LOOKUP Portsmouth is a cool street art festival that happens each year in Portsmouth and we were delighted to learn the Queens has inspired American artist Beau Stanton.
He has painted a large mural in Wimbledon Park for LOOKUP (see below). The whole piece is inspired by things Beau saw in Portsmouth. The main character of the artwork is based on the sculptures on the outside of the Queens Hotel.
Next time you are in Osborne Road, walking past the Queens Hotel, be sure to look up. The delightful figures you will see by the word Queens are the work of noted architectural sculptor, Frederick E E Schenck.
A biography written by David Schenck highlights how his grandfather’s career saw him train at the Edinburgh School of Art before spending two years at the National Art Training School in South Kensington. Freelance designing and modelling for the world-renowned George Jones Pottery followed and he also worked with Wedgewood.
By 1888, his career direction changed as he moved into architectural sculpture,. He worked in stone, plaster and terracotta. Increasingly Schenck became known as a champion for encouraging closer working between architects and sculptors – and the evidence of this pairing can be seen to this day.
His sculptures adorn the central libraries at Hammersmith and Islington. Another great example of his work can be found at 37 Harley Street
Southsea has been hitting the headlines for all the right reasons lately.
Muddy Stilettos in association with Knights Frank has asked followers to vote for the top places to live in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and Southsea was placed in fourth position behind Lymington, Winchester and Petersfield.
Consequently we were delighted to feature in the round-up article for our ”casual all-day dining menu in a grand, nostalgic setting – and a marvellous afternoon tea.”
Additionally in September, travel writer Peter Naldrett’s book Bright Lights, Big Cities will be published and it features a glowing review of Southsea.
In Bright Lights, Big Cities, Peter visits all 76 cities on the mainland British Isles – and a few further
afield besides – to find out just why each of them deserves to be held up as the best of British. Our cities are a cornucopia of iconic landmarks, historic cathedrals, fascinating museums and fabulous eateries, and Peter looks at familiar places from an entirely new angle, as well as exploring the less well-known corners too.
He talks about all the major Southsea attractions (many of which our guests can access at a discounted rate) and also highlights fun things like the best place to eat fish and chips.
You can read more about it here in a recent article in the Sun newspaper …
We were delighted to welcome Michael Longley for lunch recently – and he arrived clutching a handful of beautiful photos recording his wedding day at the Queens back in September 1955.
Michael shared how he met his bride-to-be Rosemary at Kimbells Ballroom in Osborne Road, while he was lodging in the city as he worked on the Handley’s Department store (latterly Debenhams).
His son Julian and wife Tess brought Michael back to the city on a trip down memory lane and they were delighted to have lunch at the hotel where he married.
“So much has changed but there are recognisable features at the hotel that I can still see,” he said.
We were hugely proud to recently host a prestigious celebratory dinner at the Queens for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
VIPs, civic dignitaries, politicians and leading names in the world of sailing gathered at the Queens to celebrate the safe return of teams taking part in the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race. You can see our video of the evening here
Congratulations to Bob Beggs and the Ha Long Bay, Vietnam team for their thrilling victory after an epic journey of more than 40,000 nautical miles.
Our highly experienced events co-ordinators worked closely with the Clipper Race team to plan and execute a delightful evening.
General Manager Paul Playford said: “We were delighted the Clipper Race team chose to celebrate at the Queens Hotel.
“Everyone pulled together to ensure this was a delightful evening for all concerned.”
Echoing Paul’s comments, Benjamin Cranny-Whitehead, who runs partnerships and events for Clipper Race team, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to work with your team in executing a flawless celebration of the Clipper Race.”
If you are planning a major celebration or VIP event, we would love to help make it a truly memorable occasion for you. Please contact our events team on events@queenshotelportsmouth.com
We are pleased as punch to have been included in a wonderful review by Cosmopolitan’s Commissioning Editor Catriona Innes
When she visited our city, she stayed with us and she had plenty of nice things to say about us.
She loved the vibe and our location was spot-on, she said.
Here’s just some of what she had to say …
You can read the full review here
Portsmouth will once again be the focus for the UK’s national commemoration as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Queens Hotel is the perfect place to stay or visit during the festivities.
D-Day veterans, Armed Forces personnel, the leader of Portsmouth City Council and VIP guests will all be taking part in the historic event on 5th June.
The personal stories and reflections of surviving D-Day veterans will be at the heart of the event, which will also feature military musicians, a Royal Air Force flypast and moving tributes from special guests. They will commemorate all those who died during the Normandy campaign, and pay tribute to the surviving veterans of D-Day. More details can be found here
In all there will be three days of activities on Southsea Common – and the Queens Hotel offers the perfect base for everyone wanting to be part of this historic event.
During the war, the Queens Hotel welcomed Sir Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower. Famously General Charles de Gaulle stayed at the Queens for a long period and could often be found on the terrace staring longingly towards France.
Whether you are planning to stay with us or join us for afternoon tea, a cocktail in Dukes Bar or a dinner reservation, you will be most welcome. https://queenshotelportsmouth.com/
We are absolutely delighted to announce we have been recognised as the Best Hotel in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the prestigious Muddy Stiletto awards.
In total this year’s Muddy Awards have reached over 10 million people nationally, with over 515,000 nominations and votes being cast across 21 categories across 28 Muddy Stilettos sites.
We just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for us -. without your help we wouldn’t have been crowned Best Hotel in Hampshire & Isle of Wight – and we really appreciate your support.
Queens Hotel, General Manager Paul Playford, said: “We are really proud to be awarded the Best Hotel accolade in the regional finals – and we couldn’t have done this without the help of our customers and loyal supporters who voted for us.
“It really is special to be recognised in this way and we look forward to the national finals.”
To mark English Tourism Week, the first Visit Portsmouth Green Tourism Awards were awarded to businesses that are able to demonstrate they are working sustainably and responsibly.
Awards are based around three themes: people, place, and our planet. The Queens Hotel received a silver award and we are on our way to gaining gold recognition.
Our General Manager Paul Playford explained sustainability was a growing focus for the Queens and something he was keen to share with guests and the Queens team.
“We are making strides and actions like replacing individual toiletries in the room with refillable alternatives is just one thing that has made a difference.
“Wherever we can take account of the impact our actions will have on the planet we are doing so,” he said.
Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council. said: “Tourism is of huge importance to Portsmouth, supporting over 12,000 jobs and bringing in more than £600m per year in income for local businesses.”
“It’s a council priority to create a city that is cleaner, safer and greener, and visitors are increasingly aware of the green credentials of tourist attractions and hotels. I’m pleased that we are recognising the sustainability efforts of these businesses which will help us achieve our collective goals and make Portsmouth an even more appealing destination.”
Fran Downton, CEO of Tourism South East added: “Sustainable tourism is a growing market in the industry, so I’m delighted to see Portsmouth launch this scheme which recognises the efforts that businesses are making.”
“It also offers visitors the ability to easily discover businesses that match their green values and will hopefully encourage more attraction and accommodation providers to get involved with the range of benefits that are on offer.”
Talented female street artists having been spreading joy on the street close to the Queens Hotel with what’s been dubbed the city’s first ever Ladyjam.
The panels outside the former casino building in Osborne Road were last updated two-and-a-half years ago and artist Lou Short thought it was time for a refresh. She called on established artists such as Roo Abrook and Ooberla and got first timers such as BitsIfind to get involved and the results are truly stunning.
We recommend guests take the trouble to check out the eye-catching designs …
We are really excited about 2024 at the Queens and we look forward to enjoying many of the highlights of the year ahead with you.
The Queens Hotel is perfectly located for you to enjoy a whole range of events and activities – and many will be happening right on our doorstep.
Cross the road from the hotel and you will be on Southsea Common, the venue for many of the city’s large outdoor events.
Everything from Portsmouth Pride to Victorious Festival will be taking place just a hop, skip and a jump from the hotel. Our proximity to the action means you can enjoy all the fun and use the Queens as your relaxing base.
As the official hotel for Portsmouth Pride, we love the positive joy the annual pride event brings to the city. We were delighted the amazing team who put this event together, were successful in their bid for Portsmouth to be the host for UK Pride in 2025.
The annual Kite Festival is a free event that takes place on Southsea Common every July and is a fantastic spectacle for all the family to enjoy.
Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival are also key dates in the diary. They draw an international crowd of thrill-seekers with a love for speed and vintage style. Find out more here
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day and Portsmouth will once again be the focus for the commemoration of this important date.
Our wonderful D-Day Museum will be hosting a range of events and activities to mark this special occasion.
Closer to home the Queens Hotel will be hosting its own celebrations. 2024 marks the 120th anniversary of the hotel being in its current form and we are planning to mark the date with a series of activities. Keep an eye on our social media for more details.
Whatever the occasion, we hope to see you at the Queens Hotel soon. 2024 is going to be a belter …