I pulled an all-nighter to witness one of London’s fanciest hotels transform for Christmas

Suddenly, people race outside like a celebrity had just pulled in. The iconic 15-foot UK-grown Nordmann spruce has arrived, loaded on the open back of a lorry with yellow lights reflecting off the marble foyer and sports cars parked outside. “Mind the chandelier or you’ll be paying for it!” someone hollers as the tree is shimmied into place in the lobby. The smell of fir fills the air as the tree is twisted into the optimum position and fluffed. “It’s the perfect shape,” says a late-night reveller, which is, in fact, by design; the tree was chosen a year ago and has been nurtured and pruned every day since into the perfect Christmas tree shape.

Balanced atop tall ladders, the team begin decorating the tree with strings of lights, not a tangle in sight, while boxes of ornaments are hauled in. A woven gold star is placed at the top and carefully strapped into place. The theme this year is gingerbread, featuring a mix of glittering baubles in silver, gold, and icy blue, along with iced gingerbread stars. “Will I wake up to Christmas?” a guest asks me, arriving back from a night out in town. Yes, sir, I believe you will.

The 15-foot Christmas tree in the lobby was selected by the team a year previously

By 3am, the gingerbread skyline is complete and lit, while trolleys with beautiful, velvet-bowed wreaths of deep plums, pinks and gold are wheeled in to decorate The Grill restaurant. A cubby hole by the main reception is lined with fir, candy cane baubles and poinsettias to create a grotto where children can write letters to Santa and post them in The Dorchester’s red North Pole post box. A well-oiled machine, everyone has a job to do and takes it very seriously, only relaxing when coffees and Haribo sweets are handed out for a respite. After the break, oversized baubles are positioned in the halls, woven with pale blue hydrangeas and foliage, and gold nutcrackers are placed like guardians throughout the hotel.

Before the sun comes up, The Dorchester team seamlessly finish the cleanup, hoovering, polishing, and setting up tables for breakfast. By 8am, the guests make their way downstairs to find the magical overnight transformation complete. Children and adults alike marvel at the tree and eye up the gingerbread skyline, which they no doubt want to sink their teeth into.