Though no-one seems to know the exact date of its opening, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Eastbourne’s Grand Hotel, during which time thousands of illustrious visitors have graced its portals. Not even Sherlock Holmes’ creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who stayed here, has been able to solve the mystery.
What we do know is so many of the world’s great and good, whether royalty, politicians, musicians, actors, or sportsmen, have enjoyed the Grand’s legendary luxurious hospitality, and perhaps the most lurid and colourful guest was the great French composer Claude Debussy.
In 1905 he was escaping from a messy divorce scandal in Paris, the reason being his attachment to the singer Emma Bardac. In the late summer he booked himself and Emma, along with her daughter Dolly by the French composer Gabriel Faure (the subject of the “Listen with Mother” music) into the Grand for well over a month, even installing a piano bought from an Eastbourne music shop, while putting the finishing touches to his orchestral masterpiece La Mer, looking out at the sea from his suite (now available to guests as room 200). Oh, and Emma was 8 months pregnant with his child.
Other musical guests have been slightly less scandalous. Elgar was a visitor, once staying in the same night as Eric Coates, composer of the Dam Busters march. The great Italian tenor Caruso was another guest, as was the much-loved Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba.
Paul Robeson was a frequent resident, often performing at the Winter Gardens, and his great Russian counterpart in the bass voice department, Feodor Chaliapin, also stayed.
The Grand Hotel was famous for its Palm Court Orchestra, which soon became a regular weekly highlight on BBC radio. Before the arrival of broadcasting, however, it was already renowned for the sophistication of its music-making. In 1912, the orchestra’s cellist left in order to join the newly-formed orchestra on one of the world’s great liners. That was the Titanic.
In 1914, the Duke of Devonshire commissioned a plaque to be inserted into the wall near the bandstand commemorating the cellist, and it was unveiled by the great contralto Dame Clara Butt.
Moving away from music, other illustrious guests have included the ballerina Anna Pavlova, Charlie Chaplin, who together with his family visited many times, and the great Tommy Cooper.
Sporting personalities, many from the world of tennis, including Sue Barker who stayed here with Cliff Richard, have enjoyed the Grand’s hospitality, as have illustrious political figures (Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, David Lloyd George and others), and Royalty from all over Europe and beyond. Our own Royal family has been represented by Edward VII, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), Prince Albert and his wife (later George VI) and Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Though we will not be attempting to replicate these royal and political figures, a three-day Festival in November will recreate the appearances of some of the great artists who have graced the Grand Hotel. Artistic directors Stephannie Williams and international music critic Christopher Morley have assembled an international cast of performers to bring them all to life: soprano Anita Watson, mezzo Maria Jagusz, tenor Nicky Spence, bass Arwel Huw Morgan, violinist Lana Trotovsek, cellist Eduardo Vassallo, flautist Boris Bizjak, pianists Mark Bebbington and Dylan Perez. Kevin Whately is the compere, with Madelaine Newton joining him in theatrical scenes.
There will be a backdrop of visual displays, and, during the Gala Dinners following the performances, menus designed to reflect some of the performers (no prizes for guessing two of the desserts on offer).
Discover the 'Festival Celebrating 150 Years of Music, Monarchs and The Grand Hotel' - November 21st - 24th.
A Festival Celebrating 150 Years of Music, Monarchs & The Grand Hotel | The Grand Hotel Eastbourne