Hotel de France.
Discussion
I've seen it mentioned around this forum quite a few times now and now it keeps cropping up in the banners at the top of the page, I've just been looking through their menu and if it tastes as good as it looks then I'd like to take a trip down on the Friday or Saturday lunch time. Can anyone share their experiences? Is it worth the trip? As they have obviously got big big ties with the circuit what else can I expect to find there?
It's got my curiosity peeked and it being my better halves 30th birthday on the Saturday, I really want to take her for a nice meal to say thanks for letting me come out to play on her big three zero!
As always, any advice or comments are most welcome,
Ian
It's got my curiosity peeked and it being my better halves 30th birthday on the Saturday, I really want to take her for a nice meal to say thanks for letting me come out to play on her big three zero!
As always, any advice or comments are most welcome,
Ian
Wel, I visited about 3 or 4 years ago. Not during race week or Classic week, but none the less, a great place.
It was packed, and we (me, missus and 2 kids) just happened to "stumble upon it" during our summer hols!!!! How lucky was that?
Anyway, my son who was about 6 at the time and knew a bit about my trips to Le Mans, was thrilled to see all the pictures adorning the walls.
I was talking him through some of the photos, when we discussed a Gulf Gt40 in one picture.
"Is that an Aston Martin?" He said, due to the livery. An old chap who was walking past said, " oh now dear boy. That's a 19 whatever it was, Ford, GT40, which finished second. I should know, I was driving it"
We had a good 20 minute conversation, discussing all aspects of Le Mans. I never did ask his name, but thoroughly enjoyed his stories.
I mentioned what a great place it would be to stay during the 24 Hr or the Classic. " Dead men's shoes, dear boy. You have to wait for one of us to drop of the perch first"
Absolutely worth a visit, even outside of race weeks.
It was packed, and we (me, missus and 2 kids) just happened to "stumble upon it" during our summer hols!!!! How lucky was that?
Anyway, my son who was about 6 at the time and knew a bit about my trips to Le Mans, was thrilled to see all the pictures adorning the walls.
I was talking him through some of the photos, when we discussed a Gulf Gt40 in one picture.
"Is that an Aston Martin?" He said, due to the livery. An old chap who was walking past said, " oh now dear boy. That's a 19 whatever it was, Ford, GT40, which finished second. I should know, I was driving it"
We had a good 20 minute conversation, discussing all aspects of Le Mans. I never did ask his name, but thoroughly enjoyed his stories.
I mentioned what a great place it would be to stay during the 24 Hr or the Classic. " Dead men's shoes, dear boy. You have to wait for one of us to drop of the perch first"
Absolutely worth a visit, even outside of race weeks.
Nobby Diesel said:
We had a good 20 minute conversation, discussing all aspects of Le Mans. I never did ask his name, but thoroughly enjoyed his stories.
I mentioned what a great place it would be to stay during the 24 Hr or the Classic. " Dead men's shoes, dear boy. You have to wait for one of us to drop of the perch first"
Absolutely worth a visit, even outside of race weeks.
Was probably ken miles who was 2nd in '66 in the 1 car. In fact I think they were leading till quite late on. Was a pale blue GT40 with red bits, wasn't quite the gulf paint scheme by then but similarI mentioned what a great place it would be to stay during the 24 Hr or the Classic. " Dead men's shoes, dear boy. You have to wait for one of us to drop of the perch first"
Absolutely worth a visit, even outside of race weeks.
The hotel has Le Mans history literally coming out of its walls http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/what-to-do/hotel-de-f...
The car park in the square in front of the hotel is always full of extremely nice cars from Thursday onwards, Friday is always busy and well worth the trip down. Period shot of the 1968 Gulf GT40 team leaving the hotel, the #11 car ended up in the sand bank at the bottom of the Mulsanne.
The car park in the square in front of the hotel is always full of extremely nice cars from Thursday onwards, Friday is always busy and well worth the trip down. Period shot of the 1968 Gulf GT40 team leaving the hotel, the #11 car ended up in the sand bank at the bottom of the Mulsanne.
Edited by Felix7 on Friday 6th June 08:40
Nosynchro said:
Was probably ken miles who was 2nd in '66 in the 1 car. In fact I think they were leading till quite late on. Was a pale blue GT40 with red bits, wasn't quite the gulf paint scheme by then but similar
Trying to find a pic of the #1 GT40, found the #14 and #12 cars from 1966, both parked at the hotel where they were prepared for the race, two of a large number of GT40's prepared their that year. The #12 was driven by Jochen Rindt and Innes Ireland, who stayed at the hotel, the car though was a DNF.
According to their Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Hotel_de_France ) they've had a cancellation for next week....
Hi Rover, I was there at the weekend and the level of service and food was the best it has ever been. You will not be disappointed or Mrs Rover. Saturday night would be a good night to visit for dinner as the restaurant won't be over full. A lot of people visit from the circuit Thursday Friday and Sunday. There's every chance You will be dining with Derek Bell & family who always stay at the Hotel. Jacky Icky usually visits for dinner with the old owner Noel on Saturday.
Here's an old thread on the subject that sheds a little more light on recent history of visiting during Le Mans week
http://tiny.cc/w560gx
and some pics from the AMOC site here
http://www.amoc.org/content/view/947/352/
I first went to LM in 2010 (this will be my 5th consecutive yr) and we went to Le Chartre for lunch on the Friday - since then, it's become as much an institution for our group as LM24 itself
IIRC, there were official events in the square in '09, '10 & '11 then none in '12, but one in '13. There is no official event this year but I'd be surprised if Friday lunchtime wasn't still busy with great cars & interesting people
It's a lovely, friendly, warm atmosphere including plenty of 'old boys'.
Plus it's a brilliant drive from the area of the circuit down to Le Chartre !
http://tiny.cc/w560gx
and some pics from the AMOC site here
http://www.amoc.org/content/view/947/352/
I first went to LM in 2010 (this will be my 5th consecutive yr) and we went to Le Chartre for lunch on the Friday - since then, it's become as much an institution for our group as LM24 itself
IIRC, there were official events in the square in '09, '10 & '11 then none in '12, but one in '13. There is no official event this year but I'd be surprised if Friday lunchtime wasn't still busy with great cars & interesting people
It's a lovely, friendly, warm atmosphere including plenty of 'old boys'.
Plus it's a brilliant drive from the area of the circuit down to Le Chartre !
Rover, for the restaurant smart casual will do. Just re-read your original post Friday Lunch will be rammed as will dinner. The norm is about 180 for each sitting with just an half hour break between. You will have to book. If you do Saturday lunch you wont get back to the circuit for the race start. Recommend Sat night then you can get back to see the cars running at night.
S A B said:
Rover, for the restaurant smart casual will do. Just re-read your original post Friday Lunch will be rammed as will dinner. The norm is about 180 for each sitting with just an half hour break between. You will have to book. If you do Saturday lunch you wont get back to the circuit for the race start. Recommend Sat night then you can get back to see the cars running at night.
its cheryl's birthday so i guess its down to her, i showed her their website and she doesn't think she'll fit in! Poor girl has a low opinion of herself so the casualish dress should put her mind at ease, she's not a scruffy maid so if anyone lets the side down it will be me! I'm quite liking the idea of Sunday evening after the race although Friday evening sounds good to, how long a drive is it from the circuit? Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff