I don't think there is a single Worthing resident who doesn't know this building, be it Dolphin Lodge, the Towers, the Metropole or its first name, the Majestic.

Many stories have passed into legend about its life, our interest rests in the application of an alcohol licence applied for in 1930, before it was even built, and it got one!

A Licence was granted to the 'Majestic Hotel Co', later the Hotel Majestic (worthing Ltd), to sell intoxicating liquor, but it was conditional. Work on the building had to be substantially completed in two years time and for this reason the licence was limited to an initial three and a half years.

The spokesperson, Mr Davis described it as having all the features that modern hotels were expected to contain, and would be superior to all of them. the cost would be £190,000, of which £100,000 had already been promised.

Past Mayor, Alderman W Frost had said, that it was his experience during office that Worthing had lost numerous conferences because there was not a hotel in the town able to cater for them in a proper manner,

It will be five stories high, a grill room on the ground floor and a ballroom on the top storey. There would be 195 bedrooms, which would include 15 for resident staff.

As we all know, it wasn't to be. In simple language, the money ran out, or perhaps those who had make promissory funding withdrew. It was eventually divided up into flats called the Metropole then by 1964 it was the Towers before eventually becoming Dolphin lodge.

Questions will always be asked, why did they build the east side first of the U shaped building, and not the front?

Why did they plonk a 1950s structure on the seafront end with no hint of design blending.

What would it have been today if it had been finished. A concert hall, cinema, events venue, or all three! irrespective, its a very grand building, nearly.

Left: A view of the rear, you can almost imagine it completed.