Mayfair’s iconic The Dorchester Hotel to don coronation colours again with its history steeped in regality

Standing head and shoulders with it’s still 1930’s architecture in the London borough of Westminster, The Dorchester has become more than just a five-star luxury hotel in Mayfair. It’s become home to a three Michelin star restaurant, has housed guests such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Winston Churchill (who has a suite named after him), the Duke of Edinburgh and has consistently been rated as one of the world’s best hotels.

So with as much history steeped throughout the corridors of the Grade II listed building, it comes as no surprise that they will be adorning their exterior for King Charles III coronation in May - an act last undertaken by The Dorchester when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1953 with the façade produced by set designer Oliver Messel. Those same decorations will be replicated once again for King Charles III, a press release from the hotel reveals.

The addition of decorations and a royal coronation menu to celebrate King Charles III's rise to the throne isn’t the first case of Royal lineage being involved with the hotel. In fact, its origins can be traced back to the Earl of Dorchester, who received the land from William the Conqueror by proxy. William gave the ‘Manor of Hyde’ (as Mayfair was known in the 11th century) to Geoffrey de Mandeville, Constable of the Tower of London, who bequeathed it to the canons of Westminster Abbey.

That bequeathing led to the Earl of Dorchester, Joseph Darmer, purchasing a house within the area of Mayfair; which is also how The Dorchester took its name as the residency of the Earl of Dorchester was named, surprise surprise, Dorchester House. Though the name of the original residency changed throughout time, with the property at one stage being referred to as Hertford House when it was purchased by Francis Seymour-Conway, the 1st Marquess of Hertford in the 19th century, until it was converted into a mansion by Captain Robert Stayner Holford after the death of Seymour-Conway in 1812.

It wasn’t a war that led to Dorchester House being demolished though - far from it, the hotel has survived two wars, with Dorchester House becoming both a US Embassy and later a hospital during World War I and then during World War II became a place of operations for then General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the American Forces in Europe, who stayed at The Dorchester while planning the Normandy invasion.

No - it was redevelopment that led to the demolition of Dorchester House and created a stir among Mayfair residents how the planned “super hotel” would look among the other landmarks the elite area of Mayfair was, and still is, known for. 

In 1931, The Dorchester hotel was unveiled to the world, bringing to life Sir Robert McAlpine's idea of the ultimate lodging experience. Through cutting-edge design and construction techniques, the hotel was erected in an unprecedented 18 months, with each floor being completed within a week. Notably, The Dorchester was also the first hotel to be built entirely from reinforced concrete, setting a new standard for the industry.

This became a point of contention for residents in Mayfair who lived there before the construction of the hotel. The hotel was built during a time when there was significant urban development in London, and some local residents may have had concerns about the impact of the new building on their community, especially the use of reinforced concrete. Percy Morley Horder, consulting architect to Gordon's Hotels, had not been consulted during the design process and resigned from the project after seeing the plan - making the assumption that the design was ill-suited for the location, assuming the concrete was to be left unpainted and that the insulation would be minimal.

The new Dorchester Hotel was feted with a grand opening on April 21 1931 by Lady Violet Astor. The Dorchester quickly gained a reputation as a luxury hotel and the haunt for many of the cultural and social elite - taking great pride in having a weekly charity ball after the end of the Second World War. Those balls would be frequented by members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh before her coronation in 1953.

It has had a relatively controversial free lifespan in London, though hasn’t been without its issues in recent years - no more greater than two incidents of societal changes and the Dorchester being somewhat left in the past.

In 2013, The Dorchester came under fire when it was revealed that the hotel's owner, the Sultan of Brunei, had introduced harsh new laws in his home country that included the stoning to death of individuals convicted of homosexuality. This sparked widespread protests and boycotts of The Dorchester and other hotels owned by the Sultan.

The Dorchester then faced criticism six years later after it was reported that female staff members were subjected to harassment and inappropriate behaviour by some male guests as part of “The Presidents Club,” an all male charity fundraiser. The event was first held in 1985 and typically attracted wealthy businessmen and celebrities who paid thousands of pounds for tickets to attend.

The event was organised by a group of prominent businessmen and included an auction, entertainment, and the presence of young female hostesses who were hired to mingle with the guests. The use of hostesses dressed in revealing outfits and their treatment by some of the male attendees led to allegations of harassment and inappropriate behaviour. A 2018 investigation by the Financial Times revealed that some of the hostesses had been subjected to groping, sexual harassment, and requests to join guests in their bedrooms. The revelations led to widespread condemnation of the event, with many calling for a boycott of The Dorchester and other hotels owned by the same group.

Following the scandal, The Dorchester announced that it would no longer host the Presidents Club event, and several charities that had previously received donations from the event returned the money.

But even those events have not utterly tarnished the warmth that The Dorchester has offered its numerous guests, who can be seen not just checking in at reception but also enjoying the Michelin star restaurant the establishment houses. Legendary French chef Auguste Escoffier was one of the earliest culinary figures associated with The Dorchester, while current chef Alain Ducasse has helmed the restaurant since 2007 - and bringing in Michelin stars each year. 

Fair warning now though; if you’ve convinced yourself to book a stay in The Dorchester shortly before the coronation of King Charles III you are out of luck - Booking.com have stated that there is no availability from their site from 5 May to 4 Jun. So maybe a chance to stay during off-peak season - and even then you’re looking at £1,050 per night to stay in one of the standard rooms.

Those flush with cash might also want to double check their bank balances before booking; the Dorchester Suite may have a four-poster bed and overlooks Hyde Park. It may also have a large sitting room, a separate dining room area, a marble en suite bathroom with natural daylight, a Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TV, an in-room printer/fax/copier and individually controlled air conditioning. But it’s also going to cost you £5,145 during off-peak seasons per night - a little rich for our blood, unfortunately.