Extensive records of one of Bexley’s most historic venues have been uncovered following the completion of a major refurbishment of Holiday Inn London Bexley, nearly a century after it was built.
The artefacts, which include old photos, letters, concert posters and newspaper articles, show the history of the striking building, which was once a 1960s music venue, hosting performances by Derek and the Dominoes featuring Eric Clapton, The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues, Slade and many more.
The discovery comes as hotel management company, Valor Hospitality, completes a phased renovation of the hotel. The renovation has included a full refurbishment of the hotel’s 107 bedrooms, a refresh of all bathrooms plus redesigned public spaces, including the lounge and restaurant.
The hotel is also equipped with eight flexible function rooms that have been reworked to ensure they are suitable for all occasions, including meetings, birthdays, weddings and parties.
Most recently, an external refurbishment was completed to enhance the front and rear of the hotel. Work was carried out to freshen the facade, whilst keeping the hotel’s iconic character and striking design.
Built in 1934, the former Black Prince was a much-loved local pub and music venue for over 50 years before becoming the Crest Hotel in 1981. It later became the Forte Posthouse Hotel and joined the Holiday Inn portfolio in 2001.
As the management partner of the Holiday Inn London Bexley, Valor Hospitality is committed to delivering exceptional service and working to enhance the overall guest experience.
Max Ball, General Manager at Holiday Inn London Bexley, commented: “This unique hotel is remembered by many as a popular venue for rock and jazz music. Through our refurbishments, we have sought to retain the character of its former status while modernising it to provide an enhanced guest experience. With our work now complete, we are looking forward to welcoming visitors looking for a hotel with rich history and high-quality hospitality.”
To see the newly refurbished hotel, join the team for an open day on Saturday 7th June. From 1 - 3 pm, visitors can enjoy complimentary refreshments, live music performances in the courtyard garden by DJTea and talented Saxophonist JaimeSax, flowers from local florist ‘Flowers by Marion’ and a showcase of historic photographs of the venue.
If you saw your favourite artist at the Black Prince or had a memorable stay at the Crest Hotel, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your stories and photographs with us at events@hilondonbexley.com