Mini Hollywood
It is likely that you are staying at the Bull Hotel in Gerrards Cross on either a business trip, attending a wedding, visiting relatives, attending a training course or conference or maybe visiting Windsor or another one of our surrounding places of interest.
However, has it struck you what an interesting and sought after area you have actually chosen to stay in and what interesting history and famous neighbors you are surrounded by?
Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter have a reputation for being very up market and exclusive, with house prices being considerably higher than average. Located in the commuter belt of London, the village is the most expensive postcode to purchase a property in the country outside of London.
The area is also known as mini Hollywood with many celebrities, Lords and Ladies residing here due to the close proximity to London (20 miles), Pinewood and Elstree film studios, exclusive schools, the attractive countryside, Heathrow Airport and the vast network link up from the motorways (M25, M40, M1 and M4) are all within easy reach. Only 14 miles to London’s Heathrow Airport and 32 miles to Luton it is the perfect spot for a jet setting actor or actress, politician, lord, lady or… a fabulous four star hotel.
The Bull Hotel itself in the 60’s was a very trendy place to be for British celebrities. Our retired night manager worked at the Bull for 38 years and the stories he tells and the people and things he has seen are fascinating. He was working when Mick and Bianca Jaggar came in for drinks shortly after they were married, The Beatles used to drink here, Cilla Black was a regular and we have welcomed most of the Bond and Carry On stars through the doors as they filmed in the near by film studios.
The village name is fairly new, when compared with other villages that surround it. Gerrards Cross did not exist in any formal sense until 1859 when it was formed by taking pieces out of the five parishes of Chalfont St Peter, Fulmer, Iver, Langley Marish and Upton to form a new ecclesiastical parish. It is named after the Gerrard family who in the early 17th century owned a manor here. At that time it was a hamlet in the parish of Chalfont St Peter. At the end of the century, 1688 to be precise, The Bull was opened to the public.
The development and growth of the village was mainly due to the early opening of the railway station on the Chiltern Line which opened on 2nd April 1906. This provided services to London and Birmingham with a commuting time of only 25 minutes to London Marylebone. Just another reason why the area is so popular.
So while you’re staying with us, for what ever reason it may be, why not take a stroll around the surrounding streets where you will see huge, lavish and beautiful houses and who knows who you might bump into… Angelina Jolie… Ozzy Osbourne… or Des O’ Connor!!
Written by Michelle Mayes, Front Office Manager at the Bull Hotel
