Royal Yacht Hotel
The Royal Yacht Hotel on the corner of Mulcaster Street and The Weighbridge has been completely rebuilt as a four-star hotel in the 21st century, but it claims to be the island's longest established hotel, a claim shared by the Royal Hotel in David Place. |
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Founded in the 1820s
The Royal Yacht Hotel almost certainly has a better claim to be the island's oldest than its near namesake the Royal Hotel, because it was probably founded in the 1820s. In 1833 a guide book referred to it as 'The London and Yacht Hotel'. Ten years later it was known briefly as 'Hotel de Paris', before it became the 'Royal Yacht Club Hotel'. The Royal Hotel, however, can only trace its origins back to a 'probable' 1842.
In 1890 the name of the Weighbridge hotel was shortened to The Royal Yacht Hotel. Perhaps the hotel's most distinguished visitors were members of the French Royal Family: the Duc du Montpesier, the King's fifth son and Duc d'Alençon and Compte d'Eu, the King's grandsons, who in 1848, forced to flee the revolution in France, took refuge in Jersey.
1874 Lillie Le Breton and Edward Langtry held their wedding reception at the Royal Yacht Club Hotel. During World War 2 the hotel was commandeered by the Geman Navy.
Ownership of the lane between the hotel and the adjoining buildings cannot be determined and the new hotel has been built spanning this gap, but with an open area with glass wall and roof. The facade of the original building has been maintained and a contrasting new building erected on the adjoining site, which was the headquarters of the island's bus company, Jersey Motor Transport, in the second half of the 20th century.
Picture gallery
Click on image to see larger version
The Royal Yacht Hotel in 1893
The hotel in the early 20th century
Penthouse rooms on the roof of the hotel which have since been removed
E Pope was the manager at the time this picture was taken
An early picture taken before the fourth storey and second balcony were added at the front
19th century Chases Royal Yacht Hotel
1890
1893
The hotel in the early 20th century
Cocktail bar and lounge
A painting showing the Old London Hotel on the left with Lowe's London Hotel and Royal Yacht Club next to it. These businesses merged to become the Royal Yacht Hotel in due course.
A photograph by Philip Morel-Laurens
Mr Hartfield of the hotel staff, photographed by Ernest Baudoux
Mr Hale of the hotel staff, photographed by Ernest Baudoux
Mr Sherwood of the hotel staff, photographed by Ernest Baudoux
1960s
1893
1935
A guest's bill from 1881
Hotel advertisements
1880
1890
1922
1922
1970 advert
1948 advert
1968
1964 tourism guide advert
The hotel was known as Gardener's when this advertisement was published in the early 20th century
1863
1873
1933
Newspaper records
