Cumberland Hotel, London



Architect
Architect in charge F. J. Wills -
Oliver Bernard responsible for the public rooms.
Date Built
Public opening on 12 December 1933
Location
Great Cumberland Place & Oxford Street
Description
The https://www.kzwp.com/ website created by Kattie Zion has a detailed history of the Cumberland Hotel building.  She explains that, "... In 1901 the island site bounded by Oxford Street, Old Quebec Street, Bryanston Street and Great Cumberland Place, was progressively acquired by (Joseph) Lyons for the erection of the Cumberland Hotel. .... the Cumberland project was formidable. The excavations alone entailed the removal of over 100,000 cubic yards of material during which historical relics from all periods were unearthed.  All building work was carried out by Lyons own staff.  The Cumberland Hotel featured all the latest developments of comfort. It was sound-proofed, double glazed, air conditioned and all 900 bed-rooms had their own en-suite. All air entering the hotel was filtered including the supply to the kitchen areas. Here the exhaust was treated to eradicate cooking smells. ....  The structure consisted of thirteen floors, ten of them above ground and three below ground. The public rooms, restaurants, banqueting hall, grill room and centre court were located centrally. Part of the hotel backbone was an enormous 100-ton girder which required the world's largest lorry to convey it. Fifteen thousand tons of steel-work was used in the hotel's construction. Four hundred thousand square feet of 'Empire grown timber' was used in the making of bedroom furniture. The 50,000 yards of sheets cost £25,000 and the carpets £18,000. Two thousand staff were employed at the hotel and a specially built annex provided accommodation for 300 girls who slept in single or double rooms. There was one bath to every four girls and they ate in their own restaurant on the ground floor of the annex."







The website of the Cumberland Hotel in 2019 describes it as a, "... Modern cutting edge contemporary design Hotel in the heart of London where Oxford Street meets Park Lane and the glorious open spaces of Hyde  Park. The spectacular, spacious lobby creates a striking first impression with contemporary, original art and lighting. Modern and luxurious, expect more from The Cumberland hotel with free wi-fi throughout. With a choice of over 1,000 double-glazed luxury rooms, all equipped to high standards and many with great views of Hyde Park. The Cumberland is a non smoking hotel throughout."

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