Built in 1846 on the site of the Dolphin Inn

Please note that this text is an extract from a reference work written in 1990.  As a result, some of the content may not reflect recent research, changes and events.

The Queen’s was built in 1846 on the site of the Dolphin Inn, the middle building of a row of five in Grand Junction Road; this original section still has an Ionic doorway facing the sea. The now familiar western facade, however, originally belonged to Markwell’s Hotel which was erected in 1870 and absorbed by the Queen’s in 1908. Part of the northern facade in King’s Road is listed as being of special architectural interest. Designed by A.H.Wilds in about 1825, this section is adorned with pilasters, ammonite capitals, and four-storey bows. The Queen’s Hotel can still be seen to be composed of several separate buildings of differing styles and dates.

Alterations were made to the hotel in 1978-9, including the addition of the Sake Dene Cocktail Bar, named after Sake Dene Mahomed who once ran the country’s first turkish bath on the site of Markwell’s Hotel. In 1983 however, the hotel was closed. It was then acquired by Cheffik Ltd, and in August 1986 the hotel, which now occupies the whole block, was reopened following a major improvement programme at a cost of £8 million. The alterations included the distinctive south-eastern corner, and the addition of a Turkish bath, appropriate to the site of Mahomed’s Baths.

Any numerical cross-references in the text above refer to resources in the Sources and Bibliography section of the Encyclopaedia of Brighton by Tim Carder.

Comments about this page

  • I am trying to find out where the ‘Curtian Club’ of the 1950s had it’s premises, I have been told it was in the basement of a seafront hotel, quite possibly the Queens Hotel. I would be most grateful if somebody can throw some light on this mystery.

    By Vic Bath (03/08/2011)
  • Hello Vic The BrightonOurStory website, Newsletter Issue 12 Winter 2002 refers to the curtain Club “in the basement of the Queens Hotel in the 1960s.” Apparently they have photographs of the Club. Regards, Alan (PS Did you perhaps live at 5 The Limes – above us – in the 1960s?).

    By Alan Hobden (05/08/2011)
  • Hi Vic, The Queen’s Hotel was numbered 1-3, King’s Road and the Curtain Club was listed at number 3, so probably was in the basement. The proprietor was an A.J. Miles, providing dancing, dining and social events for members of the stage, screen and press fraternity. Regards, Andy.

    By Andy Grant (05/08/2011)
  • Hello there Alan, thank you for the information for the Curtain Club, I will pass it on to an old RAF pal of mine who lives in north Lincolnshire, whose Father was the manager of the club at one time. Yes, I did live at 5 The Limes above you, you were a little lad at that time, I just knew your Dad better, we were at the same school, I was a pupil though. I would like to hear from you, perhaps you could drop me an email to vic.bath335@btinternet.com or find me in the BT Phone Book online, the town will be Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

    By Vic Bath (05/08/2011)
  • Hello there,

    I’m looking for any information or pictures of staff around 1954/55/56, specifically a MJr Peter King and a June/Jo Moret.

    Completing some family research ☺️

    Many thanks,

    By Emily (29/06/2020)

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