New Hope for London's Metropole

Two years ago, the society fought plans to replace the 1880s building, which was used for offices by the Ministry of Defence until 2004, with a block inspired by the Palazzo della Civilità in Rome commissioned by Mussolini. This, despite the former hotel being in two conservation areas and having been designated an ‘unlisted building of merit’ by Westminster Council. The plans were withdrawn and the Metropole remained boarded up and derelict. Now the Victorian Society hopes that its sale to a consortium led by International Hotel Investments will herald a new lease of life for the historic structure in which the young Winston Churchill worked for much of the First World War.

‘We’re delighted that the Hotel Metropole will be returning to its original use,’ said Heloise Brown, Conservation Adviser of the Victorian Society. ‘A massive building at London’s historic heart, it has so much to contribute to city life. We hope to see a scheme which will work with the building so that this significant piece of Britain’s social, political and architectural history can be restored to its full glory once more.’