London hotel debuts "picnic butlers" for summer

A five-star hotel in Britain has introduced a new butler service for cash-rich, time-poor picnickers looking to enjoy a lazy London lunch.

The Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge is offering the services of a "picnic butler" between May and August, hoping the service will be a hit with tourists looking to enjoy a quintessentially British tradition.

Serving dishes prepared by the hotel's kitchens, the picnic butler delivers an experience the hotel brands the "ultimate hassle free picnic."

Before guests arrive, the butler is on hand to set up the picnic in the famous Hyde Park, complete with crystal glasses, china, rugs and napkins. At the end of the meal, a quick phone call brings him back, ready to clear away the remnants of the feast.

The package is available for both residents and non-residents priced at £250 (€294) per head and includes a personal consultation to choose the menu, which is accompanied by champagne.

Examples of the food on offer include Cornish poached lobster with Beluga mayonnaise, balotine of truffled foie gras and Cropwell bishop stilton trifle with pear marmalade and oatmeal sable.

The package, clearly designed for luxury lovers who enjoy lazing in the sun, is in sharp contrast to the "running concierges" introduced by Westin in 2008, who are on hand to accompany guests as they pound the streets.

Earlier this month, Le Richemond hotel in Switzerland introduced its own "watch butler" to cater for lovers of horology.

http://www.lanesborough.com