Today was a huge failure...CMH fail, Pyestock fail (pretty sure we passed a camera in a tree so left then someone came along in a car and watched us, maybe I was being paranoid) and then got to the old Ravens nightclub near hindhead to find it had been flattened and something else on it (thanks google maps).
On the way back daughter suggested getting a Starbucks and seeing if we could get in San Domenico so we did just that. The countless times i’ve driven past and said to myself I will get in one day, and after all these years we finally did. Nothing worthwhile in there but after years of wanting to go in I was happy.
The floors up on the first floor are really dodgy on one side and the stairs up to the second were pitch black, I was on my own by this point with the worst torch in the world and the atmosphere was creeping me out like a bad vibe the higher I went so I called it a day after grabbing a couple of shots from the top of the stairs.
Excuse some of the pics, it was really dark in places
HISTORY
Originally the Mayflower hotel, it was in 1976 turned into a restaurant until its closure in 1990. Since then, the site has remained empty - although there have been attempts to spark new life into it.
The San Domenico restaurant was opened in 1976 by businessman, Jim Cressy.
Mr Cressy was already an established restauranteur with successful businesses in London, including the glamorous San Frediano in King’s Road.
Due to it's proximity to the exclusive St George's Hill estate, it was very popular with celebrities. People like Tom Jones and Cliff Richard used to eat there, Ayrton Senna too when he used to drive for McLaren in Woking.
After hitting its height during the 70s and 80s, the restaurant was closed in 1990 and entered a 25-year period of dormancy.
In 2016, London Investment Holdings decided to put the 6.3-acre plot up for sale by public auction.
It was placed under the gavel for a guide price of £4 million and gathered "considerable interest" at the time.
New owners, Euro Garages Ltd submit a planning application for a four-pump petrol station and drive-through café.
Truths and rumours :
In 2006, more than 200 people descended onto the site for an all night party, with speculation at the time some of the revellers were intending to stay on as squatters.
Rumours it was a safe house. Many people have suggested the site is used to secure either shady government aides or mafia-style henchman.
There have been alleged sightings of helicopters accessing the grounds, men in dark glasses patrolling the estate, and a solitary light bulb that illuminates the top floor of the main building at night...
Rumours of it becoming a strip club.
On the way back daughter suggested getting a Starbucks and seeing if we could get in San Domenico so we did just that. The countless times i’ve driven past and said to myself I will get in one day, and after all these years we finally did. Nothing worthwhile in there but after years of wanting to go in I was happy.
The floors up on the first floor are really dodgy on one side and the stairs up to the second were pitch black, I was on my own by this point with the worst torch in the world and the atmosphere was creeping me out like a bad vibe the higher I went so I called it a day after grabbing a couple of shots from the top of the stairs.
Excuse some of the pics, it was really dark in places
HISTORY
Originally the Mayflower hotel, it was in 1976 turned into a restaurant until its closure in 1990. Since then, the site has remained empty - although there have been attempts to spark new life into it.
The San Domenico restaurant was opened in 1976 by businessman, Jim Cressy.
Mr Cressy was already an established restauranteur with successful businesses in London, including the glamorous San Frediano in King’s Road.
Due to it's proximity to the exclusive St George's Hill estate, it was very popular with celebrities. People like Tom Jones and Cliff Richard used to eat there, Ayrton Senna too when he used to drive for McLaren in Woking.
After hitting its height during the 70s and 80s, the restaurant was closed in 1990 and entered a 25-year period of dormancy.
In 2016, London Investment Holdings decided to put the 6.3-acre plot up for sale by public auction.
It was placed under the gavel for a guide price of £4 million and gathered "considerable interest" at the time.
New owners, Euro Garages Ltd submit a planning application for a four-pump petrol station and drive-through café.
Truths and rumours :
In 2006, more than 200 people descended onto the site for an all night party, with speculation at the time some of the revellers were intending to stay on as squatters.
Rumours it was a safe house. Many people have suggested the site is used to secure either shady government aides or mafia-style henchman.
There have been alleged sightings of helicopters accessing the grounds, men in dark glasses patrolling the estate, and a solitary light bulb that illuminates the top floor of the main building at night...
Rumours of it becoming a strip club.
