Esplanade Hotel

The Esplanade Hotel, located at Belmont Road, dates from around 1830 to 1840 and was originally possibly a group of houses. This large, four-storey building is faced with stucco and features a frieze and a moulded projecting cornice above the second floor, along with a moulded parapet coping over the third floor. It has a mansard slate roof and is set on a slight curve.

The north front, which overlooks the Valley, has 18 windows, with three at each end in slight projections, including a four-storey bow on the west side. The ground floor is rusticated and flanked by modified Corinthian pilasters. The pilasters divide the first-floor windows of the western bow. The windows are recessed sash types, with square windows on the third floor across the front. On the first floor, large windows have been inserted between the projections, leaving alternate original windows in architrave surrounds with cornices above. The ground floor features single sashes alternating with three-window bows, and there is an iron balcony across the first floor.

The east end, facing the sea, has five windows, with three in a full-height bow that has a cornice above on the first floor, supported by pilasters that divide the windows and a balcony. The flanking first-floor windows have cornices on shaped brackets. The ground floor of the bow is cut back and supported by two Ionic columns at the front.

The south entrance front to Belmont Road is slightly concave, with a frieze and cornice returned and a rusticated ground floor. This side has 16 windows and two blind windows, with two window bays at each end flanked above the ground floor by modified Corinthian pilasters. The first and second floor windows have architrave surrounds, both with sill courses, and there is a modern entrance. The hotel occupies a dominating position above the Valley and is prominently visible from St Nicholas Cliff.

The Esplanade Hotel, along with Nos 1 to 19 (consecutive), the Villa Esplanade Hotel, Nos 20 to 29 (consecutive), and the Prince of Wales Hotel on Prince of Wales Terrace, form a group.