There are very few hotels in this vast country to have such a long uninterrupted record as a hotel. We take pride in our heritage, which dates back to the British era at the turn of the century. The hotel partly derives its name from the fact that it was once within the walled complex known then as Bombay Fort.

Now a popular business hotel, the Residency Fort is an innovative combination of two buildings of different eras, materials and styles. It is also symbolic of India’s emerging entrepreneurship in turn-of-the-century India.

The older part was built in 1902 as Horn by House, Mumbai’s first fire station. It was a small service to cater to the population of the time. The building which is still intact is of stone and has always been three floors. The original façade too has been maintained. As a fire station, Horn by House housed just a few wagons, their horses and supplies. The men and offices were on the floors above. Today, it forms the west wing of the Residency Fort, accounting for the half the lobby, restaurant and the rooms above.

There is no significant information available on the east wing, except that it was a ‘new style’ construction of bricks, owned by a Muslim family and was having a bad run as a commercial complex.

Its present role as a hotel began in 1941 when the Mehra family took charge. Residency Fort came into being through sheer providence. The Mehra patriarch was looking to expand his successful catering business. Looking for someplace well located and near the erstwhile Victoria Terminus, he chanced upon the ‘To Let’ sign outside the fire station, by then outdated and earmarked for sale by the British authorities. One a busy junction and with sound construction, it was a perfect fit. However, the sale was conditional in that the station has to be demolished.

Far from it. The two new acquisitions were joined by some ingenious architecture and masonry to be rechristened as one lot and the Residency Fort. This accounts for the eccentric corridors (passages). The lift shaft is the meeting point of the two buildings.

Extensive care has also been taken to maintain as much of the fire station as possible. Updating the plumbing and electrical facilities were a challenge since the buildings are of different materials and design. There was fair success in blending the façade, while keeping the original layout and design in sync with the modern hotel. We would be happy to show you around.