• Home
  • FOOD AND DRINK
    • AFTERNOON TEA
    • RESTAURANTS
    • BARS
    • SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
  • OUTSTANDING HOTELS
    • HISTORY OF HOTELS
    • HOTEL REVIEWS
    • SPAS
  • TRAVEL
  • PHOTO-VIDEO-ART
    • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Photo Essays
    • Black And White
    • Fashion
    • ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • Tags

    afternoon tea Art Asia Bangkok Bar Buffet cambodia cocktail cocktails confession drink Europe favorite food food photography gallery Hanoi heritage hotel High tea History Hoi An Hotel hotel review Hotels Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Mandarin Oriental Melaka nature Penang photography Restaurant review Romantic getaway Siem Reap Singapore Slovenia Sofitel spirit Thailand the best travel Travel story Vietnam YTL
  • Follow Us

Wild 'n' Free Diary - travel food drink hotel review art photography
  • Home
  • FOOD AND DRINK
    • RESTAURANTS
    • AFTERNOON TEA
    • BARS
    • SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
  • OUTSTANDING HOTELS
    • HOTEL REVIEWS
    • SPAS
    • HISTORY OF HOTELS
  • TRAVEL
  • PHOTO-VIDEO-ART
    • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
      • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY VOL.1: FOOD IN PIXELS
      • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY VOL.2: PEOPLE PROVIDE FOOD
      • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY VOL.3: BLACK AND WHITE
      • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY VOL.4: LET ME HELP
      • Food Photography Vol.5: Sweet
      • Food Photography Vol.6: Stack Up
      • Food Photography Vol.7: Sunday Brunch
      • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY VOL. 8: STUDIO
      • Cocktail Photography Vol. 1: Get The Party Started
      • Cocktail Photography vol.2: Into The Details
    • Photo Essays
      • Arrogance Is The Real Pandemic Photo Essay
      • Photoreport: Bee Hive Bus
      • Wintertime in Vienna – Photo Essay
      • Photo essay: ROCK SHELLS PICKING IN VIETNAM
      • PHOTOREPORT: Singapore through my lens
      • Photo Essay: I Love Plants
      • Photo Essay: Children of Asia
      • Seaside Photography Vol. 1 – Wave After Wave
      • Seaside Photography Vol. 2 – Salt
      • Walking Through Venice – Photo Essay
      • Photo Essay: Pine Forest Walk
    • Fashion
      • Hoi An Dress Shooting Vol. 1
      • HOI AN FASHION SHOOTING VOL. 2
      • Shipwreck Fashion Photography Gallery
      • WALKING AROUND IMPERIAL CITY OF HUE
    • Black And White
      • Black and white photography Vol.1
      • Black and White Photography Vol.2
      • Black And White Vol. 3: Let’s Get Deep Into Shades
      • Black And White Vol. 4: Uncertain Times
    • ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
      • Architecture Photography Gallery Vol. 1
      • ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY VOL. 2
      • ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY VOL. 3
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US

Will Raffles hotel be good again?

April 2, 2018

Singapore is packed with hotels of all rates and styles. However, most good hotels are modern stylish with some Asian-European fusion or minimalistic ones. Vivi and I are more comfortable with those ones which are a bit more authentic and have a story behind, or vintage style. In Singapore, there is a hotel, which we both were dreaming to be staying at. This is the Raffles hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel is under huge renovation. They started just a month before our landing in Singapore with a planned reopening in the second half of 2018. The novelty after reopening will be three new suite categories – Residence, Promenade, and Studio. They will add 12 new rooms and also improve dining experiences at the hotel’s restaurants and bars. The Writers Bar will be expanded and the Jubilee Hall will be converted into a 300-guest ballroom.

Raffles renovation
Raffles renovation

Let’s Take a Brief Look at Hotels History

The Raffles is 130 years old and has a long and rich history. In its beginning, there were ten rooms in it, and an old bungalow style building overlooking the beach. It was opened by Armenian Sarkies brothers and it became the most fabled hotel in the Far East. Famous guests were often staying at this hotel. Some of them were legendary literary icons. In 1890, they added twenty-two new suites to the original hotel. The Sarkies brothers even expanded their business, opening Raffles Tiffin Rooms on now Raffles Place. Later, in 1910, they relocated it to the hotel. In 1894, they added the right L shaped extension with the Palm Court and another thirty suites. Two years later, they opened a bar which, in time, became the oldest bar standing in its original location in Singapore. In 1899, the bungalow was replaced with the three-story main building in the late Victorian Italianate Revival style. The novelty was electricity and a dining hall with 500 capacities. They also add 23 more guest rooms and earned the status of “Grand Hotel”.

Raffles Hotel in early 1900s; Source: Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel in the early 1900s; Source: Raffles Hotel

In 1904, they opened The Bras Basah wing. At that time, this hotel was destined for social events and plays for travelers from all over the world. In 1910 they even opened a post office in their hotel. Three years later, they added a cast-iron verandah with stained glass to the front of the building. This verandah was later replaced by an airy ballroom. In 1915, the Hainanese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created the iconic Singapore Sling, which really took off and became their signature drink. In 1941, the Japanese occupied Singapore. They renamed the hotel to Syonan Ryokan. Syonan – the Japanese name of occupied Singapore and Ryokan – the name of a traditional Japanese inn. In 1960, the Long Bar begins operation as a counter in the Raffles Ballroom. It remained there until the hotel restoration in 1989. After reopening, the Long bar was moved to the Raffles Arcade. In 1987, the Raffles Hotel was officially declared as a National Monument. Two years later, the hotel was closed for its first complete restoration. In 2000, the Long Bar Steakhouse opened. Now, in 2017, they had their second restoration, targeting a reopening in mid-2018.

Raffles hotel
This colonial-style luxury hotel first opened its doors in 1887.

What Now?

But will the hotel be the same after this restoration? Well, the idea of restoration is to make some changes to the place. Honestly, I think it is good to wait sometime after reopening. Not because of the restoration. I am sure they will do their work best, and that they didn’t trust the work of some unknown contractors. I was in this hotel during my first visit to Singapore and I’m very curious how it will look after the restoration.

Raffles renovation
Work in progress!

Those details and iconic items will surely stay as it did before. Their first restoration job was made by a South Korean construction firm, Ssangyong Engineering & Construction. The $ 160-million restoration was undertaken by Architects 61, with interiors by Bent Severin and Associates, based on the original building plans and old photographs. This time the restoration works are being led by Aedas Singapore, while the interior of the project is in the hands of award-winning designer Alexandra Champalimaud, who has worked on many other luxury hotels. For convenience, Raffles is cooperating with local architectural restoration and research consultancy – Studio Lapis. They are acting as heritage consultants for the restoration of over 100 heritage artefacts.

Raffles renovation
Raffles renovation

So, the downvote unquestionably won’t be restoration itself. The problem will be its staff. The rumors are they have fired all the staff and, after reopening, there will be new hiring. However, this is a common practice in a situation like this one.

luxury hotel renovation
Iconic Raffles hotel’s last renovation.

So, right after reopening, there will be fresh staff and some time will be needed to acclimate, no matter how good the team will be. Well, I hope they will also be able to get back some good workers. I’m sure, as an iconic hotel as they are, they will hire only the best, but anyway. With my experience in the restaurant business, I know how hard it is to tune the team-up. Anyway, when the time comes Vivi and I will come back to Singapore and review this pearl of Asia. To stay in this Sarkies brothers’ hotel is our big wish and we are looking forward to our pleasant stay.

Raffles hotel renovation
Already looking good

SOURCES: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/restored-raffles-hotel-to-reopen-in-mid-2018; http://www.rafflessingapore.com/


Asiaheritage hotelHistoryHotelsrafflesSingapore
Share

OUTSTANDING HOTELS

Ian
An artistic soul who catches the beauty with his camera. A photographer with restless feet and wish to get intimate with the unknown.

You might also like

Tea in Vietnam
February 25, 2023
My Mai Chau Trip
January 21, 2023
Majestic Saigon Hotel Review
December 7, 2022
  • Categories

    • AFTERNOON TEA
    • ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
    • BARS
    • BLACK AND WHITE
    • FASHION
    • FOOD AND DRINKS
    • FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
    • HISTORY OF HOTELS
    • HOTEL REVIEWS
    • OUTSTANDING HOTELS
    • PHOTO ESSAY
    • PHOTO-VIDEO-ART
    • RESTAURANTS
    • SPAS
    • SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
    • TRAVEL
    • XYZ
  • FOLLOW US

  • Tags

    afternoon tea Art Asia Bangkok Bar Buffet cambodia cocktail cocktails confession drink Europe favorite food food photography gallery Hanoi heritage hotel High tea History Hoi An Hotel hotel review Hotels Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Mandarin Oriental Melaka nature Penang photography Restaurant review Romantic getaway Siem Reap Singapore Slovenia Sofitel spirit Thailand the best travel Travel story Vietnam YTL
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017


  • Recent Posts

    • Kurentovanje Carnival
      March 13, 2023
    • KURENT IN BLACK AND WHITE
      March 6, 2023
    • Tea in Vietnam
      February 25, 2023
  • Popular Posts

    • Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel
      February 15, 2019
    • Four Seasons KL Review
      March 30, 2019
    • Majestic Hotel KL
      October 12, 2018

© Copyright Wild 'n' Free Diary Cookie settings Policy Page

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The button is on the bottom of the page. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT