a house on the riverbank facing Monkey Island. Musical stars Clara Butt and Nellie Melba entertained the island's guests. From 1912, Rebecca West and H. G. Wells frequented the island and it was here that West set her first novel, Return of the Soldier, whose heroine was the innkeeper's daughter. The middle of the twentieth century saw extensive additions to and refurbishment of the island. In 1956, the footbridge that connects it to shore was added after Christopher Reynolds purchased the island. In 1963, the Pavilion's dining area was expanded by the addition of the River Room, a large, glass-walled building that hangs just over the Thames. Named in homage to the Duke, the Marlborough Room was added in 1970 at the upstream end of the building, whose walls were painted with battle scenes. In the same year, the Temple was extended to provide a further 30 bedrooms. The Pavilion and Temple are both Grade I listed buildings. As proprietor from 1956 to 1971, Mr Reynolds brought renewed vigour to the island with his thoughtful additions. Monkey Island also enjoyed continued popularity: in 1964 it played host to a ball in aid of Oxfam, which Tatler covered under the headline "Oxfam-On-Thames". In 1967, Mr Reynolds produced Monkey Island's own journal, The Islander. The first issue told of the popularity of the island's Club Suppers, Island Luncheon Club for Ladies, and entertainment provided by Jimmy Fraser and Mike Allen. The hotel was purchased by Major Fitzwilliams and later sold to the Weinreb Group, which subsequently went into receivership. In 1976, Paul and Liz Nichols purchased Monkey Island Hotel from the Liquidators and carried out extensive renovations during their 9-year tenure. The hotel achieved recommendations from the Michelin Guide and Egon Ronay and was a British Tourist Authority Country Hotel and Restaurant Award winner in 1983,1984, and 1985. In 1986, the hotel was sold to Basil Faidi, who further restored the Grade I listed buildings. The hotel was sold some 10 years later to the Habtour Group and was then acquired by Dr Andreas C. Papadakis in September 2007. In 2015 Monkey Island was acquired by YTL Hotels and renamed to Monkey Island Estate. Following YTL Hotels' renovation, the new luxury hotel reopened its doors in April 2019. Award-winning New York-based Champalimaud Design were responsible for the design of the 41 bedrooms and suites. Monkey Island Estate features a custom-made Floating Spa,