A Very British Hotel - Season 1

The staff cater for a royal visitor from overseas and her entourage, while coping with the challenges of facing directly onto one of London's busiest thoroughfares

This episode joins the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel in the midst of their busy wedding season. The hotel hosts over 70 weddings a year in their historic ballroom and this film features the flamboyant nuptials of Samantha and Rike from China. The concierge team welcome a new member to their team. Unlike many of the staff at the hotel, new boy Paul is a born and bred Londoner. Under the tutelage of veteran concierge Francois-Xavier, he must learn fast what it takes to be at the top of the five star game. We see Francois-Xavier in action sourcing a watch worth over a quarter of a million pounds for one of his wealthy guests. The hotel also caters for some VIP celebrity guests, including Quincy Jones and Morgan Freeman.

In the final episode of the series that goes behind the scenes at London's exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel, the hotel throws a party to celebrate the book launch of Mount: the latest novel by the famous racy romance writer Jilly Cooper. Champagne, canapés and a grey stallion are laid on for the entertainment of the guests, but not everyone is welcome, as a gatecrasher is escorted off the premises. The hotel also reveals its secret weapon: Hotel Ambassador Mr Bentley. Mr B worked for the Savoy, Claridge's and the Ritz before joining the team at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. He was responsible for the Queen hosting a special banquet in the ballroom the night before the wedding of Prince William and Kate. Meanwhile, some of the rooms at the hotel are in need of refurbishment, so the hotel sells off the old fixtures and fittings before refurbishing the rooms, raising nearly £200,000 at a special auction.