Book an alfresco lunch or dinner at selected Marriott hotels this April

A number of Marriott Bonvoy hotels in England have decided to enter the fray and offer outdoor dining when it is permitted from 12th April.

Marriott Bonvoy has provided us with a list of five hotels that are taking part:

• The JW Marriott Grosvenor House
• Marriott Grosvenor Square (where we had the January 2020 HfP party)
• Sheraton Grand Park Lane
• Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club in Hertfordshire
• Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County

…. although other hotels are likely to offer alfresco dining, too.

The Forecourt at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London

If you’ve ever been to the JW Marriott you will know it has quite a large forecourt, often used for a variety of events.

This spring and summer it will become an alfresco dining courtyard complete with (fake) lawn and flower boxes. In partnership with Gusbourne English Sparkling Wine it will offer a menu featuring items from both its JW Steakhouse and Park Room restaurant.

The Forecourt opens from 12th April and will be open daily from 12pm to 10pm. You can book online here. We will be reviewing this particular alfresco spot later this month.

The Terrace at London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Next up is The Terrace at London Marriott Grosvenor Square, pictured above (not to be confused with the JW Marriott Grosvenor House) which will act as an extension of the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill and Lucky Cat restaurants in the hotel. These offer a combination of modern Asian and New York inspired cuisine.

It will open from 14th April until 9th May and is open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm until 8:45pm. You must book in advance online here.

Smith & Whistle at Sheraton Grand London Park Lane

The two Grosvenor hotels will be joined by the Sheraton Grand Park Lane from 17th May, when it opens its terrace at the Smith & Whistle restaurant. Smith & Whistle serves modern British fare and has London’s very first range of ‘Dogtails’ drinks for canine consumption.

The terrace is located at the front of the hotel on Piccadilly and is less secluded than the Forecourt and the JW Marriott. It will be open from 12pm until 11pm daily. You can book online here.

Vardon’s at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club

Moving outside of London, Vardon’s restaurant at Hanbury Manor will open its large terrace. This features casual dining and views across the 18-hole golf course.

Vardon’s is open from 8am until 6pm daily and operates on a walk-in basis.

The Cast Iron Terrace at Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County

The Marriott Royal County Hotel in Durham sits on the banks of the River Wear. It features a newly refurbished Cast Iron Terrace opening from 1st May. The terrace has views of Durham Castle and Cathedral and is open 12pm – 10pm daily.

Can you earn Marriott Bonvoy points?

From most of these restaurants, no.

In Europe, Marriott Bonvoy only lets you earn points on ‘no-stay dining’ at the ex-Starwood brands which are:

• St. Regis
• The Luxury Collection
• W
• Sheraton
• Le Méridien
• Westin
• Tribute Portfolio
• Four Points
• Aloft
• Element

This means, from the list above, only the Sheraton Grand will allow you to earn points from your meal.

You can confirm this in the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions here, in section 2.1.b(ii).

Conclusion

There are likely to be more Marriott hotels with alfresco dining than the ones listed above, which Marriott supplied us. I know from my recent review trip that The Abbey Hotel in Bath has outdoor seating, for example, if it chooses to open.

We will let you know how our lunch at the Grosvenor House goes. It’s quite exciting thinking about a real restaurant meal ….

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (January 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)