History

After spending years borrowing the halls and rooms of other companies, the Freemasons Society of London decided it was time for their own all-purpose central London building for their events and meetings.

The first stone was laid for the Masonic Hall on May the 1st, 1775. Early in the 20th century the Masonic Hall was turned into dining rooms and renamed the Connaught Rooms after the Duke of Connaught, the Grand Master of the Freemasons. From then on the Connaught Rooms became a sought after London venue, highly regarded for corporate or social functions.

Recently, the New Connaught Rooms has been refurbished to provide a new offering of 29 updated conference, meeting and seminar rooms that combine the stately luxury of the traditional architecture with modern furnishings and technology.ms all with contemporary fixtures and fittings.

A Brief History of the New Connaught Rooms

The New Connaught Rooms has a history dating back two hundred years to the reign of George the Third. Situated on Great Queen Anne Street, which had been used by James I (1603-1625) to travel to his best-loved home, Theobalds, the New Connaught Rooms started its life as a Masonic Hall.

Previously, the residence of John Sheffield, the Marquis of Normandy, had stood on the site. In 1703 when he became Duke of Buckingham he left his home in Great Queen Anne Street and built a more boastful and impressive house at the end of The Mall.