Author Topic: The importance of the Princess Grill Restaurant and Bar  (Read 1227 times)

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Online Rob Lightbody

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As the ship arrived in Dubai, these rooms were (apart from the small synagogue) the only public rooms that were almost completely intact from her 1968 design.  From a genuine historic design history point of view, the kind of thing that excites our friend Dr. Bruce Peter, this space was the most interesting in 2008 when she arrived in Dubai.

I hope and urge that they take incredible care with these spaces.  Small things are really important.  I understand that they haven't really started on these spaces yet, although they also certainly not untouched ...

Much of the fixed seating, the wall coverings, the aluminium(?) ribbed ceiling treatment, those statues, the stairs down to the bar - which was also almost completely intact. 
« Last Edit: May 15, 2018, 07:49 AM by Isabelle Prondzynski »
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Thomas Hypher

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Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2018, 12:38 PM »
As the ship arrived in Dubai, these rooms were (apart from the small synagogue) the only public rooms that were almost completely intact from her 1968 design.  From a genuine historic design history point of view, the kind of thing that excites our friend Dr. Bruce Peter, this space was the most interesting in 2008 when she arrived in Dubai.

I hope and urge that they take incredible care with these spaces.  Small things are really important.  I understand that they haven't really started on these spaces yet, although they also certainly not untouched ...

Much of the fixed seating, the wall coverings, the aluminium(?) ribbed ceiling treatment, those statues, the stairs down to the bar - which was also almost completely intact.

Likewise, it would be a massive shame to lose the PG as we knew it, in a very near to original form. The PG could be one of her big selling points in Dubai...
« Last Edit: May 13, 2018, 12:57 PM by Thomas Hypher »
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Brandon Sterkel

Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2018, 05:48 PM »
I was also thinking about the preservation about the Princess Grill. It was one of my first thoughts when the hotel had its soft opening. I do hope that it gets preserved for whatever future use they have for it.

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Offline Alex Tarry

Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2018, 07:27 PM »
We loved the PG too, that having been "our" restaurant on two of our times on board.  It's bar, on One Deck, was a hidden wonder and open to non Grill passengers too, it was a favourite starting point to the evening for us, it was wonderful!

Both the PG and BG are still there, the Britannia is currently being used as a restaurant for the staff on board, we didn't see it, but there are plans for it, maybe as a specialist steakhouse.  The Princess Grill is being worked on, we understand it's Race chairs are all shrink wrapped and in store, the statues are still in place and protected by plastic.

Some of the restaurants are being offered to third party operators, including the Caronia I believe, it may also be divided into two, but I can't be 100% sure about that...

Offline Thomas Hypher

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Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2018, 03:13 AM »
Some of the restaurants are being offered to third party operators, including the Caronia I believe, it may also be divided into two, but I can't be 100% sure about that...

I hope the Caronia isn't divided in two as it was just the right size, not too big and not too small which contributed to its charm and ambience. I have seen recent photos of the Caronia, that cannot be made public, and major work is underway on the room, so I am keen to see the finished product but am also concerned given some of what we've seen so far of her "new" interiors...
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Twynkle

Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2018, 07:58 PM »
Thoughts of changing Anything about the ambience and character of the remaining three restaurants is really hard to bear - and extremely difficult to imagine anything about their originality could be bettered today.
So keeping hope alive, fingers crossed and praying hard that there will be absolutely No changes in the PG and Caronia.
The designs of all four (Grills as well as the Britannia and Caronia) must have been heavily influenced by their positions on the ship - the charm of each one was the very essence of QE2.

(It's really hard to think of QE2 now without her Library - and to think of a distortion of the PG etc is possibly much worse)
« Last Edit: May 14, 2018, 08:00 PM by Twynkle »

Offline cunardqueen

Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2018, 11:09 PM »
Perhaps they (the new owners) are thinking outside the box. The PG Bar lets face it is only a room ??? , it has no windows, a great many people never even knew it was there, granted its parts of QE2s history, But really what could they do with it..Turn in into a Hamburger joint or a Juice bar or even a Water bar...who says they even need or want to keep it as a bar...   
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Offline cunardqueen

Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2018, 11:25 PM »
Quote
  I hope the Caronia isn't divided in two as it was just the right size, not too big and not too small which contributed to its charm and ambience. I have seen recent photos of the Caronia, that cannot be made public,   
Well your one step ahead of the mark BUT Which way are they thinking of dividing it into ..length ways or width ways. In the grand scheme of things they have the Mauretania , the lido and The Queens Grill as dining venues . Just how many more venues do they need as dining.

What they do need is a "room" that that can capture the Britishness of QE2 in Dubai, Queen Mary has one, They could use it an easy source of revenue run it from noon till 6pm seven days a week, the natural light will flood the place in daylight. Get it right and the pricing and your onto a winner. 
From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
 you just knew you were in for a very special time ahead.!

Offline Thomas Hypher

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Re: The importance of the Princes Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2018, 02:48 AM »
Well your one step ahead of the mark BUT Which way are they thinking of dividing it into ..length ways or width ways. In the grand scheme of things they have the Mauretania , the lido and The Queens Grill as dining venues . Just how many more venues do they need as dining.

What they do need is a "room" that that can capture the Britishness of QE2 in Dubai, Queen Mary has one, They could use it an easy source of revenue run it from noon till 6pm seven days a week, the natural light will flood the place in daylight. Get it right and the pricing and your onto a winner.

Any way they divide the Caronia will detract from the original space (as it was in 2008 at least) as the ambience will change and not for the better in my opinion, if it is actually divided.

I agree with Rob that the Mauretania should become the sort of space you've mentioned above - and for events, given it's bigger size and the fact she has far fewer people onboard now (guests and visitors) except during events when the larger size of the Mauretania could come in handy. The Caronia, QG, and Lido make more sense as normal dining venues given the lesser number of people normally onboard. The Mauretania runs the risk of not being intimate enough given the lesser number of people onboard as well if it's used for dining in the normal way of things. This is where the Caronia would be far better for example.

Having said all this, Dubai have made some odd choices with QE2 overall, within making sensible decisions as well. I think this will be another odd choice on their part. A mixed bag to say the least!
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: The importance of the Princess Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2018, 08:50 AM »
As Myles says - out of the box thinking is required for some of these spaces.

When she was in service and running to capacity there would be "bums" for most seats however in a hotel format this will almost never be the case - the owners will have thought of this and how to utilise the amazing asset they have at their disposal with respect to its past but also with a view to making the old girl pay her way in her new role. She will look mighty sparse if shes not busy!

They've been pretty sympathetic so far - long may it continue!!!

Gav

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: The importance of the Princess Grill Restaurant and Bar
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2018, 08:56 AM »
As Myles says - out of the box thinking is required for some of these spaces.

When she was in service and running to capacity there would be "bums" for most seats however in a hotel format this will almost never be the case - the owners will have thought of this and how to utilise the amazing asset they have at their disposal with respect to its past but also with a view to making the old girl pay her way in her new role. She will look mighty sparse if shes not busy!

They've been pretty sympathetic so far - long may it continue!!!

Gav

What concerns me is Alex's old room that he looked into - there wasn't a single original feature or piece of furniture left, unlike the first rooms we saw.

The PG is a relatively small space, and was the most original, it must stay intact - it'll help her not look like a Travelodge as one visitor said recently
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.