the bar later if you want.’ After all, you can’t stay here and not try Bond’s favourite tipple.

From DUKES with Love – the hotel’s sumptious Junior Suite 

Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus are all just a stroll away so it’s a chance to explore Bond’s London, and is the perfect place for a luxurious pre-cruise stay 

Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus are all just a stroll away so it’s a chance to explore Bond’s London, and is the perfect place for a luxxurious pre-cruise stay before embarking in Tilbury, Portsmouth or Southampton.

Then it was back under the Union Jack flag flying over the entrance into the 90-room Dukes to get ready for our most romantic evening for the last two years – a night without the children. The Family Escapes in Mayfair stay at the hotel includes five hours complimentary childcare as well as in-room amnesties for very little ones such as a colouring book, milk and cookies and a toy.

While our kids eschewed the amenities, they jumped at the chance to ate room-service in front of the TV in their room, while we dined in The Great British Restaurant, the all-day Roaring Twenties style  brasserie which had vegan and vegetarian options. My cauliflower ‘steak’ with crumbled Stichelton (an English blue cheese), sage, and organic oats was melt-in-the-mouth delicious and my husband even went veggie choosing the red onion tart with creamed spinach.

Bond creator Ian Fleming’s favourite watering hotel serves perfect martinis: shaken, not stirred