The Hospital (UK)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hospital is a creative arts venue and private members club for the creative industry which is based on the site of an 18th Century hospital in Covent Garden, London. It aims to be a space where creative people can meet and collaborate, as an antidote to London's existing Members Clubs. These were known as places to go for a night out, but not necessarily places members would go to network and create.

The club was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen through his investment company Vulcan Inc. and David A. Stewart of the band Eurythmics.

[edit] Facilities

Television Studio
Music Recording Studio
Cinema
Art Gallery
Bar Lounge
Bellini Bar and lounge
Martini Lounge
Club Restaurant
Forest Private Dining Room
Library
Games Room
Loft Lounge
Meeting Room

The building is also home to Origin, a public restaurant, on the first floor.

[edit] History

As its name might suggest, the building for many years was home to St Pauls Hospital, first established in 1749

1749 Maternity hospital for ‘the distressed poor – married women only’ opened

1915 War Office give premises to women medics – The Endell Street Hospital

1923 St Paul’s Hospital moves from Red Lion Square to Endell Street

1948 Amalgamated with St Peter’s to become a teaching hospital in the newly established NHS

1959 Became the first artificial kidney unit in the UK

1961 First dialysis in the UK performed at St Paul’s

1992 St Paul’s Hospital closed

1996 Building purchased by Paul Allen, planning submitted. Local objections to development mean the project stalls for a number of years while a compromise with residents is worked out

1999-2003 Renovation begins.

2003 TV Studio and Gallery open

2004 Private Members Club, Public Restaurant and Recording Studio open