Join Richard E. Grant and Jules Perowne as they uncover the hidden stories that took place within the walls of some of the world’s most iconic hotels. Each episode, they’ll uncover the scandals, legends and surprising moments that turned these buildings into landmarks. If you want to understand a city, start with its hotels - and you'll want to start here.
What this show covers
Hotel historyBrandenburg GateBerlin historyCold WarHotel AdlonReunificationEden RockCaribbean travelSt BarthsLuxury destinationsGilded AgePalm BeachHenry FlaglerThe Breakerscultural history
What listeners will find here
How Berlin’s most famous hotel mirrors a century of upheaval
The Adlon, Berlin traces how one hotel on Pariser Platz became a stage for imperial glamour, Weimar culture, war, division, and reunification. It’s a compact history of Berlin told through a landmark that kept returning to the center of public life.
How Eden Rock helped turn St Barths into a discreet Caribbean icon
Eden Rock St Barths, perched above Saint-Jean Bay, is the focus as Jules and Richard explore how one cliffside home helped reshape the island’s identity. The episode connects Rémy de Haenen’s bold arrival with St Barths’ rise from scarcity to understated glamour.
How The Breakers became Palm Beach’s enduring grand hotel
The Breakers Palm Beach is the focus as Jules and Richard trace how Henry Flagler’s railway brought Gilded Age travelers south and helped shape a legendary oceanfront resort. The episode follows the hotel through fire, hurricane, wartime service, and its rise as a survivor of American hospitality.
Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the long history behind its view
This episode visits the Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como and follows the history wrapped into one of Europe’s most coveted landscapes. It connects Roman emperors, poets, silk merchants, film stars, and modern icons to a family-run hotel that reflects changing ideas of luxury.
Rio’s grand beachfront icon through glamour, upheaval, and endurance
Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro is the focus as Jules and Richard explore how the famed beachfront hotel survived revolutions, dictatorship, and Brazil’s shifting capital. The episode connects one landmark property to the city’s glamour, mystery, politics, and rhythm.
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