The Crescent Hotel

Built in 1931 and opened in 1932, the Crescent Hotel's spacious, colonial style with deep verandahs and high ceilings were appropriate for the hot, humid climate of Aden. In the early 1960's however it was refurbished to include fans and air-conditioning. The bar lounge and resident's lounge enjoyed the comfort of air-conditioning whilst the dining room with its terrace extension was well equipped with fans. Each of the 70 bedrooms were fitted with an air-conditioner and had a private bath or shower.

At the rear a 27 room Annexe was opened in 1950 which featured phone extensions in every room. Three rooms in the main hotel were also fitted with phone extensions. The Annexe was built for and by A. Besse Company. Gino Almondo was the project  supervisor. At this time both the Crescent Hotel  and the  Annexe were Besse's properties. During the 1950's the Hotel Manager was Mr Girolamo Volpi (photo next page).

After Antonin Besse suffered a stroke in 1948, and aware of his failing health,  he set to the task of compiling a detailed report on his expansive business empire for his successors to follow. He wrote of the Crescent Hotel, "Until everything is in working order and runs smoothly this project will be a white elephant, but it has never been my habit to abandon a scheme once undertaken and I have no intention of doing so in this case until everything is perfect and runs to my satisfaction. The materials accumulated seem to be sufficient for opening up the hotel, serving meals, looking after the bar which should become popular if well organised".

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