Celebrity haunt Cafe Royal closes

Historic celebrity haunt Cafe Royal closed its doors for the final time last night.

The iconic venue, built in 1865, was the playground for Hollywood stars, royalty and politicians for 143 years, becoming synonymous with glamour and scandal.

Among the stars hosted were Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Sir Winston Churchill and Princess Diana.

The Cafe Royal was also a favourite haunt of playwright Oscar Wilde, who on one evening there became so drunk on absinthe that he began hallucinating.

More recently the Regent Street venue played host to Gordon Ramsay, who held his wedding reception there in 1996.

Furniture and memorabilia from the building will now be auctioned by Bonhams, to make way for a new luxury hotel development.