The Hotel Cecil.

Hastings Standard, Issue 250, 18 February 1897, Page 4

The Hotel Cecil.

The Hotel Cecil will he the temporary official residence of such of the Premiers who can accept the invitation of the Hon J. Chamberlain, to be present and participate in the " record reign" festivities. The Hotel Cecil was one of the ventures fathered by that brilliant rogue Jabez Balfour and was projected in 1880, the plans being drawn by Messrs Perry and Reed, Adelphi. The hotel occupies a site which is unrivalled in the great metropolis, comprising the streets formerly known as Salisbury street and Cecil street, and the land lying between them, covering in all over two acres.

The main or southern block directly overlooks the gardens of the Victoria Embankment, and commands magnificent views of the River Thames (from the Tower Bridge to Lambeth), St Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, and St. Thomas's Hospital. On the Embankment level is the Prince's banqueting room, capable of accommodating 250 guests. From this level, the grand staircase leads to the Indian floor, comprising spacious table d'hote room, smoking room, billiard room with a smoking lounge and American bar. Ascending again, the Strand level is reached, on which is the grand entrance hall, from the court yard. Visitors' reception rooms, the restaurant a la carte, drawing room and library, and a spacious balcony running the entire length of the embankment front, forming a most attractive addition to the restaurant and drawing rooms. The floors above are devoted to private suites of rooms and single bedrooms. Directly to the north are two wings, known respectively as the Eastern and Western Blocks, flanking the Grand Courtyard, to which direct access is obtained from the Strand. The area of the Grand Courtyard is 17,550 superficial feet, or over one-third of an acre. The Western Block consists almost entirely of private dining rooms, suites of apartments, and bed rooms, and in the eastern block, which should be completed in July, in addition to a large number of suites of rooms and bed rooms, there will be the grand banqueting hall and ball room, estimated to be capable of accommodating 1,000 guests, as well as a smaller hall known as the Victoria Hall, with necessary crush rooms, cloak rooms, and smoking rooms, and a Masonic Temple. There is a fine carriage entrance from the embankment, and accommodation under arches where vehicles may wait for guesfs secure from wind and weather. The three blocks contain about 1,000 bed and sitting rooms, and the hotel has throughout been constructed, decorated, and furnished in a style which is believed to be unequalled. The hotel was thrown open for business on the Gth May last year, and on the 21st May was floated into a limited liability company with a share capital of £BOO,OOO and debenture capital of £400,000. The property is freehold, and was last year valued at £998,000, the furniture and fitting being placed at an additional £165,000. The hotel has a complete telephonic system and its own electric light installation, whilst it is also connected with an electric supply company ; and, in addition to other modern conveniences, there are on the premises a laundry, a bakery, and plant for making ice. The Hotel Cecil is said to be one of the largest, as it is the finest in Europe. In such comfortable quarters, and with the stimulation of selected vintages the Premiers should have a gay time, and come back chock full of new ideas—whicli let us hope may be good ones also.