Skindles

Skindles was a historic hotel located in Maidenhead, England, on the Buckinghamshire bank of the River Thames near Maidenhead Bridge. Originally built as the Orkney Arms in 1743, it was transformed into a fashionable hotel by William Skindle in 1833. The hotel gained notoriety in the 20th century for its association with adulterous assignations and hosted notable guests such as Winston Churchill and Princess Margaret. It also featured performances by musicians like The Rolling Stones, The Stranglers, and The Strawbs. Skindles appeared in the film *Kind Hearts and Coronets* and was referenced in R.C. Sherriff's play *Journey's End*. In 2006, a property developer purchased the site for over £30 million but lost control to Irish Nationwide bank in 2009 due to a £40 million loan default. The property was later transferred to NAMA. Barratt Homes and National Grid secured development rights, but South Bucks council preferred preserving the hotel structure. By summer 2013, Skindles had fallen into disrepair, with parts of the roof collapsing after harsh winters. In November 2013, the site was sold after Barratt's option expired and was bought by Berkeley Group in February 2014. Demolition began in October 2015 to make way for a housing development including nearly 300 homes, office space, a restaurant, and Thames walkways. The restaurant on the old hotel site became a French brasserie called Roux at Skindles in 2018. Additionally, during World War I, a café in Poperinge was nicknamed Skindles by British officers, retaining this name until 1990. A racehorse also ...