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Bouchard Finlayson Farm
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Bouchard Finlayson

Hermanus, Western Cape

Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard Background

A vineyard between heaven & earth

Cradled amid the hills of the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley,
Bouchard Finlayson is widely acclaimed as one of South Africa’s leading boutique wine cellars.

With a terroir defined by both ancient soils and a cool maritime climate, the vineyards of Bouchard Finlayson are famous for producing award-winning
Pinot Noir, elegant Chardonnay and terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc, while inspired blends showcase the depth of skill and innovation in our winemaking team.

The Bouchard Finlayson cellar is conveniently located a scenic 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, close to the world-famous whale-watching centre of Hermanus.

Discover the rich history of The Rubens

1700

1752

1841

1850

1855

1890

1912

1953

1970

1997

2000

2005

2013

2017

2018

1700

The Rubens Hotel formed part of the grounds and stabling of a much earlier house on this site, which in 1703 was owned by John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave, also known as ‘Lord Allpride’.

1752

By this date, houses and shops had begun to spring up over Chelsea Road, which is now Buckingham Palace Road. These served the Palace and its occupants. They frequently let the rooms above their shops to middle-ranking Palace servants such as housekeepers and footmen.

1841

The site of the present hotel belonged to a druggist and a ham and tongue dealer named Thomas Murley. The firm of Thomas Murley & Son continued here until the mid-1880s. Their premises then passed into use as a law stationer’s shop with a gentleman named Polwarth.

1850

'Madame Excalier’ ran a Court dressmaker’s establishment from here with fashionable hats and bonnets, costumes and mantles, Court robes, ball gowns, dinner and tea dresses, walking costumes and bridal wear.

1855

Around this time, another of the shops on this site belonged to a maker of artificial flowers named Elizabeth Dowe. Artificial flower-making was a Victorian ‘home’ industry in which hundreds of girls and women were engaged. By 1885 the property went to auction and may have been redeveloped.

1890

The site was occupied by the Aerated Bread Company. In time the one café became a chain and the Aerated Bread Company had at its peak 250 tea shops throughout London.

1912

The Hotel Rubens became very popular with debutantes and others attending royal functions at Buckingham Palace. During the Second World War it was taken over by General Sikorski’s Free State Polish Army, which used it as its headquarters. The plaque remains to this day on the building.

1953

The hotel was purchased by Grand Metropolitan Hotels and towards the end of the 1970s the property was sold to Sarova Hotels.

Rubens history 1970

1970

Princess Anne visits The Rubens at the Palace for the Committee of the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs lunch.

1997

The hotel was sold to The Red Carnation Hotel Collection and quickly became an award-winning property, rated among the best hotels in London.

2000

Hotel 41 opened on the previous fifth floor ballroom of The Rubens Hotel.

2005

bbar opened, serving signature cocktails and drink pairings to complement the seasonal, South African-inspired menu.

2013

London’s largest Living Wall was unveiled by The Rubens, standing at 350 square metres and containing a total of 10,000 herbaceous plants.

2017

The hotel completed a beautiful, multi-million-pound refurbishment, adding the exquisite English Grill, The Curry Room and The New York Bar to its collection of dining venues.

2018

The Rubens at the Palace was proudly recognised as an AA five-star hotel and The Leopard Bar received a stunning transformation. The bar now offers over 200 whiskies and 30 Champagnes against a backdrop of live jazz and swing music.

Take a tour...

Expect warm smiles at every turn, a host of thoughtful touches, sumptuous rooms and suites, and delicious cuisine, all overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace.

Meet our team

Every one of our team members is empowered to make a real difference, offering remarkably considerate service and discrete attention to detail. From freshly-cut flowers in the suites to personalised gifts for special occasions, it is no surprise that guests often remember the names of our staff and ask after them when they return.

Meet the characters of The Rubens

Our differences

Exceeding expectations at every turn, our historic and fully-restored hotel has a team who take genuine pride in delivering impeccable service. Within walking distance of Green Park and Victoria Station, enjoy live music in the New York Bar, a Royal Afternoon Tea in the Palace Lounge, delicious cuisine in the elegant English Grill and authentic flavours in The Curry Room.

Reasons to love The Rubens at the Palace

Discover more about The Rubens at the Palace

Let the children be a chef

Delight in all our family experiences

Sleep beautifully

Discover our bedrooms & suites

Stories of The Rubens at the Palace

Discover our gallery

Wonderful recognition

Explore our awards & accolades

We care

Explore our sustainable initiatives
Cocktail

In the press

Discover articles written by journalists & media professionals

Let the children be a chef

Delight in all our family experiences

Sleep beautifully

Discover our bedrooms & suites

Stories of The Rubens at the Palace

Discover our gallery

Wonderful recognition

Explore our awards & accolades

We care

Explore our sustainable initiatives
Cocktail

In the press

Discover articles written by journalists & media professionals

Let the children be a chef

Delight in all our family experiences

Sleep beautifully

Discover our bedrooms & suites
Crown Illustration

Extraordinary experiences

We pride ourselves on our local relationships, and carefully design memorable experiences for guests. From sourcing rare theatre tickets to organising walking tours with Blue Badge experts, our knowledgeable concierge team ensures every stay is as seamless and personalised as possible.

Explore more
Salmon Illustration

Delicious dining

From mouth-watering Indian flavours served at the AA Rosette-awarded Curry Room, to the refined British menu offered alongside our founder Beatrice Tollman’s comforting signature dishes in the elegant English Grill, Executive Chef Ben Kelliher creates gloriously varied dining options, steeped in heritage.

Explore more
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The power of passion

"The Rubens at the Palace has a royal history dating back to the 1700s. Over the years, it has been used as a dressmaker’s boutique, a pharmacy, an artificial flower shop and as the home of the Aerated Bread Company. It has been family-run by The Red Carnation Hotel Collection since 1997 and I have been General Manager since 2004. 


The Rubens has always been very popular with debutantes attending royal functions at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews, which the hotel overlooks, is the palace entrance used by the royal family. It is also just a few moments’ walk to see the daily pageant of the Changing of the Guard.  


The hotel’s historic roots inspired the design for its restoration in 2018, which also introduced the English Grill, the Curry Room, the Leopard Bar and the New York Bar. We were incredibly proud that the hotel achieved a Forbes Five-Star classification in the same year. 


We are committed to supporting local charities and eradicating single-use plastics, as well as significantly reducing our food waste in partnership with Winnow. The hotel also sustains the largest Living Wall in London and has recently introduced two rooftop beehives. 


Alongside our renowned gin tasting, we have recently launched several bespoke dining experiences such as ‘Chef Kumar’s Secret Spice’ and, for our younger guests, we offer the exciting children’s ‘Pastry Experience’ and ‘Milkshake Masterclass’. We hope to share these incredible experiences with you very soon."


- Malcolm Hendry, General Manager

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