Cork’s Imperial Hotel is nervously preparing to welcome back a special high-profile ‘guest’ this December as ‘The Grinch’, who last year stole the hotel’s Christmas plans, is set to return, and take over all things festive.
According to Hotel General Manager Bastien Peyraud, The Grinch’s neighbour Lou Lou Who, (Cindy Lou’s dad – aka Hollywood actor Bill Irwin) – recently visited the hotel and advised him that the Grinch loved Cork so much last year that his heart grew by ten.
The Imperial, which is well versed in hosting high-profile personalities including royalty and historical figures down through the years, is therefore getting ready to cater to the considerable whims of their VIP (Vile Important Person). Having heard of the recent announcement of new Head Chef Ali Honour, The Grinch has started as he means to go on with an outlandish demand to create special Grinch-themed menus. He will also bring his entourage – his faithful dog max and friends from Whoville – the Whos- which undoubtedly will cause Christmas chaos as he adds his personal stamp on all things decorative and decadent at the hotel!
Leaning into the Grinch’s mischievous whims The Imperial has plans to go bigger, better, and greener, than ever before, this Christmas with Grinch themed décor, afternoon teas, signature cocktails, guest room amenities, Instagramable moments and more!
Embracing a playful take on a Cork Christmas, the exterior of the hotel will undergo a temporary rebrand to ‘The Imperial WHOtel’ in a nod to the village where the Grinch grew up. He also engaged the talents of Whoville’s energetic Cindy Lou and the Imperial family to give the majestic foyer a grinch-like whimsical makeover, which fans of the festive favourite movie ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ will love.
To satisfy his considerable ego, the hotel has created a self-titled ‘Grinch Afterwhoon Tea’ at Sketch, which he hopes to make everyone green with envy. Priced at €45 per ‘Who’, you’ll feast Who-puddings with a Mojito Gateau topped with a heart two sizes too small, a Chocolate and Hazelnut Who-Choux, a signature Pistachio and raspberry Who-Battenberg, and a Cindy-Lou Lemon Meringue! Guests will also feast, feast, feast on festive who-sandwiches such as chicken & pecan with cranberry, smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill pickled cucumber, turkey, tarragon and smoked almond, and poached egg mayo with glazed ‘who-ham’. And you’ll drink Whoville Mayors-Spritzers’ (which the Grinch couldn’t stand in the least!). Then you’ll eat something he liked least of all, a selection of white chocolate and cranberry scones with ‘Who-Jam’ and cream.
You can also treat yourself to a Grinch-themed cocktail including the Whoville-Fizz, Who-Tini, Winter Bramble or Grinch Grimlet Gin.
It seems unavoidable that the Grinch has yet again stolen Christmas at this Cork hotel!
Welcoming the Grinch back as an honoured guest and member of the Imperial Family General Manager of The Imperial Bastien said, “The Imperial has had a great run for over 200 years, welcoming many famous faces from Michael Collins to Grace Kelly, so we are excited to now work under a big movie star like The Grinch. We like his way of thinking, that Christmas’s are about experiences and spending time together rather than things – “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more”.
Make a break for the Imperial with the Grinchmas Getaway package priced from €235 per Who for two nights bed & breakfast with a three-course dinner in Sketch on an evening of your choice with a sumptuous birdcage breakfast each morning.
See www.imperialhotelcork.com for more, email [email protected] or call 021 4274040.
