The Ritz London opened its doors on May 24th 1906 on the Piccadilly site of the Walsingham House Hotel, formerly the Bath Hotel. After Cesar Ritz has been dismissed as general manager of The Savoy in 1899, an own hotel near Buckingham Palace was on the top of his shoppinglist. It allowed him a triumphal return into London's society. However, after a first breakdown in 1901, he wasn't the same man any more. The Ritz owes its architectural design to the successful partnership formed in 1900 between Frenchman Charles Mewes, and Englishman Arthur Davis. Together they had designed the Hotel Ritz in Paris and the Carlton Hotel in London's Haymarket and between 1904 and 1905, they designed The Ritz in London. Cesar Ritz wanted for his new hotel everything he had for his guests at The Savoy - and more. His innovations for the hotel were, at that time, quite unique with bathrooms for every guestroom, double glazing, a sophisticated ventilation system, walk-in wardrobes, and brass, rather than wooden beds. The first steel framed building of Europe, The Savoy, was the hallmark of all his thoughts. The Ritz was constructed the same way. It was soon praised for its brilliant refinement of detail and articulation. Large copper lions stand proudly at each corner of the roof while ranks of soaring chimneys and projecting dormers cleverly break the skyline. The interior detail of the hotel is as impressive as its exterior and represents the influence of various Parisian architectural traditions. It was Mewes' idea to carry out all the interiors in one style with the ground floor dominated by the single Louis XVI theme. The Long Gallery, a vaulted gallery running the length of the building and linking a series of elegant public rooms, was considered a masterpiece in hotel architecture. Unhindered by either dividing doors or walls, the eye is drawn along the length of the Long Gallery to the far windows of The Restaurant and through these to the hotel's Italian Garden and Green Park. The Restaurant, often described as one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Europe, appears to be permanently 'en fete' with its sumptuous chandeliers linked by gilt bronze garlands around the room. Diagonal angles of beautifully carved stone run the Gallery's length, some opening to give views through to the Palm Court which epitomized the elegantly frivolous comfort of Edwardian high life. The Ritz opened to great acclaim from both the visiting public and the world's press and was an immediate success. During its early years, the hotel enjoyed the patronage of the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII, and the English aristocracy. Throughout its history The Ritz has attracted the famous and the fashionable. King Alfonso of Spain and Queen Amelie of Portugal met in the hotel; Pavlova, the Russian Prima Ballerina, danced at The Ritz; the Aga Khan and Paul Getty had suites; and Churchill, de Gaulle and Eisenhower met for Summit Meetings in the Marie-Antoinette Suite during the Second World War. The Ritz also became the favourite of Hollywood stars; Charlie Chaplin required 40 policemen to escort him through the fans into the hotel in 1921, Noel Coward wrote songs at The Ritz and Tallulah Bankhead sipped Champagne from her slipper during a press conference in the 1950's. And the Palm Court was as popular as "the place for tea" as it remains today! In 1995 The Ritz was returned to private British ownership when it was bought by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay's private company Ellerman Investments. Almost immediately, a meticulous and complete refurbishment began on the Grade II* (star) listed building. Ten years later, at a cost of over UK£50 million, The Ritz has been fully restored with no detail, either in the public areas or behind the scenes, left untouched. In January 2002, The Ritz became the first hotel to receive a Royal Warrant for Banqueting and Catering services, awarded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who has coined the slogan 'Where Ritz goes, I go!' (This text is based on the hotel's own website - history seciton, with additions - and corrections - by a biographer of Cesar Ritz, , who also researched and published the history of The Savoy, London). More on Cesar Ritz: