Best Historic Luxury Hotels in London- Claridges
One of London's Most Elegant Buildings - An Art Deco Gem in Mayfair
Sep 26, 2008
In 1812 a man named James Mivart bought a house at 51 Brook Street in the heart of what is now Mayfair. His target customers were not the passing trade - he wanted his guests to stay awhile and apartments were rented by the month, rather than by the night. In those days getting to London from other parts of the country was very time consuming and people wanted to make the expense and the time worthwhile.
Claridges’ Predecessor
By 1838 Mivart had acquired five consecutive houses which he knocked through to create one large hotel. This was the perfect time for such a big investment. A few years later the Great Exhibition of art and industry in1851 brought visitors to London from around the world and many of the rich and famous made Mivart’s their temporary residence.
Claridge's is Born
There was another hotel in Brook Street, at No.49, run by husband and wife team William and Marianne Claridge. Mivert was getting old and wanted to retire. The Claridge's supplied him with the means to do so when they purchased the hotel in 1854. The new owners continued to attract the cream of British and foreign aristocracy - greatly assisted by the goodwill associated with the Mivert name.
Perhaps the greatest seal of approval came when Queen Victoria arrived with Prince Albert to visit the Empress Eugènie of France, who had made Claridge's her winter quarters in 1860.
Keeping up with the Times
In 1881 the Claridge's sold the hotel to a consortium who struggled to keep up with the competition. New hotels were more up to date, with electricity, elevators and en suite bathrooms and as a result the Claridge's felt the pinch. They had proposed the building of a new hotel on the same site but could not come up with the large amount of money needed.
Richard D’Oyly Carte
In 1893 Richard D’Oyly Carte stepped into the picture. Not only was he a theatrical impresario without whom the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas would not have achieved their enormous popularity, he was also a hotelier. He built the Savoy Hotel in1889, adjacent to the Savoy Theatre, which he also owned.
He quickly realised the potential of Claridge’s and negotiated successfully to purchase the hotel from the consortium and in 1894 Claridge's became his second hotel. He promptly demolished it and by 1898 a new, purpose-built hotel stood on the same site.
Claridge's Today
Claridge's became an ultra smart hotel and a favourite society venue. In the 1920’s parts of the hotel were redecorated in the new and fashionable Art Deco style.and the hotel has been described as an Art Deco jewel. Today it is owned by a hotel group who have retained its essential Art Deco/Victorian character. It is situated in the heart of Mayfair, one of London’s most historic and elegant areas.
Claridge's is within easy reach of the shops on Oxford Street and the boutiques of Bond Street. What better way to relax after a hard day’s spend than over the hotel's superb afternoon tea. Think delicious finger sandwiches, French pastries, scones with clotted cream and a choice of over 30 different teas from around the world. Not for those fighting the Battle of the Bulge.
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