Pippa Middleton’s favourite rum bar comes to London

Jeremy Goring welcomed Kate Middleton on the night before her wedding. Now
his prestigious London hotel has recreated her sister’s favourite Caribbean bar in its
garden.

Michael, Carole and Pippa Middleton all flocked to the Goring Hotel in Victoria to
celebrate the opening of Basil’s Bar – a replica of the ‘greatest bar in the world’ on
the private island of Mustique.

Kate and Prince William and Kate Middleton are also thought to be fans of the
original bar, taking a dozen trips to the popular island, from which paparazzi are
banned.

William is even thought to have sung Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds to the exclusive
bar in 2009.

Basil Charles, the bar’s patron and known as the ‘king of Mustique’, was in
attendance for the launch at the Goring, where he has been training the staff to
make his signature cocktails, including the Mustique Mule.

The beach scene was created with 84 tons of sand in the hotel’s garden, while
designer Blue Forest created a bar with a driftwood counter. Three fishing boats
completed the Caribbean atmosphere.

Simon Payne, a director of Blue Forest, said: ‘We were lucky enough to be at the
launch party last night. It’s something you can’t really imagine – a beach in the
middle of central London, and especially at the Goring Hotel.

‘We got to meet Basil Charles. He said it was almost a spitting image of the bar he
had started with.

‘Last night they had a Caribbean steel band. It really set the whole place off. I think it
was Jeremy himself who had this crazy idea. It’s a great way to attract new people to
the Goring.’

‘We saw the Middletons there and it looked like they were really enjoying
themselves. It was great for Jeremy that they were able to come.’