Hotel History

The success of The Savoy Theatre inspired Richard D'Oyly Carte to build a grand hotel to host the audience after the show.

The Savoy opened its doors to an eager public in 1889. The hotel took five years and vast expense to complete and, when it opened on 6 August 1889, incorporated unheard of features, including full electric lighting and what for the time was a startling number of baths: 67 in total.

Masterful timing resulted in a glittering first season, and D'Oyly Carte ensured The Savoy's continued success by luring celebrated hotelier César Ritz from Paris to be its manager, accompanied by maître chef Auguste Escoffier, and Louis Echenard, a master of wine, as maître d'hotel.

In the ensuing years the hotel saw numerous expansions, always incorporating the latest amenities, facilities and styles, such as art deco. The Savoy would not rely on the vagaries of the outside world for power or water, or indeed for roasted coffee.

Escoffier created dishes for Sarah Bernhardt, Lily Langtry, Dame Nellie Melba and the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII; Ritz instituted the impeccable service, attention to detail and innovation, which came to be the hallmark of the hotel.

The Savoy sparkled with glittering parties. One of the most famous was the Gondola dinner, hosted by champagne millionaire and Wall Street financier George Kessler, in July 1905. Venice was recreated in the old forecourt, lit by 400 Venetian lamps, a silk-lined gondola decorated with 12,000 fresh carnations, a five-foot birthday cake and arias were sung by the tenor Caruso, who was paid £450.

Royalty patronized The Savoy in such numbers that the special bell heralding their arrival had to be abandoned and, by 1914 The Savoy Grill had established itself as a rendezvous for leading stars, impresarios and critics.

From the end of the First World War into the Thirties, Maharajahs took up residence with glittering retinues, Pavlova danced, the Archbishop of Canterbury attended the cabaret. Eccentricities were catered for without hesitation, including opera singer's Luisa Tetrazzini's crocodile!

In 1923 the two Savoy dance bands, The Savoy Orpheans and The Savoy Havana Band, became the first to broadcast regularly from a hotel. The BBC's Dance Music from The Savoy Hotel in London was broadcast to millions worldwide. In the Ballroom Gershwin gave London its first performance of Rhapsody in Blue in 1925, and Carroll Gibbons played nightly.

Another devoted Savoyard was Sir Winston Churchill. He visited The Savoy every week when in London and was present when Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt was guest of honor of the Pilgrim Society. The restaurant was closed to the public for the event and a thousand guests attended, including the newly married Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

In 1953 Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, and The Savoy threw what was considered the ball of the century on the evening of Coronation day.

Throughout the following decades everyone who was anyone continued to stay at The Savoy. Elizabeth Taylor spent the first night of her first honeymoon at The Savoy with her first husband, Nicky Hilton.

Charlie Chaplin returned to Britain for the first time since he had left to make his fortune in Hollywood in 1952, bringing fourth wife Oona, their four children, and his oldest son, Sydney.

Marilyn Monroe took a press conference at The Savoy in the mid-1950s when she came to Britain to make The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier. The venue may have brought memories back for Olivier, as it was here that he was first introduced to Vivien Leigh in the late 1930's.

Singers who have favored The Savoy as their home from home range from Dame Nellie Melba, to Enrico Caruso all the way to U2.  Elton John once left his bath running while he answered the phone. Due to the speed at which Savoy baths fill, and the length of the call, considerable damage was caused to the rooms below!

In the mid-1990s all the hotels in the Savoy Group took part in a £60m refurbishment, and as part of this, The Savoy's front hall, first built in 1904, was restored to its former glory. A mezzanine floor that had been added after the War was removed and the interior was restored using photographs from the archives as a guide.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is extremely honored to be this landmark's caretaker as this grand hotel writes the next chapters of its intriguing story.