London’s venerable Savoy hotel shuts up shop today — at least until 2009.

One of England’s most famous hotels, everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Winston Churchill have lived there. The dry martini was supposedly invented in the hotel’s American Bar. Everything’s gone quiet now (except for a tag sale of all the old tat the owners don’t want), while the owners and management company (Fairmont) get to work.

It’s been an interesting ride for the hotel, opened in the 1880’s. Lately, though, it has all been a bit depressing. Part of the prestigious, Blackstone-backed Savoy Group at the turn of last century, it went out on its own a couple of years ago, leaving sister properties such as Claridge’s and The Berkeley without a name for their group (it was subsequently changed to Maybourne).

Nothing really happened after that. Until now. While Fairmont really needs to consider splashing out for proper designers (among other modern conveniences), at least it is experienced at handling historic physical plants – Canada’s iconic chateau hotels are all under the company’s care. We’ll hope for the best.