Appraisal

Nos. 10-12 Monmouth Street, The Covent Garden Hotel (formerly The French Hospital)

A large, three-storey property of French early-Renaissance character with pedimented dormers at third floor level and dormers at fourth floor level projecting from slated roof-slopes, with frontages to both Monmouth Street and Shaftesbury Avenue (at nos. 172-174), faced in red-brick with red terra-cotta dressings, 1899, designed by Thomas Verity, the well-known theatre architect. The façades have benefited greatly from cleaning, bringing out the rich colouring of the brick and terracotta.

The inscription 'Nouvel Hopital et Dispensaire Français' is carried in raised lettering in moulded terra-cotta panels below the first floor windows and is of particular historic interest. The elevation at ground floor level comprises four bays of equal width, separated by double pilasters Street, capped by a frieze and modest cornice supporting, four, attractively striped, retractable, projecting blinds. Each of the openings contains a modern, subdivided, glazed frontage set within traditionally-detailed timber framing, painted appropriately in dark green. The window joinery of the upper floors, including the dormers, is painted white. The external signing of the hotel is modest and discrete, with a Union Flag projecting above the main entrance.

The building appears to be in remarkably good condition. Although unlisted, the building is of considerable townscape value contributing positively to the character, appearance and significance of the Seven Dials Conservation Area. This building should be considered for inclusion in the National Heritage List as a good work by an important Victorian architect.

There is only limited scope to enhance the appearance of the building given its present reticent and tasteful state.