A Regal History - 1832 To Present
A Regal History - 1832 To Present
Visitors to The Royal, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, cannot fail to notice the friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the hotel, first class service and the general air of health and well-being. The Two Hundred year history and heritage of the hotel may be an explanation of this special feeling throughout the building, grounds and people.
The prestigious hotel was built almost Two Hundred years ago as an Inn on what was then a new road from St. Lawrence leading to a newly forming seaside town known as Ventnor.
The Inn was to accommodate not only travellers but also people who had come to Ventnor for the sake of their health. In 1832, the special microclimate and fresh English channel air of Ventnor was known as beneficial, especially to those suffering from ill health. In fact a hospital was built nearby to improve the health of the sick. The Inn offered great food and accommodation coupled with the health benefits of Ventnor's exotic microclimate.
The Inn also included an Annexe for guests who were invited to stay with Sir John Hambrough at his newly erected residence of Steephill Castle, one mile west of Ventnor.
Over the years that followed, this historic building entertained many of the crowned heads of Europe, and was a favourite destination of Queen Victoria’s whenever she visited Ventnor.
The Royal, originally called Ventnor Hotel in 1833, was run by Mr John Fisher, who continued to run the hotel until 1841. After which the hotel was then kept by a Mr Keatly and in 1844 was conducted (directed) by Mr G.M Riles.
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, first visited in 1844 on her way to visit Steephill Castle. She enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea in the soon-to-be Royal Gardens, where she would return and often frequent, becoming our very first Loyal Royal.
For the decade between 1851 - 1861 Mr William Bush was the hotel keeper. The next owner of the hotel was Mr William Johnson, who was the sole proprietor from 1873.
In addition to the ‘special climate and fresh air’, the hotel was close to the sea and people in the mid 1800's thought that salt water was a cure for everything from bruises to hysteria. A ‘bath house’ had been constructed at the western end of the esplanade for hotel patrons and the public to enjoy a hot bath, especially after a dip in the sea. The bath house remains to this day and is now ‘The Spyglass’. Guests would travel down the steep hill from the Hotel to the Bath House and so it became known as Bath Road – and it has been called that ever since.
Around this time Charles Dickens was a Loyal Royal. Staying with us between 1837 and 1838. He became enchanted with the Island and in 1849 he had a family home here, where he would write the first episodes of David Copperfield.
'I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw, in my life, either at home or abroad.' - Charles Dickens
During the years between 1873 and 1885, 50 years into its life, the Royal underwent extensive refurbishment, including part of the building being raised one storey higher on the left wing, which gave an addition of fifteen large bedrooms, a reading room and a public dining room. The interior was thoroughly 'modernised' for its time and redecorated throughout.
"My great great great grandfather William Aymer Johnson was owner of The Royal. Put the second storey on and closed the centre at arch twice a day to the mail coaches, made them go around to the back. He's buried in lake cemetery, had 11 children 3 wives, last one survived him." - Rene Mcmahon
In May 1885 a new proprietor, Mr James Beales of Threadneedle Street, took over the hotel - who refurbished the building with elaborate refitting and furnishings. However unfortunately, in September 1885, Mr James Beales was declared bankrupt.
While it remained open, there is a period lacking in information for the life of the hotel over the next Ten years, as the next person to direct The Royal is that of Mr Hubert Cloots in 1895. During his tenure, Mr Cloots built a grand new saloon, had the hotel's first telephone installed in 1896. The number then was Ventnor 6, which has been kept to this day as our last digit of the phone number - 852186.
In the late 1800's many steamers were using The Royal Victoria Pier and it became a very exciting port of call, as Ventnor was now seen to be one of the best places to stay and renew your vigour.
In 1911 the hotel was put on the market and in 1917 the Homes Counties Public Trust Bought the Royal, the original Trust House Forte. By 1965 The Royal boasted an impressive 65 bedrooms and 15 private bathrooms. Back then it would have cost you 35/- (£1.75) for a single room and 55/- (£2.75) for a double room, per person per night to stay in the prestigious hotel.
In 1982, Beeching terminated the Isle of Wight railways and visitors became fewer and fewer. So it was decided to close the hotel over the winter period, apart from the Christmas festivities. This was the first time in 150 years the doors had been closed.
The Royal Hotel Buffet building once stood at the junction between Belgrave and Zig Zag Road. It had a large saloon, separate private and public bars, a cellar and a large billiard room on the first floor. It also provided private accommodation including three bedrooms, two sitting rooms, kitchen, and scullery. In the 60's it was a regular watering hole for many locals and clubs, and a favourite place for parties and celebrations. By the 1990's however, changing habits had resulted in its closure and in December 1996 the building became subject of a demolition order as it had become unsafe and the costs of repair prohibitive.
A few years later, 'old Ventnor' was designated a conservation area.
The hotel suffered from a lack of investment over the following years until it was purchased by the well known Isle of Wight hotelier family, The Bailey's in the summer of 1994.
The Bailey Family were renowned hoteliers on the Island with a reputation for excellence and service. The family was the owner of The Seaview Hotel (famously a small boutique hotel), and the Royal Esplanade Hotel in Ryde, where, in room number 10, a Mr William Bailey was born.
William would grow up in the hospitality trade, learning from an early age the secrets of running a successful hotel, along with brilliant service. Eventually, after an education in hospitality, Mr Bailey would 'accidentally' become the owner of The Royal at just 36 years old, when walking past The Royal, he placed an offer, which was soon accepted.
Mr William Bailey took his new purchase seriously bringing a wealth of experience, style and hard work to the then weathered Royal Hotel. His efforts and determination gradually returned The Royal back into the beautiful and majestic ‘Royal’ hotel it once was.
Mr Bailey explained, “my first priority was to make this a food destination hotel, so we turned our restaurant into the Island’s first 2 AA Rosette restaurant”, an accolade the hotel has maintained annually ever since.
Under Mr Bailey's ownership, The Royal has undergone extensive refurbishment and has become one of the Islands top hotels, carrying an abundance of awards for quality and service.
The Royal Hotel was the first hotel on the Isle of Wight to be awarded four silver stars from the AA and to this day is the highest rated on the Island.
Since 1994, The Royal has continued to be under the ownership of William Bailey, becoming the Island’s premier AA rated hotel.
The Royal is now a luxury 51 bedroom, 4AA Silver Star hotel. The grand Geranium restaurant can cater up to 140 guests indoors, as well as a garden restaurant which caters up to 32 guests. We also have a range of public areas for casual dining that can accommodate dogs and cater up to 80 guests. The Albert function room caters up to 40 guests and is commonly used for events such as Weddings, Conferences and Baby Showers.
In 2022 our restaurant was awarded the Beautiful South's Restaurant Of The Year (Bronze), which recognises businesses in the South East of England that offer outstanding cuisine, innovative service and excellence throughout their entire operation.
From Queen Victoria, we have seen many celebrities become Loyal Royals frequenting with us, including George Ezra, Ainsley Harriott, Grace Dent, Mary Berry, Edith Bowman, Joel Dommett, Manic Street Preachers, and many more.
If your preferred dates show as unavailable online, please call our Reservations Team on 01983 852186, who will be happy to assist with your enquiry.
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