THEN & NOW
/by Monika Forberger
(click images to enlarge)
Built in 1935, the Buchan was one of Vancouver's lesser known hotels.
The Buchan Hotel in 1974 ONLY HAD A FEW TREES OUT FRONT. Now the building is hidden behind decades-old leafy trees, giving it an old-world look and feel.
The Buchan was one of the later designs of Winnipeg-born architect Henry Sandham Griffiths, who designed dozens of Vancouver commercial and residential projects over a span of 30 years. The Buchan was first listed in the City Directory in 1936, with Charles B. McCallum shown as the manager until 1948. There is some information that it was originally planned as an apartment/hotel, but the city directory listings refer to it only as a hotel.
It's claimed that the hotel was named after Canada's 15th Governor General, Lord Tweedsmuir, who had gained international fame as a prolific author of thriller novels, including The 39 Steps. John Buchan, the author turned politician, loved Canada – especially British Columbia – and visited Vancouver on at least two occasions in 1935 and 1939. There are photos in our City Archives of Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir visiting English Bay, so they may have known about The Buchan, but there is no indication they ever visited the hotel.
Today’s leafy entranceway.
Over the years the Buchan maintained a low profile. While there are a number of ads in Vancouver’s directories providing information on the Sylvia Hotel and the Hotel Vancouver, there are no such displays for The Buchan. But a hotel traveller's review about the hotel from 2018 reports: “This is one of the best deals in town. The drawback is that it’s not exactly fancy. Rooms still have those 1980s-style brass lamps and floral bedspreads, veneer desks, and tiny bathrooms (and half of those are shared). Still, there are vintage radiators and inlaid hardwood floors, friendly staff, and a lounge with big, plush sofas perfect for curling up with a book on rainy days. Plus the Adesso Bistro downstairs serves up great northern Italian food and wine, making this a lovely, affordable refuge.”
The Buchan was also the first hotel to ban smoking on the premises in 1990. Over three decades it was a favourite dining and drinking destination for Vancouverites. The restaurants that operated here included The Tartan Lounge (no doubt recalling John Buchan’s Scottish heritage), and – most famously – Delilah’s, which opened in 1985. Here is a quote from a restaurant review upon the notification that the famed restaurant, renowned also for its outdoor dining patio, was closing in December 2010:
A promotional image for Delilah’s.
“If you check the Delilah's restaurant website, you'll see a glam girl with a cocktail in her hand. Those days are now a thing of the past. The page is a good-bye to Vancouver after 25 years as the martini queen: “It is bittersweet for us to announce that Delilah's has closed her doors.”
Following the closing of Delilah’s the restaurant was taken over by Carol Gadsby and Luciano Loi and it became the Adesso Bistro.
Veteran, hands-on restaurateurs, Carol and Luciano first opened an Adesso Bistro in Kitsilano in the winter of 2005. Five years later they moved the charming Italian operation into the space under the Buchan Hotel, not only to enjoy the fruits of what was then arguably the best patio in Vancouver but also to upgrade the overall dining experience and provide more seating. Adesso Bistro closed its doors in 2018, and since 2021 the space has been occupied by another Italian concept restaurant, Robba Da Matti.
At the outset of the COVID pandemic The Buchan Hotel was purchased by the BC government for $19.4 million and provided supportive housing under the management of the Atira Women’s Society. The hotel has now been empty for more than two years, and according to BC Housing will under renovations starting in early 2024. That work will be completed in 2025 and the renovated building will provide 62 homes with support services for women. Services are expected to include on-site staffing, security, meals, support services based on individual resident’s needs and referrals to other health and community-based services and supports.
So, one of the Grand Old Ladies of the West End will once again be revived as a welcome home to women requiring additional support in these challenging times. The West End Journal will pass along more information on timelines for construction and eventual re-opening as they are provided by the relevant B.C. government agencies.
