About Our Hotel
The Welbeck Hotel stands as a tribute to its storied surroundings, situated on the iconic Welbeck Street known for its rich history and association with the medical profession dating back to the 1800s.
Today, The Welbeck Hotel invites guests to Stay Well, Be Well, Travel Well in a setting that reflects the city’s storied past and dynamic future.
The Medical Heartbeat of Welbeck Street
Welbeck Street has long been the pulse of London’s medical scene. Since its establishment, numerous medical institutions and professional doctor offices have sprung up here. The street’s first doctor on record, Thomas Young, began practicing at No. 48 in 1800, kickstarting a legacy.
By 1926, Miss Simpson transformed No. 27 into the Welbeck Street Nursing Home, later becoming the London Welbeck Hospital, a haven for cosmetic surgery. Ethel McCaul’s private nursing home at No. 51 even treated King Edward VII during his emergency appendicitis operation.
Not Just Doctors:
A Parade of Remarkable Characters
Welbeck Street isn’t solely about medical marvels. The street has been home to a diverse array of notable figures. In 1817, the Egyptian Rooms auction house emerged at No. 1. Ornithologist Marmaduke Tunstall lived at No. 12 from 1766, and Thomas Tyrwhitt, editor of The Canterbury Tales, resided at No. 14.
Sir William Boxall, National Gallery director, and Mary Haweis, a writer on aesthetic decoration, also added to the street’s eclectic history. While Barrister Edward Marshall Hall, known for the Camden Town Murder trial, was among the first residents at No. 57, the current hotel site.
The Welbeck Palace Hotel: A Story of Rebirth
The Hotel was commissioned by the developer C.J. Hinsley to architects Boehmer & Gibbs in 1907-09, as part of a larger architectural intervention. As advertised in early 1908, the hotel was let to Philip Henry Bayer. Occupying the site and containing about 200 rooms, it was at first designated the Welbeck Private Residential Hotel, but became “The Welbeck Palace Hotel”, a more public-sounding establishment.
Shortly before his death in 1958, Bayer sold what was now the Welbeck Hotel to Maxwell Joseph on behalf of the Hotel York company; this was sold following Joseph’s acquisition of the hugely expensive Dolphin Square development, but in 1959 the Welbeck was acquired back by his company Grand Hotels (Mayfair). Gutted, it was reopened in 1960 as The Londoner.
‘Yip-i-addy’: Subterranean Celebrations
The Welbeck Palace Hotel quickly gained fame for its basement ballroom, initially planned as a smoking and billiard room, the ballroom remained a hotspot for dances and theatrical events throughout the inter-war years. In 1923, the hotel sought a music and dancing license, humorously promising to employ only string bands, steering clear of noisy jazz.
A Modern Legacy
Today, The Welbeck Hotel stands as a testament to its rich history, combining its medical heritage with the vibrant cultural stories of Marylebone. From medical pioneers to spirited socialites, Welbeck Street continues to weave a unique tapestry of London’s past and present, offering guests a storied backdrop for their stay.
Gallery
Take a peek inside The Welbeck …….
