This morning brought an email from Richard Tomkins, general manager of Vincent House, a residential hotel in the Notting Hill neighborhood of London. I stayed there in the Fall and early Winter of 2000 while teaching in a study abroad program at Imperial College. Staying at Vincent House and making friends there was one of the high, high highlights of my life. In late September of this year we planned to stop off in London after a trip to Austria and had hoped to stay at Vincent House. But Mr. Tomkins’ email this morning foreclosed that possibility. He wrote:
“Dear Dr Guzman,
What a great surprise to hear from you and thank you so much for the photograph.
I am still involved with Vincent House but generally work from home now, having moved away about four years ago.
I’m sure you have heard by now from our reception team, that we have sold Vincent House and are in the process of closing the business.
It is a very sad time for all of us, but life moves on as they say, and we now look forward to the next chapter.
Thank you again for the trip down memory lane. It’s great to remember all the wonderful times I had at Vincent House and the amazing people I met. I consider myself very lucky.
I hope all is well with you and, who knows, maybe our paths will cross again someday unexpectedly.
Best Wishes and take care. — Richard”
The picture he refers to is this:
I took this in December 2000 in the middle of Christmas celebrations. In the top center is Marietta, a Filipina and head of the kitchen. She has her arms around Richard Tomkins and his wife. They were expecting their first child.
My dining room table was #17, with my regular mates Rochfort Young and Peter Knowles. Table #17 turned out to be the notorious social hub of breakfasts and dinners at Vincent House. I wrote a series of sketches of my time in London called “Remembering London,” which I hope you will read to catch a fuller glimpse of the life I shared at Vincent House.
No less a traveler than PBS’s Rick Steves has also written about Vincent House’s closing:
“This may be of interest to some old London hands…
For many years I have stayed at Vincent House London Residence when in London— either for a few nights or on occasion for 6 weeks. Can’t remember if I learned of it on this forum or Fodors. It started as a Residential Club in the WW2 era, and ended up as a combination long term residence (13+ weeks) , mid-term residence (5-13 weeks) and hotel. Very much like an upscale university residence hall for real grown-ups.
Perfect location, immaculate but simple accommodation, excellent breakfast (and dinner if you were a “resident” ) and the presiding cat, Gigi. A common area/lounge and a fabulous garden, perfect for summer evenings. And very good for solo travelers.
But it is closing (the sale was announced last November when I was staying there for 6 weeks); the last night of accommodation is July 30. I will stay there for a final five nights later this month, and say goodbye to the staff, many of whom have been there for years. And now I need a new perch in the UK….”
Vincent House’s closing has caused lots of sadness. Travel and Tour World wrote a piece titled “London, UK Heartbreak: Iconic Vincent House Closing Forever.” How sad, yet the memories are some of my brightest, and, it appears, that thought is shared by many.
♦ Read “Remembering London.” It’s part of the cultural diversity focus on this site.