Reid’s Palace – Madeira (English)

Welcome to Reid’s Palace on Madeira. 

Even just mentioning the name of this hotel stirs up a whole string of associations and memories – some personal, some collected from distant sources.

Reid’s always was very special. Its wonderful people, a friendly climate and its almost isolated solitude makes it a perfect refuge from busy days in distant places.

With this book and its related research we have started to dig deep into the hotel’s history, a fieldwork in constant progress.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to the management of the hotel who accepted that some legendary myth had to be replaced by more solid but nevertheless delightful facts.

I wish you a splendid time reading, and enjoying some fascinating photographs, collected from various local and international archives.

Andreas Augustin

Madeira / Vienna, 2011

We started researching the history of Reid's in 1991. Reid’s Hotel. The very name conjures up images of elegant dinner dances and tea in style. The holiday retreat of Churchill, the chosen place of the Royals of Europe, from the Empress to the last Emperor of Austria, Kings and Queens of the ruling houses of the world.

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from its unique location, Reid’s is – like so many grand hotels – an institution.

This is the entertaining story of one of the most famous hotels in the world. It shows the elegant Reid’s, and it presents a Reid’s which is fun, entertaining and relaxing.

It is also the story of a visionary man called William Reid, the sojourn of ‘Sisi’, the restless Empress of Austria, the marketing operation ‘Winston Churchill’, the fashionable sea-bath, its flowers and trees, its legendary parties and fabled afternoon teas, all part of the fairy-tale and unique Reid’s atmosphere. 

Reid’s yesterday and today, brought to life by the author of ‘I had Tea at Reid’s’.

Andreas Augustin
presents
Reid’s Palace Hotel Madeira
in the library The Most Famous Hotels In The World
First of all the author and his team wish to thank Anton Küng as well as Sandro and Doris Fabris for the encouragement to write this book. Ulisses Marreiros was finally instrumental in getting it off the ground.
With this book and its related research we have started to dig deep into the hotel’s history, a fieldwork in constant progress. Our gratitude goes to the management of the hotel who accepted that some legendary myth had to be replaced by more solid but nevertheless delightful facts.
The author is also indebted to Isabel de Portugal for her assistance in coordinating his stay at Reid’s, and he is most grateful to (in alphabetical order): Luciano Bruzzone, Lisabeth Burca, Richard Burca, Paulo Coelho, Patrícia Gomes, Tânia Jesus, Nelson Martins, Rita Oliveira, Luis Pestana, Marcelino Rodrigues, Anneline Santos and Carlos Valente and all the others who helped so wonderfully to put this book together.
Valuable leads came from historical advisors including Drª Helena Araújo (Museu Vicentes, Funchal), famoushotels archives Vienna, João Borges (former Director of Tourism, Funchal, Madeira) and Prof. Rui Carita (Colégio dos Jesuitas, Funchal).
Advisors: Paul M. McManus (at the time President & Chief Executive Officer: The Leading Hotels of the World), Catanho Fernandes (Diario de Notícias, Funchal).
Photographs: the collection of Perestrellos Photographos, Museu Vicentes, Funchal, Madeira; the Max Karkegi Collection, Vitré; Essential Madeira;, Burca Collection, Malcolm Mc Donald Collection, Orient Express, Wolfgang Kalny.
Director of History: Carola Augustin
Cover artist: Manfred Markowski
Editor: Cherry Chappell
Copy editing: Thomas Cane
All rights in this publication are reserved. This book and no part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the copyright owner (except for book reviews for inclusion in magazines or newspapers or radio or TV broadcast).
© Andreas Augustin, 2011
ISBN: 978-3-900692-36-0
First edition 2011