The Art of the Table: Elevating In-Suite Dining with Summerill & Bishop

In-room dining rarely conjures images of glamour. Comfort? Sure. A delicious club sandwich eaten with abandon, with no need to dress up and, dear goodness, there is a place for that in this world, isn't something you would necessarily invite people in for. Until now, that is.

Because if you're fortunate enough to be staying in a suite at The Berkeley, with a generous dining table and exquisite views of elegant Knightsbridge, and perhaps even your own kitchen, then really, it's your duty to share it (or, let's be honest, show it off a little).

And now, thanks to a collaboration with British table linen institution Summerill & Bishop, you can summon a whole dinner-party tablescape to your suite: instant hospitality. Available exclusively to suite stays, guest can transform a suite into an elegant stage for entertaining. 

Founded in London in 1994 by June Summerill and Bernadette Bishop, the company that bears their names is beloved for its painterly, expressive linens. And it's built a core following by elevating the everyday ritual of setting the table, making it the ideal partner for such a collaboration.

This joyful reimagining of what in-suite dining can be is built around a thoughtful curation of Summerill & Bishop's most beloved designs. The result: a 'tablescape menu', for guests staying in The Berkeley's suites.

‘Growing up, tablecloths weren’t just something you threw on a table,’ says Seb Bishop, of Bernadette, now leading the brand. ‘They were how my mother expressed care, intention and love. A tablecloth, to me, became a canvas for connection.’

The idea of the table as a stage for life’s most meaningful moments resonates deeply with Maybourne. The British brands have history, having previously collaborated on linens for Claridge’s. But now the concept has evolved into something more intimate and familiar.

‘We never collaborate for the sake of doing so,’ says Bishop. ‘The Berkeley felt right because it understands that true luxury isn’t static. It evolves.’

The result is an offering that shifts the focus from what is served to how it feels. Guests can now order not just food, but atmosphere, selecting a tablescape that transforms their private suite into a setting for celebration, connection or quiet indulgence. ‘We believe that setting the table is the ultimate show of love and welcome,’ says Alan, ‘in the same way that the Maybourne team go to every length to create the ultimate warm welcome.’

The designs are deliberately vibrant, chosen to reflect the lightness of the season and the elegance of their surroundings. ‘We know how important the character of Knightsbridge is to The Berkeley, so we tried to work with designs that felt aligned with the area,’ says Alan of the green and white stripes that speak to nearby Royal Parks and lawns. Floral illustrations nod to the hotel’s commitment to floristry.

Central to the whole endeavour is the understanding that a table is never just a table. ‘It’s the gravitational pull of any dining room,’ agrees Alan. ‘A table doesn’t just sit in a space: it defines how you feel within it. The more beautiful a table, the longer we linger.’

For Bishop, the ambition goes further. ‘When someone sits at a Summerill & Bishop table, it should feel as though the world has been gently rearranged for their comfort,’ he says. ‘If guests leave feeling just a little more present, then the table has done what it was always meant to do.’ In that sense, this is more than a collaboration. It’s an invitation to slow down and rediscover the simple pleasure of time spent in a beautiful setting.

The Berkeley x Summerill & Bishop: The Art of Entertaining is available in-suite.