Grosvenor Hotel Victoria opens its Courtesan’s Boudoir

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the Grosvenor Hotel in London Victoria has today completed the refurbishment of its most decadent rooms, the Courtesan’s Boudoir – the Cora Pearl Suite.

London’s oldest railway hotel once turned away the notorious Parisian courtesan Cora Pearl from its doors. Today it celebrates her life by naming the newly refurbished Courtesan’s Boudoir after her.

Cora Pearl – whose clientele included royalty – made a rare trip to London in 1870. She booked a suite at the Grosvenor Hotel, only to be turned away when salacious stories about her past surfaced.

The new suite draws its inspiration from the French interior styling of the late 1800s. Glass chandeliers, damask wallpaper and silver-finished French furniture all contribute to the glamorous retro style of the boudoir. There is also a free-standing infinity bath, elevated on a marble plinth – a replica of the bath Cora had specially made in Paris and which she would fill with champagne to bathe with her suitors.

The Grosvenor Hotel’s general manager, Michael Parker, explained: “The hotel now truly captures the charm and grandeur of the era in which the Grosvenor Hotel first opened its doors, and we felt that, to celebrate, it was fitting to mark one of the many rich stories from our history. Cora had an amazing story – rising from poverty to become one of the most notorious figures amongst the elite of her time. The suite is perfect for anyone who would like to discover the luxury and glamour of Victorian high-society.”