 The hotel was not immensely profitable in its opening years ; smaller than many of the new hotels springing up in that period , it was not fashionable initially , and was resented by many of the London elite who considered it vulgar . It took £ 3628 in 1908 , over a thousand pounds less than the previous year , and the hotel lost over £ 50 @,@ 000 between 15 May 1906 and 31 July 1908 , which led to the replacement of Elles with manager with Theodore Kroell and appointment of Charles Van Gyzelen as manager of the restaurant . 
