In 1703, when Queen Anne created him Duke of Buckingham, ‘LordAllpride’ at once abandoned his mansion in Great Queen Street and started to build an even larger one at the bottom of what is now known as The Mall.

On 1st May 1775, the foundation stone was laid in Great Queen Street for a Masonic hall. As the name implies, it was founded for the purpose of furnishing one central location for the several lodges of Freemasons to hold their meetings and dinners, instead of continuing with the custom of borrowing the halls of the City companies.

In 1908, the building was divided and the dining rooms were named the Connaught Rooms after the first Duke of Connaught, who was the Grand Master of the Freemasons. It became one of the most popular venues in London for prestigious social and corporate events.

And more recently, in 2006, the New Connaught Rooms invested £1 million refurbishment programme. The New Connaught Rooms now offers 29 refurbished and air conditioned function rooms all with contemporary fixtures and fittings.

A Brief History of the New Connaught Rooms

Great Queen Street was described in the 18th century as ‘the first regular street in London’. It is shown on the Agas map on 1560 as a path across Aldwych Close. James I adopted it as the route to his favourite residence, Theobalds, and by 1612 the track had become built up on either side. The first property to stand on the site of the New Connaught Rooms was the London mansion of John Sheffield, the Marquis of Normandy.

John Sheffield was an aristocratic adventurer and philanderer, devoid of scruples. Towards those dispensing patronage he was obsequiousness personified. Towards those who had no power to advance his career he was haughty and aloof. His manner earned him the nickname ‘LordAllpride’.