Weldon to take up Savoy residence

Fay Weldon will live at the Savoy Hotel for three months

Novelist Fay Weldon is to become a writer-in-residence at London's Savoy Hotel, staying for three months while she completes her latest book.

Ms Weldon, 71, will be given a room with a view over the Thames worth £350 a night from October.

The deal also includes breakfast, although she will be expected to pay for other charges incurred, including lunches, dinners and the mini-bar.

"Mostly I will be there writing a novel - in incredibly comfortable circumstances," Weldon told Radio 4's Today programme.

"It's a very new idea, and I think it's wonderful, and good for the Savoy."

Weldon, best known for the book The Lives And Loves Of A She-Devil, caused controversy last year when she signed a deal with jewellers Bulgari to mention them repeatedly in a novel.

However, she denied any suggestion that a similar sponsorship deal had been struck with the Savoy or that they would be featured in her new book.

The Savoy is one of London's most famous hotels

"The book is certainly not about the Savoy and I don't think there will be any mention of the hotel in it because it's not that kind of novel. I don't think they are expecting me to mention them."

"Funnily enough I often mention Claridges in my books and I have often stayed there. I can see that it wouldn't be too wicked to change Claridges to the Savoy just once.

Hotel spokeswoman Pat Carter confirmed the company would ask nothing of Ms Weldon except to attend some literary lunches held there, and to contribute to the hotel magazine.

Ms Carter added the Savoy had planned to appoint more writers in the future, and it had picked a high-profile author in order to test the idea.

"So many people connected with the arts have stayed here - Oscar Wilde, Arnold Bennett, Monet, Noel Coward - that I just thought it would be a terrific idea to have an artist in residence," she said.