Inside Claridge's

Episode 1

Episode #1.1

55 mins

Claridge's, in the heart of London's Mayfair is a five star luxury hotel, favoured by royalty and celebrities. For the first time in its long history, this famously discreet institution has opened its doors to documentary cameras. Director Jane Treays has spent a year behind the scenes, upstairs and downstairs, following staff and their guests, some of whom are prepared to pay the price of a small family car for one night's stay. We're with the chambermaids and housekeepers as they spend days transforming the entire third floor into a palace for foreign royalty who could cancel at a moment's notice. We observe the annual two week stay of the Melchors from California who have been coming to stay for over 40 years, re-kindling their relationship with personal butler Michael Lynch; and we follow the energetic General Manager Thomas Kochs as he travels to New York to drum up new business from the top US travel agents.