THE Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, which in colonial days was a favourite watering hole of the notorious White Mischief set, has been acquired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire who owns London’s Savoy.

The prince, who owns some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including the George V in Paris, has acquired five hotels and safari resorts in Kenya from Lonrho Africa, the last vestige of Tiny Rowland’s once sprawling empire, through Kingdom Hotel Investments.

The 100-year-old Norfolk Hotel was a regular haunt of Hugh Cholmondeley, the third Baron Delamere, who helped to establish Kenya’s reputation as a playground for privileged, decadent British expatriates.

Lord Delamere was notorious for riding his horse into the Norfolk’s bar and attempting to jump over a table without breaking any crockery. He would also shoot bottles off the bar, which he always asked to be added to his bill.

The so-called Happy Valley set, of which Lord Delamere was the progenitor, was immortalised in James Fox’s novel, White Mischief, which in 1987 was turned into a box office hit starring Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance. Several scenes in the film were shot at the Norfolk Hotel.

Other famous clients included Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, but in 1980 the hotel welcomed a less desirable guest. The Maltese national who checked in just before Christmas as Muradi Aksali was Muslim terrorist Mohammad Abdel-Hamid. He planted a bomb that destroyed the hotel’s western wing.

In 1989, the Norfolk became the flagship of Lonrho Hotels Kenya. The other properties in the group are the Mount Kenya and Mara safari clubs, the Aberdare country club and the Ark game lodge.