Darn, we should have been referring to the Basil Street Hotel! But I doubt that the hotel dining room ever offered pesto sauce.

The Basil Street Hotel was just not worth the money. For the same price you can get a great room in Dukes Hotel, for example. It is a charming "old world" hotel with lots of character and charm, but beautiful big a/c rooms.

Wow. I guess I didn't understand. I thought Basil was a more budget sort of hotel. I've stayed at the Duke's (also from a time that no longer exists) and I loved it, but their smallest double rooms START at 250 pounds. I had no idea that the Basil was that expensive.

Speaking of old hotels, how does
Rubens rate, good location anyway?

Part of the eccentricity of the Basil was the price range that was available - especially if you were a 'regular'. Rooms started at about 75GBP and ranged up to 150-200GBP.

Far too many of the comments here are judging the book by its cover...agreed the lobby area is threadbare (think country house and tweeds shabby) but the spacious dining room was super, the gallery had an excellent collect of chinoiserie and curious writing desks, and the bar/tea room were inviting.

Excellent staff and excellent service.

By way of literary antecedents, however, I would pick Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey, not Dame Agatha!

You're right, although I can easily envision Miss Marple taking tea at the Basil Street.

When I stayed at the Basil Street at least ten years ago it was very expensive. The nice thing about Dukes is that they have a very large single available for about 200 pounds. Most hotels in Europe (such as Basil Street) offer teeny, tiny singles. But, I''m off to London tomorrow for three weeks and will be staying in a flat.

Hotels have become cheaper in London. Or rather, the deals/rates you can obtain have become cheaper. 200GBP for a single is madness. You can have a twin at Claridge's for far less!

Where do we find that twin at Claridge's?

Actually you can go to Claridges' own website and book a superior Queen room for a single at 199. Or a twin or king for one person or two at a rate of 239.

That is amazing! When did London hotel rates start going down?

Well, that is pounds, not dollars. And that is for the smallest, standard rooms. Let's not talk about what a nice room at Claridge's costs!