HISTORY
Unforgettable stories and a century of style
The Berkeley has epitomised elegance and luxury for over 100 years, constantly reinventing itself to remain at the cutting edge of fashion.
A safe spot for debutante daughters
At the turn of the 19th century, The Berkeley stood at the corner of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street.
The restaurant was a popular venue for debutantes, one of the few places they were allowed to go unchaperoned with their escorts. With its excellent reputation for service, parents trusted the hotel staff to keep an eye on their darling daughters.
An operatic legend
The Berkeley became part of the Savoy Group in 1901, under the auspices of Richard D’Oyly Carte. D’Oyly Carte is most famous for producing the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and guiding the duo through their somewhat operatic working relationship.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s piano can be seen in The Berkeley’s sister hotel, Claridge’s.
Reinventing The Berkeley
Luxurious and constantly seeking perfection, The Berkeley was always ahead of its time – air conditioning and double glazing were installed in the 1920s. But the elderly building could only take so much improvement. In 1972 The Berkeley staff and The Berkeley ideals moved to an elegant purpose-built hotel in Knightsbridge.
The star feature of the new Berkeley was its rooftop pool, still unique among London hotels. The pool opened in a special ceremony in 1972. Guests have swum and sunbathed amid panoramic views ever since.
A heritage that charms the stars
You can still see wood panelling and decorative carvings from the original Berkeley in the hotel’s famous Blue Bar, hangout of stars such as Madonna, Leonardo di Caprio and Giselle. Designed by David Collins, the Blue Bar is particularly famous for its colour scheme. The carvings were carefully covered and preserved before they received their striking coat of “Lutyens blue”.