In 1865, due to boom in construction and tourism, Southsea house was converted into the Queen's Hotel by William Kemp Junior.

At 4:20pm on 8 December 1901, a fire gutted the entire hotel, leaving only the two outer walls that face Osborne Road and Clarence Parade.

On 11 December 1901, it was deemed safe to enter the site and two missing chambermaids were discovered, dead, due to being trapped by falling rubble in the basement.

The new hotel was to be much grander and more purpose-built, to include 63 rooms for visitors, and 33 for staff.

He was to design the hotel in the Edwardian baroque style in brown terracotta.