About the Worshipful Company of Innholders
We are a Livery Company based in the heart of the City of London. 32nd in the order of precedence, our first Royal Charter was granted by Henry VIII in 1514.
A tradition of fellowship, conviviality and philanthropy
Today the Worshipful Company of Innholders’ offers fellowship to its members, conviviality to their guests and charitable service to the community. From our historic Innholders’ Hall we offer hospitality in its broadest sense, in accordance with our motto Hinc Spes Effulget: ‘Hope Shines Out from Here’.
Historic Innholders’ Hall
The Hall and the Blitz
The Hall in 1939
The Hall and the Blitz
In the heart of the City, before the Second World War Innholders’ Hall was surrounded by densely packed buildings.
A narrow escape
Gordon Marsh, the Company’s Beadle (1934-1979) ensured the Hall survived the incendiary raids of 10-11 May 1941
A narrow escape
Marsh persuaded his contacts in the Enfield Fire Brigade to attend Innholders Hall. ‘Help us to put this fire out, and we’ll help you to something which will put you out’ he declared, and the Company’s wine stocks were duly declared ‘blitzed’.
Damaged but not destroyed
Extensively damaged and without its roof, the Hall survived and remained operational throughout the war.
Damaged but not destroyed
Reconstruction took place after the war which restored much of the panelling and plasterwork. Sadly most of the stained glass was lost.
The New Court Room
Pictured in the 1890s, the stained glass was lost to the Blitz.
The New Court Room
The New Court Room was refurbished and new furnishings were commissioned to celebrate the Millennium
St Julian and the Star of Bethlehem
Reflecting a tradition of hospitality
St Julian and the Star of Bethlehem
Our patron saint is St Julian the Hospitaller, patron saint of hospitality. Our motto is ‘Hinc spes effulget’: ‘From here hope shines forth’. Our emblem is the star of Bethlehem, illustrating our motto.
The History of the Worshipful Company of Innholders
The Company’s official history is The Innholders: A History of the Worshipful Company of Innholders by Stephen Coote (2013)
The History of the Worshipful Company of Innholders
If you are interested in researching the history of inns or of individual members of the Company, you will find our historic records at the Guildhall Library. They are catalogued by the London Metropolitan Archives, you can go there by clicking on the button below.
The Hall today
Innholders’ Hall remains on its original site and continues to offer hospitality at the heart of the City
Many original features survived the war and today the Hall is Grade II* listed
Innholders’ Hall remains on its original site and continues to offer hospitality at the heart of the City
The elaborate ceiling in the New Court Room is still in place and the Court meets here monthly
Extension into 30 College Street
Have you ever wondered why the Hall’s street number is 29-30?
Extension into 30 College Street
The Hall was extended and remodelled in the late 1980s and reopened in 1990. The original Hall at 29 College Street was joined to a post war building also owned by the Company at 30 College Street. The original door was closed up and a new entrance constructed. The new wrought iron ‘inn’ sign was a gift from the Blacksmiths’ Company.
The Hall was quickly rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666
The 1670 plasterwork ceiling in the Old Court Room has been carefully preserved by the Innholders
The Hall was quickly rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666
The ceiling is a fine and rare example of seventeenth century domestic plasterwork, one of the few to remain in situ in the City. Overlooking Whittington Gardens, the Old Court Room is now a serene haven in the centre of the City.
Innholders and
the Hospitality Industry
The Worshipful Company of Innholders has its origins in the hospitality trade. Although many of its members now have no direct links to hospitality, during the 1970s the Company looked to strengthen its relationship with the trade to which it had historic links. To that end, in 1978 members of the Company were instrumental in creating ‘The Master Innholders’, an organisation for leading hoteliers.
The Master Innholders is now an independent organisation but links between it and the Company remain strong and many members of the Company are also Master Innholders.
If you are a Master Innholder and are interested in joining the Company, please contact the Clerk at [email protected] for further information.
The Company supports the hospitality industry through the Innholders’ Charitable Foundation which sponsors the Innholders’ Scholarships, along with the Savoy Educational Trust and the Lord Forte Foundation. These scholarships are for professional development of mid-career hotel managers who have the potential to go on to be leaders in the industry. The alumni association of the programme is known as the St Julian Scholars.
You can find out more about the Innholders’ Scholarships and the St Julian’s Scholars from the Master Innholders who administer the scheme.
Philanthropy
Charitable giving has always been a fundamental aspect of the City’s livery companies and the Company is proud to continue in this tradition through the Innholders’ Charitable Foundation.
Annual Review
Please find our most recent annual review document in PDF format for download below.