Derelict London Hotels and Restaurants
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Oriental Restaurant - Wandsworth, SW18
This place at 6 West Hill on the busy A3 has been empty for a few years years. Formerly the Beijing House Chinese Restaurant then the Navy Thai 9. A couple of years ago the distinctive blue and white Navy Thai signage was removed and it looked like something was happening but obviously not.
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Park Royal, w5 - former Magnat Polish Pub
Originally The Park Royal Hotel and then renamed The Band at Rest, Phae Tingos, Joice’s Irish Bar, The Ring and more latterly The Magnat
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Park Royal, w5 - Park Royal Hotel (Magnat Polish Pub)
These premises built in the 1930s, originally named The Park Royal Hotel and then renamed The Band at rest, Phae Tingos, Joice’s Irish Bar, The Ring and more latterly The Magnat until closure in 2012. The landlords handed in their licence and walked away rather than face police in a license review hearing. The police had logged 28 incidents (mostly involving violence including allegations of attacks by door men) at The Magnat in approxiamately 12 months. The English-Polish Information Cultural Service described The Magnat as a "valuable base and home of many Polonian cultural and art events". There are plans to redevelop the site to provide a 171 bedroom hotel, following part demolition of and extensions to the locally listed building. Cheers to Glenn for the heads up about this place 
Rear view of the Magnat Polish Pub
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Averard Hotel, Bayswater W2
The closed down Averard Hotel, Bayswater
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The Averard London was a family run bed and breakfast hotel with 60 bedrooms in elegant surroundings with a slightly faded grandeur & situated within easy access of Hyde Park and Paddington.Shortly before closure in 2009 the hotel was ordered to pay over £21,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation following a prosecution brought by the London Fire Brigade.
The Averard was originally built as two Victorian townhouses before being reconfigured as a hotel in 1925, and has most recently been a family run bed and breakfast. The building was sold, according to auctioneer Christie & Co, to a private international investor and is due to be converted to a five-star boutique hotel.The proposed development of the Grade II listed building involves restoration and refurbishment, and a significant extension to the rear of the site including partial demolition of a 1957 rear addition. The 2005 film Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont starring Dame Joan Plowright was filmed at the Averard (both interior and exterior) as "The Claremont." 
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Soho W1 - Gay Hussar
The Gay Hussar was a famous Greek Street restaurant that opened in 1953. It was named in honour of the elite Hussars of the Hungarian army associated with the name of a popular Hungarian operetta, The Gay Hussars.
Diners over the years included T. S. Eliot, Aneurin Bevan, Barbara Castle, Gordon Brown and Ian Mikardo. Michael Foot celebrated his 90th birthday there. In recent years a group of journalists, politicians and lawyers formed the "Goulash Co-operative Ltd" to raise money to secure the lease but its bid was rejected by the owners The restaurant closed in June 2018.
Diners over the years included T. S. Eliot, Aneurin Bevan, Barbara Castle, Gordon Brown and Ian Mikardo. Michael Foot celebrated his 90th birthday there. In recent years a group of journalists, politicians and lawyers formed the "Goulash Co-operative Ltd" to raise money to secure the lease but its bid was rejected by the owners The restaurant closed in June 2018.
SOHO, W1 - LVPO BAR (once the more famous Trattoria Terrazza)
Everyone from Princess Margaret to The Beatles once dined here
Since 1995 until recently this was a trendy bar called LVPO serving expensive cocktails to mixed reviews - amongst many happy late night drinkers somebody who wasnt so keen posts a review online: "if u want a hot, overpriced grot-hole which smells of sick, this place is perfect. If you'd prefer going home without your coat having been splashed in drunken fuelled pee, best to avoid at all costs."
This site was more famed for the Italian Restaurant that used to be here - The Trattoria Terrazza opened in 1959 by Mario Cassandro and Franco Lagattolla. This place was responsible for introducing Italian food to many people in London and making it trendy - a restaurant of the modern era making dining less formal.
The anti-hero in The Ipcress File takes his girlfriend to the restaurant and in John Wayne’s only English film (Brannigan) a US cop comes to London to apprehend an escaped villain. Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) and Det Sgt Thatcher (Judy Geeson) enjoy a meal at Trattoria Terrazza. Amongst the real-life royalty, politicians, actors and rockstars who frequented this establishment were Princess Margaret and The Beatles.
The site is subject to redevelopment into a new restaurant unit & new luxury apartments with a new roof extension and a roof terrace.
This site was more famed for the Italian Restaurant that used to be here - The Trattoria Terrazza opened in 1959 by Mario Cassandro and Franco Lagattolla. This place was responsible for introducing Italian food to many people in London and making it trendy - a restaurant of the modern era making dining less formal.
The anti-hero in The Ipcress File takes his girlfriend to the restaurant and in John Wayne’s only English film (Brannigan) a US cop comes to London to apprehend an escaped villain. Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) and Det Sgt Thatcher (Judy Geeson) enjoy a meal at Trattoria Terrazza. Amongst the real-life royalty, politicians, actors and rockstars who frequented this establishment were Princess Margaret and The Beatles.
The site is subject to redevelopment into a new restaurant unit & new luxury apartments with a new roof extension and a roof terrace.
VICTORIA, SW1 - LOOK AHEAD HOSTEL
In the vastly changing face of the the Victoria area, this site consisting of several buildings in Castle Lane currently lies vacant following Westminster City Council's decommissioning of a former rough sleeping shelter. Land Securities bought the four former hostels for £22.5m in 2011 from charity Look Ahead with the specific aim of developing affordable housing at the site to act as an offset against its obligations on other developments in Victoria.The proposal is to convert these late Victorian buildings into 63 homes. This includes giving a roof extension to each of the three main buildings – Castle Buildings North and South and Alexandra Buildings. With regards to tenure 60% of the units will be social rent and 40% will be intermediate housing. Sanctuary Housing will own and manage the development.
HOUNSLOW - GRENADA HOTEL
This old budget guesthouse/hotel made up of several adjoining houses is proposed for demolition and plans have been submitted to build a new four to eight-storey building, to provide a 122-bedroom hotel (Travelodge) & 73 flats.
SOHO W1 - REGENT PALACE HOTEL
The Regent Palace closed on the 31st of December 2006 having first opened in 1915. During the First World War, a considerable part of the hotel was requisitioned by the British Government and during the Second World War, 2 separate bombs caused minor damage.One of these bombs hit the staff Annexe This staff annexe building also contained a complete laundry service for all of the Strand hotels in London. In the 1960’s, the hotel developed a less than favourable reputation as a place of ill repute - a meeting point for ladies of the night to ply their trade.
I found this review on the net by an unhappy guest at the hotel: "Abysmal. Bedbugs in most beds, filthy rooms with stains all over the walls, disgusting shower and toilet facilities and very worn and dated decor. Staff were nice enough, manager couldn't care less because he said the hotel was being closed this December. I am still itching at the thought of my stay. Our party had to check out after the first night because most people had bites. I had to show the manager the bodies of the 10 bedbugs I found (whilst just glancing at the top blanket) before he would believe me and give me a refund. Revolting."
I found this review on the net by an unhappy guest at the hotel: "Abysmal. Bedbugs in most beds, filthy rooms with stains all over the walls, disgusting shower and toilet facilities and very worn and dated decor. Staff were nice enough, manager couldn't care less because he said the hotel was being closed this December. I am still itching at the thought of my stay. Our party had to check out after the first night because most people had bites. I had to show the manager the bodies of the 10 bedbugs I found (whilst just glancing at the top blanket) before he would believe me and give me a refund. Revolting."
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ELEPHANT & CASTLE SE1 - DRISCOLL HOUSE HOTEL
This building opened as Ada Lewis House in 1913, one of the first of a small number of places in London providing accommodation for women (although over the years male guests were also allowed). The opening ceremony was performed by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and the building was named after Ada Lewis, wife of the philanthropist Samuel Lewis.
The building was bought by Terence Driscoll in the 1950s who renamed the building after himself. He worked every day at the hotel reception and used to give a weekly speech in the hotel at Sunday lunch, in the course of which he passed on news from past residents as well as his opinions on current affairs. Every December, Mr Driscoll would dress up as Father Christmas and distribute presents while carols were sung.
Terence Driscoll continued to be active in the running of Driscoll House until the last weeks of his life. He died in July 2007 and the hotel closed soon afterwards. There is a plan to convert the building into apartments.
The building was bought by Terence Driscoll in the 1950s who renamed the building after himself. He worked every day at the hotel reception and used to give a weekly speech in the hotel at Sunday lunch, in the course of which he passed on news from past residents as well as his opinions on current affairs. Every December, Mr Driscoll would dress up as Father Christmas and distribute presents while carols were sung.
Terence Driscoll continued to be active in the running of Driscoll House until the last weeks of his life. He died in July 2007 and the hotel closed soon afterwards. There is a plan to convert the building into apartments.
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EARLS COURT - PHILBEACH HOTEL
When open was described by Lonely Planet Guide as "in the heart of 'gay Earls Court' sits one of London's few gay hotels. Easily the most popular, it prides itself on being 'owned by gays, run by gays, for the gays!"
Phil writes to Derelict London: "I am in a state of shock at seeing the picture on your site of the Philbeach Hotel closed down and boarded up. It was part of London’s Gay Heritage and should have had a pink plaque on the wall. As a youngster some 20 or more years ago – I regularly found myself heading there to spend a night in one of it’s rooms after being picked up in a club! I would be so intimidated by the transvestites that used the bar as a regular meeting place. They all seemed to look like the men dressed as women on that ‘Bounce’ tv ad. There was a small room downstairs that was an Alladin’s cave of glittery frocks and oversized shoes, where the ‘ladies’ would dress for the evening. I can’t believe it’s all gone. Happy memories!"
NOTTING HILL - HILLGATE HOTEL
Another one of those London hotels that are made out of joined up houses
COBHAM KT11 - SAN DOMINICO RESTAURANT & BAR
Ive driven past this empty building beside the A3 for years.There is something always slightly sinister looking about it - in a Hammer House of Horror sort of way. There is always a light on (even on Christmas Day!) in one of the windows presumably security. There have been rumours via a well known London phone in radio show that that it has/had some sort of secret military use
Colin writes: “I moved to Esher from S.E London in 1982 and I'm sure it was closed then. No one seems to know the truth behind it, but local legend says it's owned by a wealthy farmer. Geographically it's positioned roughly in front of the Cobham Hilton by a few hundred yards. I believe it still stands because the owner wouldn't sell it to be demolished to provide an access road from the A3 to the hotel. Allegedly he keeps it standing empty either as an act of defiance to big business or maybe it's just 'because he can!!' Another story is that the restaurant was put out of business by the upgrading of the A3 causing it to become too dangerous for motorists to enter or exit the fast moving traffic. I have on rare occasions seen a guard sunning himself in a deckchair on a fine day, but I've never seen a vehicle in the car park. Whether or not there is any truth to either story only time will tell but for now it adds to the mystery."
Since these photos were taken the place has been given a coat of paint and the car park tidied up & resurfaced. Amid rumours of future use as a strip club or brothel the place remains vacant.
Colin writes: “I moved to Esher from S.E London in 1982 and I'm sure it was closed then. No one seems to know the truth behind it, but local legend says it's owned by a wealthy farmer. Geographically it's positioned roughly in front of the Cobham Hilton by a few hundred yards. I believe it still stands because the owner wouldn't sell it to be demolished to provide an access road from the A3 to the hotel. Allegedly he keeps it standing empty either as an act of defiance to big business or maybe it's just 'because he can!!' Another story is that the restaurant was put out of business by the upgrading of the A3 causing it to become too dangerous for motorists to enter or exit the fast moving traffic. I have on rare occasions seen a guard sunning himself in a deckchair on a fine day, but I've never seen a vehicle in the car park. Whether or not there is any truth to either story only time will tell but for now it adds to the mystery."
Since these photos were taken the place has been given a coat of paint and the car park tidied up & resurfaced. Amid rumours of future use as a strip club or brothel the place remains vacant.
