THE glamorous and beloved Harte and Garter Hotel has been a dominant and historic presence in Windsor’s High Street for centuries. Here, we look back at its history – as well as its uncertain future.
Last year, residents woke to the news the hotel was under threat of closing its doors for the last time after the administrators, Begbies Traynor Ltd, formally handed the keys back to the building’s landlords at the Crown Estate.
The future of the hotel is now dependent on the Crown Estate, who have previously said they had “no plans” to open it back up this year.
Right opposite the castle, the hotel has seen its fair share of famous faces, historic events, and tragedies ever since the building started life as two inns dating back to the 14th century, which were visited often by local and famous actors.
READ MORE: What next for the Harte and Garter site after hotel closure?
The Garter Inn, named after the Most Noble Order of the Garter, was founded by King Edward III and was even the setting for one of William Shakespeare’s plays – Merry Wives of Windsor.
The White Harte was named in honour of the Royal Emblem worn by King Richard II. In 1681, both taverns were unfortunately destroyed in a fire and were rebuilt.
In the late 19th Century, both buildings were joined together to form the Harte and Garter Hotel. It was reformed in a Jacobean style, which was much loved by the Victorians and reflected the Shakespearean connections.
It even became a grade II listed building in 1975.
Throughout its time standing in Windsor, it has seen its fair share of Royal weddings, Presidential visits, coronations, and many trooping the colour ceremonies.
While the hotel has had an impressive and rich historic background, the same cannot be said for its future when its operator Suite Hospitality Ltd went into collapse after it had a “disappointing” year in 2019. It had been in negotiations with major creditors and landlords to find a way for it to continue.
On top of that, financial pressures caused by lockdown in early 2020 also made the operators go into receivership.
On June 16, the directors appointed Julie Palmer and Ian Walker of Begbies Traynor’s Exeter office as administrators of the company.
A cry for help from the hotel’s operation manager, Lauren Collins, was sent to its nearest neighbour – the Queen – asking for Her Majesty to save the hotel.
According to Ms Collins, five employees had kept the hotel running during lockdown as a refuge for front line staff working with coronavirus victims, as well as vulnerable and homeless people sent to them by the police and council – even being quarantined themselves for two weeks while looking after one group of people.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Harte & Garter Hotel's landlord (PA)
Lauren wrote: “Your Majesty, I am not writing from across the world, the commonwealth or even the United Kingdom, I am writing to you from across the road. The reason I write to you is simple.
“The business I currently work for has found itself been put into administration which is, as I’m sure you can understand, devastating.
“Not only because of the people affected but more so because of what is being left behind.”
The last update residents had was there were “no plans” for the property for the rest of 2021 and the Ivy restaurant, which serves British brasserie below the Harte and Garter, have not yet confirmed if they want to stay at the property until a new owner is found.
READ MORE: Windsor's Harte and Garter bosses have "no plans" to reopen it
When news got out of the hotel shutting its doors, Windsor town manager Paul Roach hoped a new operator would be found “sooner rather than later”.
More than a year has passed and a small update from the Crown Estate states the hotel’s future remains uncertain.
A spokesperson said: “We continue to explore options for the Harte and Garter Hotel in Windsor, following the operator entering administration.”
Many can only but hope a new operator is found since hotel chains have opened back up, albeit not as high as pre-pandemic levels. Windsor residents and indeed tourists wanting to visit the hotel’s rich history will have to wait until the Crown Estate finds a suitable partner.
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