Latest news with #CharlieChaplin
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I took my toddler to unique UK 5 star hotel - this is what it was really like'
I'm sure most people would wince at the thought of taking their toddler to a five-star hotel. The image of trying to manage an unwieldy child in the hushed corridors of a plush hotel would put most parents off. However, I recently took my 15-month-old to the gorgeous Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and it was the rest we all needed as a family. We decamped for the weekend to the iconic Grand Hotel Eastbourne which is known as the 'White Palace' of the South Coast and has been serving up luxury since 1875. The hotel has welcomed many famous faces over the years, including French composer Claude Debussy and Charlie Chaplin, and it is one of a very small handful of five star hotels at the British seaside There's hints of that old world glamour throughout with pictures of the hotel orchestra and illustrated images of the stylish Victorian set enjoying afternoon tea. While the hotel is very much 'grand' with tall ceilings, luxurious furnishings and stunning sea views, it wasn't stuffy like some establishments can be. Our sea view suite was large and comfortable with plush furnishings and a gorgeous terrace overlooking the coastline. The hotel facilities were equally luxurious with both and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Situated at the front of the hotel with its beaming white Victorian architecture, the outdoor pool is truly one of its unique selling points. Heated to a balmy 29C, the outdoor pool is ideal for children and parents alike and my daughter loved splashing around in the sun. The indoor pool is heated to a similarly bath-like temperature and the leisure centre also boasts a steam room, a spa bath and gym for when parents want to take a break. For those hoping for some chill time, the spa has eight treatment rooms and offers a range of treatments and massages. Feeding toddlers can often be a bit of a nightmare and I was a tad concerned about causing a ruckus in a fancy dining room, but I needn't have worried as the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Without even asking, a waitress appeared with plastic bowls and spoons for our little one at breakfast and another server brought her some warm milk at dinner. And no one batted an eye when a substantial amount of Weetabix / mashed potato ended up on the floor. It's so easy to worry about disturbing other diners but most people were delighted to say hello to my toddler as she pottered about waving at everyone and hiding behind the heavy drapes. While being a very grand hotel - please pardon the pun - the atmosphere was really inclusive and we really felt like we got a break. As many parents will know, not having to cook and clean for a few days is bliss and we didn't feel confined to our room whatsoever, enjoying the leisure centre, plush common areas and the Lounge Terrace. We could tag team going to the leisure centre, enjoyed leisurely breakfasts in the stunning Garden Room restaurant and took afternoon naps in our sea view suite. Not only was the hotel wonderful, but it's just metres away from the seafront with stunning views of the English Channel, making it the perfect location for exploring the beach, Beachy Head and the town of Eastbourne. We walked the promenade, which was really accessible for a buggy and also a safe distance from the road if our daughter wanted to walk. We also spent a sunny afternoon pottering up and down the beach and enjoying some music as we sat outside a pub on the pier. My takeaway? Don't be afraid to take your children to a hotel if it's something you're considering. I've often thought it might not be the most practical but the staff were so attentive, we didn't feel like we were in the way and there was lots to do. And what's even better is that we got a bit of a break as well. You can get a breaking travel stories along with some of the most interesting, important and fun travel stories sent to your phone every day by subscribing to the Mirror Travel WhatsApp. It's completely free and takes minutes to do. The Grand Hotel Eastbourne is celebrating 150 years with a special Afternoon Tea – from £36 per person. Honouring The Grand's rich 150-year history, a limited-edition afternoon tea pays fitting tribute to timeless luxury. In addition to delicate sandwiches, and scones served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, an exquisite pastry menu - delicacies offering a journey through time – includes an 'Opera Gȃteau' to die for. Book here or via 01323 412345. Stay overnight at The Grand Hotel from £220 per room per night (two sharing), including breakfast.
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Resort-style LA home where Charlie Chaplin once stored his fire truck collection asks $12.5M
Once a parking spot for Charlie Chaplin's fire trucks — yes, fire trucks — this Santa Monica, California hideaway is ready for its next act. Listed for $12.5 million — the home has been completely transformed from silent film-era storage space to tropical-meets-modernist sanctuary, according to Tucked behind what are described in the listing as 'repurposed 500-year-old monastery gates,' the roughly 0.3-acre estate sits discreetly behind an 'innocuous wall,' concealing an 8,000-square-foot residence that blends organic materials with a serene Balinese design sensibility. 25 A historic Santa Monica property, once owned by silent film legend Charlie Chaplin and later transformed by abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis into a vibrant artist hub, is now on the market for $12.5 million. Anthony Barcelo 25 The home is listing for the first time in a decade. Anthony Barcelo 25 Originally Chaplin's garage for his fire truck collection, the 0.3-acre estate was reimagined by architect Christopher Sorensen after a 2007 fire destroyed much of Francis' studio compound. Anthony Barcelo 25 Completed in 2011, the 8,000-square-foot home blends Balinese aesthetics with organic materials like teak and limestone. Anthony Barcelo 25 Charlie Chaplin. Getty Images The site's first act dates back nearly a century, when Chaplin reportedly used the original structure as a garage to house his collection of antique fire trucks, according to a press release. In the decades that followed, the home took on a second life as a creative refuge for abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis. He converted the property into a studio compound, where he lived and played host to a rotating cast of Los Angeles art world luminaries. 25 The home is guarded by 500-year-old repurposed monastery gates. Anthony Barcelo 25 Another view of the monastery gates. Anthony Barcelo 25 The foyer. Anthony Barcelo 25 A living space flows into the kitchen. Anthony Barcelo 25 A living room that leads to the pool. Anthony Barcelo Regular guests included Ed Ruscha, Ed Moses, Larry Bell and Ken Price. That chapter came to a fiery end in 2007, when a blaze destroyed much of the original residence Francis had crafted. Four years later, a new home — designed by architect Christopher Sorensen — rose from the ashes, with a focus on natural textures and tranquility. 25 An office. Anthony Barcelo 25 The kitchen. Anthony Barcelo 25 The kitchen flows into a breakfast space and the outdoors. Anthony Barcelo 25 A dining room. Anthony Barcelo 25 One of five bedrooms. Anthony Barcelo Sorensen's design incorporates old-world details — like centuries-old teak flooring — while embracing a modern, spa-like aesthetic meant to evoke a 'calming' atmosphere. The five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom layout includes a flexible floor plan with the option to add more bedrooms. The primary suite features an expansive walk-in closet that doubles as a lounging area, as well as a kitchenette. Bathrooms throughout the home feature hand-carved Indonesian stone tubs and sinks, further contributing to the immersive, organic style. 25 A second bedroom. Anthony Barcelo 25 A sprawling walk-in closet. Anthony Barcelo 25 A third bedrom. Anthony Barcelo 25 The fourth bedroom. Anthony Barcelo 25 A fifth bedroom. Anthony Barcelo Outdoors, a lounge and dining pavilion flanks the swimming pool and can be accessed through bulletproof glass doors off the kitchen. The property also includes a three-car garage, a nod — perhaps unintentional — to its earliest fire-truck roots. Environmentally conscious buyers may appreciate the home's solar setup, which includes battery packs capable of delivering 'several weeks of off-grid power.' The listing marks the property's first public appearance in a decade. Frank Langen and Lili Geller of Compass hold the listing. 25 One of 4.5 bathrooms. Anthony Barcelo 25 A second bathroom. Anthony Barcelo 25 The pool. Anthony Barcelo 25 The spa. Anthony Barcelo 25 The outdoor space. Anthony Barcelo Meanwhile, Francis, a prominent California painter, gained international recognition with his works displayed at prestigious institutions like MoMA, the Pompidou Centre and Tokyo's Idemitsu Museum. His artistic journey began during recovery from a severe WWII injury, where he found solace and purpose in painting while confined in a full-body cast.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chic $12.5M Santa Monica home dubbed the 'White Lotus Sanctuary' has a fascinating link to Hollywood icon
A Santa Monica mansion once rumored to have been used by Charlie Chaplin and later transformed into an artistic haven by a legendary painter has hit the market for a whopping $12.5million. The spectacular home is built almost entirely of organic materials including limestone and teak wood throughout and boasts 500-year-old monastery doors and hand-carved Indonesian stone baths. There are two main bedroom suites plus three additional bedroom suites. The master suite boasts an impressive closet. The living room, dining room and open kitchen-family room form a courtyard that creates a resort-like interior-exterior space that looks out on to an inviting swimming pool. It's now being listed by Compass agent Frank Langen who calls it a ' White Lotus ' sanctuary. 'The impressive innocuous wall enclosing the compound gives only a slight hint of the Pura, 'White Lotus' vibe behind it,' the listing writes. 'When entering through the repurposed 500-year-old monastery gates one is immediately immersed into the harmony of the environment,' it adds. Part of the lot was formerly a two-story fire station. The legendary British comedian, producer, writer, director and composer Charlie Chaplin once used it to store his prized collection of fire trucks. But the home's most remarkable chapter began when world-renowned abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis took over the property, transforming it into his permanent creative sanctuary and studio. Francis turned the space into a bustling hub for the LA art scene, with an open-door policy that welcomed notable artists like Ed Ruscha, Ed Moses, Larry Bell and Ken Price. 'The two story fire station was Sam's painting studio,' Langen told 'There are images online with him and his art in that space.' The property became synonymous with California's artistic renaissance, hosting countless creative minds who shaped modern American art. However tragedy struck in 2007 when a devastating fire destroyed much of Francis' original 1920s home. But a new owner stepped in and enlisted renowned Malibu architect Christopher Sorensen to create something even more spectacular. He created a gorgeous fusion of sustainable luxury and artistic heritage that took five years to complete. The rebuilt mansion follows LEED certification guidelines while incorporating materials that span centuries and continents. The environment mixes calm sophistication by blending classical and traditional styles while including modern amenities. A closet is seen above The home's most show-stopping feature is its swimming pool - which doesn't just sit beside the kitchen but actually flows directly through it. It's finished with bulletproof glass that allows underwater views while preparing meals. The property has a three-car garage and sits on a rare double street-to-street lot which offers an extra layer of privacy. The environment mixes calm sophistication by blending classical and traditional styles while including modern amenities. 'The whole style was changed to a South East Asian vibe from a more traditional style,' said Langen. The overall aesthetic combines 'pleasing Balinese influences with thoughtful, precise functionality', the listing states.
Malaysian Reserve
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
The RM1.7b revival of Hotel Provençal
French Riviera Hotel that hosted Charlie Chaplin and Ernest Hemingway reborned as luxury homes, attracting rich Americans by SARAH RAPPAPORT THE French Riviera needs little introduction. It's long been beloved as a vacation destination, with the jet-set flocking to the Cannes film festival in May, partying at the beach clubs of St Tropez and staying in storied resorts like Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. But on some parts of the coast, the glamour has faded. Take the striking white art deco Hôtel Provençal on the western end of Cap d'Antibes, built for American railway heir Frank Jay Gould, which opened its doors in 1927. It had drawn names like Charlie Chaplin, Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso as guests before closing for good in 1977 and sitting vacant ever since. Billionaire British mobile phone mogul John Caudwell, a frequent visitor to the area, said he'd often pass the empty building on his cycle route and admire it. 'I had seen the Hotel Provençal be derelict for decades, and I used to think that it's a magnificent property,' said Caudwell, speaking exclusively to Bloomberg. 'It dominates the entrance to Cap D'Antibes, and I could just see that the building could be really beautiful.' A little more than a decade ago, Caudwell decided to ring a number on the board outside the hotel and make an offer. Caudwell finalised the purchase in 2014. He said he spent about £300 million (RM1.74 billion) to buy the building and renovate it. 'I didn't want to make it a hotel again. I wasn't a hotelier,' he said. 'But I knew I could make beautiful residences.' So he turned the 290-room hotel into a 41-unit luxury residence renamed Le Provençal, with a furnished four-bedroom apartment listed for €9.75 million (RM48.46 million) and a penthouse for sale for €40 million. Turning an art deco hotel into luxury apartments took the better part of a decade, and the building's doors will reopen in July for the first residents to move in. The common areas of the building feature an Ottoman-style domed gold-leaf ceiling, an art deco-inspired cinema for residents and a 2,155 sq ft health spa with a sauna, vitality pool and cold plunge. Outside are six acres (2.43ha) of landscaped gardens with a 98ft long showpiece swimming pool. Caudwell enlisted Richard Martinet of Parisian architecture and design studio Affine Design, known for his work on the Hôtel de Crillon, to work on the renovation. 'It's always a bit crass to say no expenses were spared, because that could indicate that you're just being blingy for the sake of it, but we have certainly not cut any costs at all,' Caudwell said. 'If something was needed for the quality of the building, we have invested in that. The goal is to make it the best on the coastline.' He said that the renovation took time because he wanted everything to be perfect, and that the project was a labour of love for him. Caudwell says the renovation took time because he wanted everything to be perfect and the project was a labour of love There will still be a hotel connection in Le Provençal's second life, however. A partnership agreement with the neighbouring Hôtel Belles Rives, will give Le Provencal residents access to its amenities, including concierge service, the private beach club and the Michelin-starred restaurant La Passagère. Caudwell said these kinds of services and perks are what the buyers of ultra-luxurious residences want now. 'It's a real chic hotel with its own beach and jetty,' he said. 'And it's just across the road, so the partnership is a perfect fit for us.' Rooms at Hôtel Belles Rives start at about €600 a night in June. Around 25% of the apartments in the building have sold so far, Caudwell said. Experts said there's not much like it in the area, which is dominated by villas and single-family homes in the luxury space. 'Demand for new build is huge, because there is hardly anything on the market,' said Savills French Riviera and French Alps ED Alex Balkin, adding that clients will certainly be drawn to a renovated historic art deco building with all new interiors. As to who is buying, Caudwell said it's been a mix of Brits and Europeans, though he's also seen strong interest coming from the US. That makes sense, according to Balkin, who said a lot of the demand at the top end on the French Riviera is coming from Americans, who've had a love affair with the region for a long time. Hôtel Provençal was originally built for an American millionaire after all. Balkin added that demand at the top end has increased significantly since US President Donald Trump returned to office. 'There's always been a real love story between Americans and the South of France,' said Balkin. 'But we've seen much more demand this year than last year or the year before. We've seen a real pickup since the election.' Other brokers have noticed the same trend. 'The Cote d'Azur is really coming back, especially in the high end, because we have seen many more American buyers flooding back into the market,' said Sotheby's International Realty France-Monaco chairman and CEO Alexander Kraft. 'There's a lot of movement, especially between US$10 and US$50 million (RM218.5 million) [properties].' Americans have really come back to the market in force, Kraft said, and not just from one end of the political spectrum. 'They have been of either political persuasion, either trying to get away from Trump or Trump supporters who are optimistic about the future and want to place their money into real estate.' 'The South of France is the number one destination worldwide for second homes,' he added, 'and seen as a safe place for wealth.' — BLOOMBERG This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Bosa's L.A. House in Photos
More from Robb Report NFL Star Joey Bosa Is Asking $4 Million for His L.A. Home An Oscar-Winning Film Producer Has Sold His Glitzy Miami Beach Penthouse for $4 Million Charlie Chaplin Once Parked His Fire Trucks Where This $12.5 Million L.A. Home Now Stands Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article. The home has up to five bedrooms and five baths in 4,400 square feet spread across three levels. A walkway passes over a reflecting pool before emptying out at the custom metal-clad front door. The entry foyer features a curving glass-lined staircase and a seating area. A potential en-suite bedroom off the foyer is currently outfitted as a formal dining room. The great room. A fireside living area in the great room opens to an alfresco dining terrace on one side. The dining terrace is next to the reflecting pool in the front yard. The other side of the living area opens to the resort-style grounds. The kitchen comes with ebony-hued cabinetry, an eat-in island, and Miele appliances. An office. The office connects to a lounge. The primary bedroom. A shard-shaped private balcony. The primary bath is equipped with a high-tech spa tub and glass-encased shower. The gym's fitness gear is included in the sale of the property. A wine and wet bar. A fire pit conversation area. An entertaining terrace with a barbecue and bar setup sits next to the infinity-edge pool and spa in the tree-lined backyard.
