Missing the Bengal, eh wot?

An era will end in April when the Empress Hotel closes its Bengal Lounge. While some will mourn its passing, change is not a four-letter word. The lounge, with its comfortable chairs, curry buffet and punkah fans, had a unique atmosphere that evoked the days of the British Raj in India. Even though it didn’t get its current name until 1969, it felt like a remnant of the decades when the nooks of the Empress were furnished with potted palms and the widows of British colonial officers.

The Bengal Lounge, like the hotel itself in those days, could have been designed by the Londoner who was asked about the attraction of a famous private club.

“It is an oasis of privilege in a desert of democracy,” he replied.

These days, we desert-dwellers like to pop into the grand old hotel from time to time, and for most of us, memories of the Raj seem out of date. The new owners, Nat and Flora Bosa, have a vision for the hotel; they are spending $40 million on renovations, and are not afraid to make changes that might be seen as daring.

For those with memories of years of lunches or afterwork drinks in the comfort of the Bengal, closing it seems more daring than they can bear. Even for those who drop in only occasionally to sample the ambience, it’s hard to imagine the hotel without it.

The Bengal Lounge has long been an integral part of the character and appeal of the Empress, and of the city. Let us hope its replacement can find an equally treasured place in the hearts of Victorians.