The Victoria Hotel was Cork’s oldest functioning hotel until its closure in 2014. Built in 1810, it had been patroned by the likes of Michael Collins, survived the burning of Cork in 1920, and hosted the second ever meeting of the GAA. After the hotel closed its doors, the building was repurposed for retail and if you’re familiar with Cork City nowadays, you might recognise it as a Monsoon/Accessorize on Patrick’s St, just opposite Opera Lane. In the past week or so though, construction has begun on referbishing the building; which apparently involves exposing the old hotel ballrooms and spaces, and it looks like its going to be pretty sympathetic to the original design, with a modern twist. I love these little histories, so I’m happy to see them celebrated again! :)

Anyway, when I found myself needing to draw a fictitious hotel set the early 1900s for my Study in Scarlet project, the Victoria hotel is what came to mind and that’s what I based my fake advert on. I even borrowed the Victoria Hotel’s original phone number! To reflect the story though, it became Halliday’s Private Hotel of Little George Street, London. :)