A Podcast: Hotels with History: Where Legends Were Made, One Guest at a Time

If you love hospitality as much as I do, let me introduce you to a podcast that's become my latest obsession: Hotels with History. And honestly, it's worth listening to if only for Richard E. Grant's voice – that man could read a phone book and make it captivating.

Launched in September 2025, this eight-episode series takes listeners behind the grand façades of the world's most legendary hotels to uncover the scandals, secrets, and remarkable moments that transformed these buildings from mere accommodation into cultural landmarks. Hosted by the incomparable Richard E. Grant and travel expert Jules Perowne – founder and CEO of Perowne International and one of the most respected voices in luxury hospitality – each episode is a masterclass in storytelling.

Where History Happens

As Perowne notes in her introduction, legendary hotels are "crossroads of every city, bringing together some of the most intriguing and influential people in the world. Hotels are where history happens." And she's absolutely right. These aren't just places to sleep; they're living museums where world-changing events unfolded, creative genius flourished, and defining moments of the 20th and 21st centuries were witnessed.

I've listened to the first five episodes so far, and I'm already eager for the rest.

The Stories That Captivated Me:

Claridge's, London – Who knew one of the world's most famous hotels sits on the site of a 1600s livestock fair cancelled due to debauchery? Or that it became known as the "Annex to Buckingham Palace"?

The Gritti Palace, Venice – A 15th-century palazzo that became a cherished haven for literary giants like Hemingway and Somerset Maugham. Venice's Gritti Palace is beautifully evoked with watery sound effects and a blast of Vivaldi, though Grant admits it's been some months since his gorgeous stay there, following in Hemingway's footsteps.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes – The glittering French Riviera comes alive as Grant explores what great artists get up to on holiday and dives into what might just be the most legendary swimming pool ever built – the very one that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night.

Raffles Hotel, Singapore – Four visionary Armenian brothers transformed a 10-room beach bungalow into a magnificent Neo-Renaissance palace. And here's a gem: the Singapore Sling was invented at Raffles in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. At a time when women weren't permitted to drink alcohol in public, Boon created this fruity, pink-hued cocktail to resemble fruit juice, allowing women to enjoy an alcoholic beverage discreetly. The cocktail is still made at Raffles today and remains a world-renowned classic.

Le Bristol, Paris – During World War II, an architect drew up plans from an unmarked hotel room here. The episode explores the joys of a good hotel bar and why Le Bristol is so renowned for its silence.

A Missed Opportunity?

As much as I'm enjoying this podcast, I do wish they'd recorded on location rather than in a studio. There's something about being in situ that would have added another layer of authenticity and atmosphere to these stories.

But my biggest critique? Where are the staff?

Hotel workers are frequently alluded to throughout the episodes, but never given a voice. And what any fool knows about any hospitality setting that truly delivers is that it is the workers who make all the difference. The concierge who remembers your name, the housekeeper who ensures every detail is perfect, the waiter at the restaurant who knows which table you like to sit at – these are the people who transform a beautiful historic building into a legendary experience.

Having worked at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon for over a decade, I've seen firsthand how staff can make or break a stay. The most beautiful architecture and luxurious amenities mean nothing without the people who bring them to life. These are the unsung heroes who write the daily chapters of a hotel's ongoing story.

I would have loved to hear from the descendants of Ngiam Tong Boon, or current staff members at Claridge's sharing their own stories of remarkable guests and unforgettable moments. After all, hotels are living institutions, and the people who work there are the keepers of their ongoing history.

Your 2026 Travel List

For anyone who loves hospitality, this podcast offers a wonderful list of places to visit in 2026 and beyond. Each episode makes you want to book a flight immediately and experience these legendary properties for yourself – to walk the same corridors as Hemingway, sip a Singapore Sling where it was invented, or experience the legendary silence of Le Bristol.

A Personal Suggestion: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Having spent over a decade working at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, I'd love to suggest it as a future episode subject. There's really no better address in Lisbon.

Originally built in 1959 as the city's first-ever luxury hotel, it's now one of the most recognizable monuments in Lisbon. The midcentury, blockish silhouette is dramatic, almost brutal, impossible to miss – particularly with the iconic blue neon "Ritz" sign at the very top. The original Hotel Ritz name was negotiated with the Charles Ritz chain (yes, as in The Ritz of Paris) in the 1950s, and when Four Seasons took over in 1997, they retained that legendary name, making it the only Four Seasons property to do so.

What makes this Lisbon's grande dame hotel isn't just the architecture or the location – it's the stories within its walls. The hotel houses an extraordinary art collection, including handwoven, custom-made tapestries by Portuguese artist José de Almada Negreiros that hang throughout the property. Portuguese paintings and tapestries line the walls, each telling a story and each truly eye-catching, even to those who wouldn't call themselves art lovers. The public spaces feature marble floors, chandeliers, and gilded furniture that create an atmosphere of glamorous, classic luxury.

According to the book RITZ, forty years in Lisbon, the book of honour tells its own story of illustrious guests: H.M. King Humberto of Italy, Ingrid Bergman, Princess Grace of Monaco, Henry Ford, Audrey Hepburn, Zsa Zsa Gabor, José Carreras, Dame Barbara Cartland, Ivan Lendl, John le Carré, António Banderas and Melanie Griffith, Bill Gates. More recently, Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been spotted by local press at the hotel.

From my years there, I witnessed firsthand how this property continues to attract not just celebrities, but world leaders, artists, and cultural figures who appreciate its unique combination of historic significance, artistic heritage, and impeccable Four Seasons service. It's a hotel where Portuguese history, international glamour, and contemporary luxury converge – exactly the kind of story that Hotels with History tells so beautifully.

I can't wait to hear the remaining three episodes and discover what other stories these grand hotels have to tell.

Over to You

What podcasts have you been enjoying recently? Any hospitality or travel recommendations I should add to my list? 

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