Richard E Grant's Hotel Secrets

During the programme the actor tours a selection of New Orleans hotels, notably the historic Monteleone. The Monteleone was a well‑known favourite of literary giants such as Tennessee Williams, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, who all spent time there in the city.

The programme is an episode centred on New Orleans, presented as a travel‑focused feature. It falls within the genre of a typical documentary‑style slice that follows a single presenter as they explore the city’s distinctive locations and cultural landmarks. In the course of the episode, the presenter makes a point of touring several hotels around the city. Among these, the Monteleone receives particular attention, with the host stepping inside its historic corridors and rooms to give viewers a sense of its atmosphere. The Monteleone itself carries a notable literary pedigree. Over the years it has attracted a number of celebrated writers, becoming a favourite haunt for the likes of Tennessee Williams, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Their association with the hotel adds a layer of artistic intrigue to the otherwise straightforward hotel tour. By highlighting the Monteleone’s connection to these three authors, the episode subtly underscores the way New Orleans has long served as a well‑spring of inspiration for prominent figures in American literature. The brief focus on this historic establishment thus links the city’s present‑day hospitality scene with its storied past.