Queens Hotel, Southsea, Portsmouth

Lord Palmerston · 2025-08-26T17:20:28+0100

A large historic hotel in Southsea.

Origins (1861–1865):
The site originally housed “Southsea House,” a large private residence designed by architect Augustus Livesay in 1861 for Sir John and Lady Morris. Around 1865, during a boom in Southsea tourism and development, William Kemp Junior converted this house into one of the first hotels in the area, renaming it the Queen’s Hotel.
Destruction by Fire (1901):
On 8 December 1901, a devastating fire gutted the hotel, leaving only two outer walls standing. Tragically, two chambermaids lost their lives after being trapped in the debris.
Rebuilding (1902–1904):
In early 1902, the owner G. H. King submitted plans for a grand, purpose-built replacement. Designed by architect Thomas William Cutler in an ornate Edwardian (Free Baroque) style, the new structure was completed and reopened on 19 May 1904.
Expansion (1909–1910):
Just a few years later, in 1909, the firm Sir Arthur Blomfield & Sons undertook a significant extension, increasing the hotel's size by over one third while closely matching Cutler’s original decorative style. This work was completed by 1910.