Once the beating heart of Victorian high society, the Royal Suite Lounge began its life as the grand ballroom of the Midland Grand Hotel in 1873. In an era when refinement defined status, the room echoed with the music of string quartets and the laughter of London’s most distinguished guests. Beneath its soaring ceilings and gilded arches, debutantes danced their first waltz, and dignitaries toasted the future of the Empire.
The room featured decorative plasterwork, tall windows, and a grand fireplace that warmed the space during glittering winter galas. Stories from the time suggest that Queen Victoria’s courtiers may have gathered here—and legend has it that a young Winston Churchill once attended a railway banquet as a child. But as the decades passed and the Midland Grand fell silent in 1935, the ballroom too slipped into slumber. It became a forgotten chamber, used briefly as railway offices, its grandeur hidden behind partitions and paint. Yet the spirit of celebration lingered in the walls.
In 2011, following a meticulous restoration, the ballroom was reborn as the Royal Suite Lounge, a name that pays homage to its regal past. Today, it hosts intimate and creative gatherings of up to 22 guests, and many of the original architectural features remain; a nod to the monarchy’s enduring connection to this storied venue.
FEATURES
- Boardroom: 22 guests
- Standing Reception: 100 guests
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