The year was 1889, and London was on the cusp of a dramatic transformation. The newly established London County Council embarked on an ambitious project: the widening of the Strand, a major thoroughfare in the heart of the city. This undertaking marked the biggest urban renewal since the Great Fire of 1666, paving the way for a new era of development.
This ambitious project sparked a visionary dream in the mind of Edward George Saunders, the manager of the Coronet Theatre. Saunders, brimming with ambition, envisioned a new theatre in the heart of this emerging district. He shared his vision with Thomas Frederick Wild, a chartered accountant and fellow theatre enthusiast, who proposed an even grander idea: a luxury hotel to complement the theatre.
A Hotel with a Golden Name
The partners settled on the name “Waldorf” for their venture, a name that resonated with wealth and grandeur. This choice was inspired by William Waldorf Astor, a newly naturalized British citizen who, at that time, held the title of the world’s richest man. The name “Waldorf” was synonymous with luxury and success, and the partners believed it would attract investors and patrons alike.
However, their ambitious plans faced initial hurdles. The syndicate responsible for funding the project struggled to attract investors, and the dream of a theatre began to fade as two other theatres were established in the vicinity. But the hotel project persevered, and Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, a celebrated architect, was tasked with its design.
An Edwardian Masterpiece
Mackenzie, inspired by his travels in the United States, envisioned a hotel that would surpass anything Britain had seen before. He incorporated an abundance of bathrooms, a rarity at the time, and designed three grand entrance halls, with the central hall opening onto a luxurious Palm Court lounge. The finished product, a magnificent example of Edwardian architecture, garnered immense praise. The “Architectural Review,” a respected publication, hailed it as a “dignified architectural note in the improved heart of London.”
The “Morning Post” newspaper, in a review published before the hotel’s official opening, gushed about the Palm Court, describing it as a “glass-covered courtyard treated as a garden, with a marble terrace around decked with light trellis work of a pattern and colour [it was pale green and white] more restful on the eye.”
A Hotel for the Modern Age
The Waldorf opened its doors in 1908, boasting 400 bedrooms, 176 bathrooms, and a range of amenities that were considered cutting-edge at the time. The hotel featured small flats with sitting rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, a grill room, restaurant, Masonic temple rooms, and, most importantly, electricity. Every room had a telephone, a remarkable innovation for the era, and there was even a telephone exchange, a feature unheard of at the time.
The hotel’s public spaces were designed for opulence and grandeur, with two-storey-high ceilings and a spacious intermediate floor that housed a billiards room, a ladies’ drawing room, and private sitting rooms with balconies overlooking the Aldwych. Two passenger lifts provided easy access to all floors, adding to the hotel’s modern convenience.
A Ballroom of Dreams
The 1920s saw the Waldorf become a popular dance destination, with the tango taking center stage. The hotel introduced special Tango Teas in its restaurant, and the ballroom, where evening dress was mandatory, became a hub for the city’s social elite.
The era was further ignited by the arrival of Howard Godfrey, a charismatic young bandleader who had already made a name for himself through radio broadcasts. Godfrey’s band, known as “Howard Godfrey and the Waldorfians,” became a sensation, rivaling the renowned band of Debroy Summers and the Savoy Orpheans, further solidifying the Waldorf’s reputation as a hotspot for entertainment and social life.
A Survivor through War and Change
The Waldorf’s grandeur was tragically interrupted during the Second World War. A flying bomb, during the afternoon of June 30, 1944, struck near the hotel, causing significant damage and casualties. Despite the devastation, the hotel rose again, playing host to jubilant crowds celebrating both VE Day and VJ Day, marking the end of the war.
The post-war years presented a period of challenges and adjustments, but the Waldorf, under the ownership of Frederick Hotels Ltd, persevered. It was during this time that Charles Forte, a visionary hotelier, entered the scene. In 1959, he acquired the Waldorf, marking the start of a massive hotel empire that would grow to over 800 properties.
A Legacy of Luxury
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Waldorf thrived under Forte’s leadership. In 1992, the hotel underwent a major £12.5 million refurbishment, reopening in 1993 to mark its 85th anniversary. In 2004, the hotel’s management was awarded to Hilton Hotels, marking a new chapter in the hotel’s long and illustrious history.
The Waldorf Hotel, a testament to London’s architectural ingenuity, has witnessed an era of sweeping change and progress. From its humble beginnings as a dream of a theatre manager, it has become a landmark synonymous with luxury, elegance, and a vibrant social scene. A true symbol of London’s enduring spirit, the Waldorf Hotel continues to captivate and inspire, promising a future as bright as its past.
