St. Ermin's Hotel
/ About
St. Ermin's began as a pair of red-brick mansion blocks by E.T. Hall, completed in 1889, and became a hotel in 1899, when the Victorian theatre designer J.P. Briggs remodelled the interiors with the plasterwork that still defines them. The Grade II-listed building sits at the end of a tree-lined courtyard off Caxton Street, a short walk from St James's Park and Parliament. Its wartime history is part of the house. Churchill met the founding members of the Special Operations Executive here in 1940, the SOE took a whole floor for its headquarters, and MI6 worked two floors above.
The lobby sets the register: white rococo plaster, a double staircase rising to a balustraded mezzanine, crystal chandeliers and a mosaic marble floor. The Lobby Mezzanine above it takes a semi-private reception of 80, and the Tea Lounge alongside holds 40. For drinks in the open air, the Terrace looks down over the courtyard garden and takes up to 80 standing.
The event floor is built around three connecting period rooms. The Crystal Ballroom, named for its central chandelier and ringed by a gallery, seats 120 for dinner and takes 200 standing. The Cloisters Suite, a banqueting hall under vaulted rococo plasterwork, seats 140 with its annex. The Crystal Mezzanine, off the ballroom balcony, adds another 70 seated, and opened together the three rooms hold up to 480 guests. A dozen smaller suites on the first floor, most of them lit by daylight, take private dinners and meetings for six to fifty.
/ Rooms Available
Crystal Ballroom
PrivateThe hotel's principal room, designed by the theatre designer behind the 1899 interiors: a gallery on columns runs round the walls under an ornate ceiling, with the crystal chandelier at the centre. Interconnects with the Cloisters Suite and the Crystal Mezzanine for up to 480 guests.
Cloisters Suite
PrivateA banqueting hall of more than a century under rococo plasterwork and a vaulted ceiling, hung with candle chandeliers. Seats 100 for dinner, 140 with its annex, and opens into the Crystal Ballroom.
Crystal Mezzanine
PrivateOff the Crystal Ballroom balcony, with original plasterwork and natural light. Used on its own for dinners and receptions, or as an extension of the ballroom.
The Terrace
PrivateAn open-air terrace above the hotel's courtyard garden, for drinks receptions. The lobby lounge serves as the wet-weather option.
Lobby Mezzanine
Semi PrivateThe balustraded gallery above the lobby, under crystal chandeliers and white rococo plaster. A semi-private space for receptions.
Crystal Balcony
PrivateThe gallery that rings the Crystal Ballroom, bookable for a drinks reception looking down over the room.
Marlborough Suite
PrivateOne of the largest of the daylit first-floor rooms, for dinners and meetings.
Waterloo Suite
PrivateA daylit first-floor room that sets for a dinner, a reception or a meeting.
Tea Lounge
PrivateA daylit room of arched plasterwork and chandeliers beside the lobby, available for receptions.
Victoria Suite
PrivateA first-floor room with a built-in media wall, set for dinner or a meeting.
Windsor Suite
PrivateA daylit room overlooking the courtyard, suited to a small private dinner.
York Suite
PrivateA daylit first-floor room with a fireplace, for dinners and presentations.
Lancaster Suite
PrivateA flexible first-floor room, set from boardroom to theatre style.
Westminster Suite
PrivateA smaller meeting and reception room listed on the hotel's capacity chart.
Trafalgar Suite
PrivateA corner room on the first floor, filled with daylight, with its own break-out area next door.
Regal Board Room
PrivateA boardroom with a bay window and plenty of daylight.
Gloucester Suite
PrivateA small meeting room listed on the hotel's capacity chart.
Buckingham Suite
PrivateA daylit room for smaller meetings and dinners.
Abbey Suite
PrivateThe smallest room in the house, with daylight and a table for four.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
Licensing
- – Full Alcohol Licence
Venue Specs
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Outdoor Terrace
/ Getting Here
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