The building was known as "The Ritz of Southampton", from late 1800s to 1930s, the hotel hosted many rich and famous clients; such as Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Rex Harrison and Amy Earhart to name a few.

It is said that Winston Churchill’s met with Dwight Eisnenhower at the Hotel discuss D-Day plans during the Second World War.

Some guests of the ill-fated Titanic stayed at the Imperial Hotel the night before embarking on the ship; a grandiose staircase in the building is named after the Titanic.

The original building was a six-storey structure in red brick, but in the 1920s a large eight-storey addition in ashlar stone was built on the station side. Presently, the building contains a mix of flats with bars and restaurants to the ground floor. To date the building retains some of the original décor, from large marble columns, grand and intricate gold leaf painted ceilings with external Ashlar stone cladding, banding, dentils, columns and scrolls and pediments interspersed with red brick.

Project Services:

Leyson Building Consultancy Ltd was afforded exciting opportunities to be involved with a plethora of building-related services at this magnificent site.

On behalf of our client we:-

Provided a detailed reinstatement cost assessment for the buildings insurance valuation purposes using the BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) software of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) – including commercial units.

Surveyed the external buildings’ envelope to provide a schedule of repair works to assist with prioritising repairs with approximate quantities for project cost control: -

• Hammer testing of stone and scheduling repair / replacement
• Assessing damage to the buildings’ fabric and components such as cast iron rainwater goods, timber windows and external doors
• Slate roof coverings and lead-line dormer windows / roofs
• Ironwork to railings

Administered a contract to ensure the works were completed on time and within budget.

Carried out several investigations / building pathology reporting for water penetration through various roofs and parapet walls.

Assessed and reported on the condition of various Juliette balconies as a precursor to the external façade maintenance package(s).

Assessed movement cracks and advised of appropriate remedial works.

Undertaken risk assessments on internal building services installations.