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Picture source: Hania Franek

The Dolphin Hotel was situated on West Street. In 1910 the Dolphin Inn merged with the Anchor next door and became the Dolphin Hotel. The building is grade-II listed, dating from the 18th century. The Dolphin Hotel closed in 1996.

I have been reading a book published in the 50's (Seeing Roman Britain by Leonard Cottrell) and having stayed at The Dolphin Hotel Chichester on his travels, he says it has " ...has one of the most elegant 18th century dining rooms in England").

Karen Perry (August 2017)

My father and I used to stay here in the late 70s / early 80s during the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival. The hotel was owned and run by Trust House Forte at the time and fair to say it was the premier hotel in the area, so that racehorse owners would often be among the guests. As an example I can remember the millionaire Art dealer, Daniel Wildenstein staying circa 1981. We became aware of the hotel through the manager at the time, Hugh Patton (and his wife though regretfully I can’t remember her name). Hugh had been the manager of the Upper Reaches Hotel, also under the THF brand, and restaurant in Abingdon, Oxon where we lived and advised us of the move to Chichester. Presumably a promotion. I was only a teenage boy at the time and I marvelled at the splendour of the Dolphin and Anchor. It was a magnificent place to stay, particularly during Glorious Goodwood when there was a real buzz before and after racing. The grand dining room was elegant but as a teenager, who didn’t appreciate fine dining at the time, I preferred The Buttery which formed part of the hotel to the right as you looked from the Cathedral. There was limited parking to the rear of the hotel and I can still picture the valets who would organise and maximise the spaces. There were two pay phones in one of the ground floor corridors and some seating nearby where I was reading The Sporting Life on the morning of the Sussex Stakes renewal in 1983. A very prominent owner, who shall remain nameless, was on the phone to his bookie and and I can still recall the two bets he placed. £500 win Debaj in an earlier race and £250 each way Noalcoholic in the Grade 1 Sussex Stakes run over 1 mile. After Debaj was beaten I ignored Noalcoholic in the big race. To my dismay, but obviously not to the bettor, the horse won at large odds (something like 25/1 I think). A handsome return! I was so disappointed when I learned the hotel was no more. I should imagine there are countless stories over many years of such success (and failure). Celebrations or commiserations of an evening in such a splendid venue with the beautiful Cathedral directly opposite. Oh for a Tardis!

Gavin Bosse (June 2023)

Listed building details:

C18. 3 storeys, Stuccoed. The original portion of the Dolphin Hotel with tile name on the parapet has 8 windows. Large cornice and parapet. To the right of the door is the carriage entrance through the Hotel with long or short quoins and keystone. Curved hood to door with heavy consoles below. semi-circular fanlight. To the west is an extension of 2 windows and beyond that the building of the formerly separate Anchor Hotel. The latter has 6 windows, cornice, parapet and windows in frames. Above the parapet are 2 models of an anchor. To the east of the original Dolphin building the Hotel is extended into an C18 house of 3 storeys and 3 windows with a modern public house front on ground floor.

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Other Photos

Picture source: Hania Franek

Picture source: Darkstar