Connections

It's no secret that I'm very much a social butterfly. Setting aside the occasional battery recharge, I live my life to the fullest extent and basically, if it sounds fun...I'm in. My need for increased social connection was one of the key drivers for starting my workcation story. Over the past couple of months, I've caught up with family and friends, made some new friends, arranged to meet my boss face-to-face for the first time (she's US based) and exchanged many moments of conversation with strangers whilst out and about. As I sit typing now, I'm really feeling the joy of being connected to my world.

I'll let you into a secret...sometimes I don't always feel like putting myself out there. There are days where I wake up and don't feel like Bay boshing outside of my four walls. Happily, these days are few and far between, but they do happen...I'm human. As I'm fundamentally a very positive person, I don't beat myself up for changing my own plans at the last minute and I find that taking a walk along the canal (I'm lucky to live right next to the Grand Union) always resets these slightly darker moments. Walking really is medicinal for me, with my tunes on, the opportunities to connect, smile and be smiled at, bring back my equilibrium.

I felt particularly connected on this week's remote working trip into London. I worked from home for a large part of the day as had a few calls and I prefer privacy for these. I set off mid afternoon, took a slow train so I could get a table seat on the train and headed for an old favourite...

The St. James's area will always be one of my top 3 spots in town. Everything is a delight, from the architecture, to strolling through Green Park en route to The Stafford. If you've never been to this hidden gem, I urge you to go and check it out. The outdoor terrace is one of my favourite places to hang out in on warm summer days and The American Bar is quite frankly the place to be at any time.

Now, it would be fair to say that I've popped into The American Bar a fair few times and I'm on friendly terms with a few of the team there. However, the welcome is consistently warm from everyone working there and I always feel at home. Service is EXCEPTIONAL (I'm fussy on this so that is a big statement from me), the bathrooms are lovely (see below), the wine list ticks all boxes and things are more than acceptable on the bar snack side. I have a favourite place to sit and it was free on this visit, so I set myself up and worked for a couple of hours in my little Stafford bubble.

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The loodown:

You have plenty of options at The Stafford, all are fab. When I'm in the bar, I always use the single cubicle there. It's always super clean and the Floris toiletries are a delight. The bar is very secure and the staff always look out for my belongings, so bathroom breaks always feel really stress-free. There are more options available off the hotel reception area and I definitely recommend going for a little explore.

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Sometimes it's easy to forget that you are in Central London when you're sat in The American Bar. The clientele are generally hotel guests and small groups of business people. There's a very comforting sense of class and I've had some very interesting conversations with fellow patrons there over the years. There's a lot to look at in this bar (their glassware collection is something else for starters) and if you are a sports fan, they have some really cool memorabilia covering the walls and ceiling (never forget to look up).

Work done for the day, I headed off along Pall Mall to Americana on Haymarket to meet my new friend Kelly. It's all about making and nurturing those connections people...

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The verdict:

An easy stroll from Green Park underground, classy but inclusive, superb service and I love the relaxed hotel lounge feel. This is not somewhere to go if you are on a budget but the value for money makes it worth it.

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Good to know:

• You can either enter the hotel through the main St James's Place entrance or approach from the more hidden Blue Ball Yard cut-through off St. James's Street.

• Amongst the treasure trove of memorabilia, look out for Nancy Wake's (a.k.a the White Mouse) plaque and you can even drink the signature cocktail named after her.