The Royal Maritime Hotel in Portsmouth has invested £1m in renovations, completing 60% of the hotel’s renovations with an additional £1m to be invested to complete the remainder of renovations.
The renovations which began in 2020 aim to minimise disruption to guests and daily operations, by being carried out in phases. Each phase tackles only three rooms simultaneously, ensuring the hotel remains functional.
The next phase of renovations is scheduled to be completed by May 2024, with subsequent phases wrapping up by the end of 2024.
With the hotel’s historical navy background and its location in the heart of Portsmouth, the hotel offers a wide range of events including conferences, small board meetings, training seminars, wakes, and weddings.
The hotel’s conference offering includes the Trafalgar Ballroom, seating up to 290 guests for banquets and 400 for receptions. Its Nelson Lounge hosts up to 100 guests and below decks space allows guests to experience the feeling of being on board a navy ship with its new décor, overhead beams, and pipework. The space is soundproof and has a large dance floor, ideal for late night parties.
In addition to updating the guest rooms, the Royal Maritime Hotel is enhancing other vital areas. The Hood conference room, which seats up to 30 people boardroom-style, is set to receive new windows and blinds. ‘Brocks Bar,’ adjacent to the ‘Trafalgar Ballroom,’ will be updated with new panelling and furniture, with these improvements expected to be complete by mid-July 2024.
The hotel is also undergoing a significant rebranding effort. Moving away from the previous ‘Club’ label, which often suggested exclusivity, it has been renamed the ‘Royal Maritime Hotel’.
Wendy Sealy, marketing manager of the Royal Maritime Hotel, said: “The change of name to the ‘Royal Maritime Hotel’ instead of the ‘Royal Maritime Hotel & Club’ reflects more of who we are and what we do as a fully functional hotel and conference centre that is welcoming to everyone.”
