The hotel was officially opened on 19 August 1819 by Mrs Greatheed, wife of the previous landowner Berties, accompanied by actress Sarah Siddons.
[3] Eight years later from the balcony of the hotel it was announced that Victoria, now Queen, had allowed the prefix Royal on its name, which the town still bears to the day.
[7] The Directorate brought 250 artists, designers and technicians to the town who worked in secret on aspects of military and civilian camouflage.
More recently the cast and crew of the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances including Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift and Geoffrey Hughes stayed at the hotel whilst filming in Leamington.
[10] Although the facade had changed little, most of the ground floor now houses a Wagamama restaurant,[11] although it also contains a small café.