The Angletter Hotel (translated from French as England), a famous spot in the center of St. Petersburg, located on Isaac Square. It is easy to reach all the main attractions of the city from here, making the hotel, now part of the Astoria complex, popular among tourists.

History of the Hotel

The building was constructed in the late 19th century, but the name of the architect has not been preserved. Merchant Terenty Rezvoy decided to erect a brick house between Malaya Morskaya Street and Voznesensky Avenue, near St. Isaac's Cathedral. However, he soon sold the building to adjutant S. Poggenpol.

In the mid-century, the building changed: the new owner decided to make it a profitable house and invited architect Adrian Roben, who added a fourth floor on the courtyard side. After Poggenpol, the building changed owners several times until Teresa Schmidt decided to open a hotel here in 1876.

Initially, the hotel was called "Napoleon," and according to some sources, Leo Tolstoy stayed here. However, it did not gain popularity despite its favorable location. The owners changed the format and names of the hotel: "Schmidt-England," then simply "England." The name "Angletter" appeared in the early 20th century and remained for a long time. Gradually, business improved.

From 1911 to 1914, the hotel belonged to the Schotte family, who preserved many documents and photographs reflecting the history of the Angletter.

Before the revolution, the hotel was considered an elite place due to its advantageous location. Representatives of art and culture stayed here. In the catalogs of that time, the hotel stood out as one of the most luxurious in the city, and every noble person considered it their duty to spend at least one night here.

Over different times, Chekhov, Duncan, White, Kuprin, Nemirovich-Danchenko, Yesenin, American journalist John Reed, and others lived in the hotel. The creative intelligentsia often gathered in the hotel restaurant to discuss news and share works. Osip Mandelstam described in his poems how he waited for his friend Olga Vaksely in a regular room with a fireplace and a laid table.

From 1917 to 1924, the headquarters of English diplomats was located on one of the hotel floors. However, relations with the communists did not work out, and the English left this place.

After the revolution, the Angletter went through difficult times. The former luxury disappeared, and by the first decade of Bolshevik rule, nothing remained of it. There was only one telephone for the entire building, and the restaurant was closed, dividing its space into rooms.

During the Great Patriotic War, the building was used as a hospital. After the war, the authorities carried out reconstruction, creating rooms where 8-12 people could live. On one floor, such a "ant hill" could coexist with a "luxury" room for a party worker or foreign guest, which increased the total number of rooms.

After the revolution, the hotel was renamed: first to "Internacional," then back to "Angletter," and later to "Leningrad."

"Perestroika"

By the 1980s, the building fell into disrepair: the rooms became uninhabitable, and many lacked bathrooms. The authorities of Leningrad decided to close the hotel, and in 1987, to demolish it. This caused mass protests, and soon it was decided to restore the building.

In the early 90s, the building was rebuilt under the guidance of architect A.I. Pribulsky, who was to preserve the historical appearance of the hotel. He was assisted by I.G. Uralov, who worked on the facade. As a result, the building was restored and included in the Astoria hotel complex. Today, the Angletter continues to welcome guests on Isaac Square.

"Angletter" and Deaths

The Angletter Hotel is surrounded by many myths and legends. According to unconfirmed information, Leon Trotsky rested here, and Alexander Vertinsky spent his last night. However, there is no confirmation of this. There are two documented tragic events associated with the hotel.

Yesenin

A tragic story is associated with the hotel and Sergei Yesenin. In December 1925, he was found hanged in one of the rooms. This death still causes disputes. There is a version that the poet was murdered and then staged as a suicide. Witnesses claimed to have seen suspicious people leaving Yesenin's room, and there were wounds and bruises on his body. However, this information is not reflected in the death reports. After this, many celebrities avoided the hotel.

John Hughes, Founder of Donetsk

36 years before Yesenin's death, John Hughes died in the hotel. This British entrepreneur, known for founding Donetsk in the second half of the 19th century, bought a plot of land from Prince Sergey Kochubey and built a metallurgical plant and a settlement named Yuzovka, later renamed Donetsk.

In the summer of 1898, Hughes arrived in St. Petersburg and stayed at the Angletter. It is assumed that he came to resolve issues related to the purchase of the Livenov estate. However, he did not manage to complete the affairs: Hughes, who was over 70 years old, died in his room from a stroke. This was a serious blow to his family, who left Donetsk in the early 20th century.