Not quite Abbey Road

COSTA MESA — Two men stood by the front doors of the Hilton in Renaissance garb, blowing fanfares on a pair of herald trumpets. Inside the lobby, scones and teacups packed a small refreshment table while Beatles tunes blared over speakers. The drop-off area by the curb was even built in the style of an English roundabout — though that had to be a coincidence.

As onlookers stood by and applauded, three black London-style cabs cruised into the parking lot of the hotel on Bristol Street. Two of the cabs parked outside while the third continued through the lobby doors.

Billy Butler, one of Liverpool’s most popular radio personalities, took the microphone as hotel guests crowded around the car.

“We have a bad crime rate in Liverpool, but at least we can leave our cabs outside the hotel,” he said.

If the Hilton’s new transportation service catches on, the cabs won’t be inside too often. The hotel recently partnered with Her Majesty’s Ride, a San Clemente-based English cab company, to help chauffeur its guests to sites around Orange County.

For Shaun Robinson, general manager of the Hilton in Costa Mesa, the ceremony Friday morning was like being back home.

Robinson grew up in Liverpool and jumped at the chance to offer English cabs when Ed Delgado, the president of Her Majesty’s Ride, approached him about it.

The spacious black cabs, which fit five people inside, are authentic models except for one thing: The manufacturers put the steering wheel on the left side to accommodate American roads.

“We don’t want to confuse people too much,” Robinson said.

Guests at the Hilton can pay flat rates of $12 or more to ride the cabs to a set destination, or shell out $55 an hour for sightseeing trips.

The Hilton, which started offering the cabs earlier this month, is the first hotel to provide the service, with the Balboa Bay Club starting a trial run this week.

Lauren Granger of London was among those attending the grand opening Friday — and it took her completely by surprise. She and her family were staying at the Hilton when the festivities lured them down to the lobby.

“We heard all the British music, and we thought someone famous was coming,” she said. “David Beckham, maybe.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].