· Open -

1864

· Owner -

Four British entrepreneurs got the ball rolling back in 1864.

In 1960 local entrepreneur Cyril Gardiner became Director of the hotel and in 1965 he became the Chairman. His son Sanjeev Gardiner is the present owner, His great-grandfather was the major share-holder in 1911. This means it has been in the same family for 110 years.

· AKA -

Galle Face House (When it was a Dutch Villa) / "The Grand Dame of Colombo" / the "Best Hotel East of the Suez" / "South Asia's Grand Dame"

· Stars - ****

· Guests -

Arthur C. Clarke / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Noel Coward / Mark Twain / Sir Donald Bradman / Indira Ghandi / Imran Khan / Richard Nixon / Jawaharlal Neru / Emperor Hirohito / Roger Moore / Yuri Gagarin / Aga Khan / Ursula Andrews / Hayley Mills / Bo Derek / Carrie Fisher / Edward Heath / Richard Nixon / Prince Phillip / Cole Porter / Duke Ellington / Stephen Spielberg / Gregory Peck / Harrison Ford / Sir Alec Guinness / Vivienne Leigh / Peter Finch / William Holden / George Bernard Shaw / Lord Mountbatten / Laurence Olivier / Elizabeth Taylor / Sting / Scarlett Johansson / Anton Chekov / Che Guevara / Josip Broz Tito / Pope John Paul II / Fidel Castro

· History -

It was the first star class hotel in the city and one of the few that had been purpose built to be a hotel.

Cricket, horse racing and many other sporting and social events were held next door on Gall Face Green. Naturally meals and accommodation were provided by the Hotel.

It was the focal point of British colonial life for nearly 100 years.

It had a full refurbishment in 2015

· Signature -

Pimm's O'clock in a sunset bar or terrace - the very first case of Pimms delivered in Ceylon was to the hotel

· Rooms -

· 156 rooms in 12 types @ $120 - $4,500

· Tales -

They celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria with over 20,000 people.

Russian artist Alexander Safranovfled here to escape the Russian Revolution. He developed a drinking problem and couldn't pay his bill. In return for his keep he started painting murals and decorations for the hotel's events. Some of his work was preserved during the renovations and can still be seen.

Prince Phillip bought his first car while serving here during WWII in 1940 when he was only 19. That Standard Nine car is now in pride of place in a specially built pavilion in the regency Wing. It is one of the museum items collected during their colonial history. Another item in the museum is an unexploded cannonball.

During WWII a Japanese Zero pilot had to crash-land on Galle Face Green across the road

Many famous authors have put pen to paper while relaxing on one of the terraces enjoying the views of the sea and the sun going down.

Peter Finch and Vivienne Leigh had a blazinf affair while filming Elephant Walk in 1948. Her husband Laurence Olivier sent her home in disgrace and promptly replaced her with Elizabeth Taylor.

The parties at the Coconut Grove nightclub were so legendary that many guests slept in and missed their ships.

· Claim to Fame -

It is a National Icon

It was featured on a postage stamp

Kuttan the world's longest serving doorman worked here for 72 years - 1942 to 2014. (and oldest at the time - 94) Going by the guest list he would have met an amazing amount of famous people in his lifetime.

· Innovations -

Electricity / Mechanised Laundry / Lifts / Salt Water Swimming Pool

· Feature -

Beachfront location and still in the heart of the city

Historic photographs are hung throughput the hotel's corridors

· View -

Spectacular sea views from many of the rooms / Galle Face Green

· High Tea -

At The Verandah - enjoy Battenberg cake, scones with clotted cream, cucumber sandwiches and tarts filled with watalappam (coconut custard).

· Facilities -

Wedding packages - for large weddings of 100 people minimum in the Ballrooms. They host more than 1,000 weddings a year.

Salt Water Swimming Pool by the beach - great spot for a cocktail at sunset

Fitness Centre / Concierge / Library / Ballrooms / Spa

Bespoke trips to places of interest around Sri Lanka

A fleet of Mercedes Benz's with specially trained drivers

A museum and history tours of the hotel by the hotel Historian

Croquet on the South Lawn with a Pimm's Cup

· Unique -

Marriages performed here "Last Forever"

The daily flag lowering ceremony that takes place accompanied by bagpipes

The "Crow Man" who frightens crows away from the guests with a slingshot. They have been doing this for a hundred years.

No two rooms are exactly the same

· Restaurants -

The 1864 Restaurant - indoor with contemporary Sri Lankan and International

The Verandah - has hosted adventurers, authors and generals over the years. A wonderful view looking out at the Indian Ocean - Alfresco colonial.

· Bars - Signature Drink is the Pimm's Cup

King of the Mambo - cocktails, food (Latin American), music and dancing all night long. Open from 12 till 12. Get your Cuban vibe going.

The Traveller's Bar - an extensive list of all things liquid. Invented (molecular) and classic cocktails, juleps, smashes, bubbles and fizzes. Indoor - outdoor. It is adorned with photos of some of its most famous guests.

The Chequerboard for daytime drinks in the sun sitting on a chess board by the sea - make sure to get a spot and a cocktail for sunset. Queen Elizabeth II hosted a celebration here during WWII. (Princess Elizabeth at the time)

In...On the Green - Gastro-pub with hearty food, sport, quizzes, mega-cocktails

Pool Bar and Terrace - drinks and snacks - must check out the sunsets with sundowners

· Sights -

Piping the lowering of the flag at sunset on the Chequerboard

Odel - the best shopping in the world

Open top double-decker bus tour of Colombo

Colombo National Museum

Galle Face Green - seafront promenade, street vendors

Old Colombo Dutch Hospital for shopping and eating

Colombo Lighthouse / Independence Square

· Extra -