Sibling rivalry; we’ve all been there. When it was announced more than six years ago that a second Mandarin Oriental would be built in London, many wondered: Was another needed?

There are just 40 Mandarin Oriental hotels across the world, and the only other city to sport two is Hong Kong, where the group has its headquarters. Besides which, it is difficult to fathom how Mandarin Oriental could top its existing London property – housed in one of Knightsbridge’s grandest heritage buildings, a Franco-Flemish extravaganza in red brick and Portland stone.