Christmas's gone by at the New Continental Hotel, Plymouth
It’s not just how our Grand Old Lady stands today that we love so much, but how she has played such a vital role in the ever changing city around her large footprint.
Working within the hospitality sector, we get to share what we know and what we love about our hotel and a city we care so much about; which means our passion grows and our knowledge has to keep up!
It’s interesting what you have to find out in order to answer guests intrigue and questions, and as a hotel it really is our responsibility to know our hotel and city well; not only what’s happening today but also, what happened in our yesteryears!
1756 – 1820 | Millbay Area
In the first half of the century there was very little here, in the Millbay area, John Smeaton had cleared a channel and erected a little wooden jetty in the bay’s south west corner in 1756, to set up base for the workings of the Eddystone Lighthouse; but then this quiet quarter of Plymouth steadily grew and in the 1820’s, with the build and development of Union Street, and the continual growth of the Millbay Docks area; followed by the GWR’s Plymouth terminal, things soon changed!
1886-1930’s | George Fowler
With the completion of the Millbay Railway in April 1849, visitors were now arriving into Plymouth by both train and boat in high volume, the demand for accommodation grew considerably and in 1886 The Albion Hotel opened its doors right next to the train station (which was located roughly on the site of the Plymouth Pavilions and you can still see remnants of its large stature there today).
Neighbouring on to The Albion Hotels eastern side was the Royal Eye Infirmary. Taking over what was the beautiful Georgian Buckland House in 1844; owned by Mr & Mrs C Bartlett. Although adapted and expanded, in 1900 the building became too small for the Royal Eye Infirmary and so in 1900 it moved to a purpose built home near the train station on the Mutley Plain side of town – now converted into flats but still a beautiful example of Victorian architecture.
George Fowler, who had owned The Albion Hotel for almost 20 years at that time, as well as owning The Union Hotel in Penzance and The Portland in London, was much like his friend Mr Harry Selfridge; an innovative, energetic and creative businessman always looking for great marketing opportunities and partnerships.
George expanded The Albion into the building that was the Eye Infirmary, renaming it for a very brief time ‘Fowler’s Hotel’. The application was approved on the 10th April 1900 and architect B Priestley-Shires set to work with George on the new look hotel; by 1904 the two hotels were in business under the collective banner of The Albion and Continental Hotels. The Albion, which stood as an impressive square construction now completely adjoined to the Continental Hotel thanks to the skills and hard work of Mr. B Priestley-Shires, was still known as the busiest of hotels in 1927 – due to the fact it had a licence when the Continental Hotel did not.
The name The Albion Hotel and Continental Hotel, after the brief ‘Fowlers Hotel’ branding; survived throughout the 1920’s until the early 30’s when it was then passed over to the then hands of The Trust Houses Ltd. who went on to make many of the renovations that you can still see today.
1930 – 1970’s| Trust House Ltd.
Nightclubs, jazz clubs and cocktail bars started to flourish in Plymouth from the early 20’s. The hedonistic lifestyle portrayed in books and films such as ‘The Great Gatsby’ was perhaps for some, an escape from reality. Our Grand Old Lady, with Richards help, took part in this exciting way of evening entertainment. In February 1936 our beloved Ballroom was built; reported at the largest open indoor space at that time outside of Theatres and purpose built entertainment settings in the city.
The dream was to have as much live music as possible, with a large dance floor ‘on springs’, concealed lighting, air purifiers and enough space to seat 350 people in one sitting. Under the Ballroom was what we think to be the only heated indoor car park outside of London, with room for 50 cars (now Club Continental) and upstairs an American Cocktail bar; with chrome stools, a semi-circular bar and ‘pleasant’ lighting – and was reported to be the first bar that women were marketed to directly as guests welcome without a male companion!
Above the Ballroom was also the addition of 12 new bedrooms, complete with gas fires!
1970 – 1977 | Hickmet Hotels and The Receivers!
The heyday of our Grand Old Lady appeared to be over, come the 70’s; with the caravanning and camping scene growing in population, although the city was still a popular holiday destination, the competition of hotels was fierce and so times were harder than ever before.
Hickmet Hotels, led by Mr. Nevvar Hickmet, took ownership of the Continental Hotel in 1970. Hickmet Hotels also took lease of The Grand Hotel in Birmingham just a couple of years later in 1972, and even after a £500,000 of refurbishment of the striking Birmingham hotel, trading conditions proved difficult, and they fell into receivership in 1976.
A similar fate happened with the Continental Hotel, although hard work went into making the hotel a venue that competed with the ‘West End’, and known to many as the ‘Tavern In The Town’; with sensational acts, dancers and musicians, in 1974, sadly the hotel fell into receivership.
1977 – 1984 |Plymouth Hotel Group
Once again, the Continental Hotel changed hands in the 70’s, this time to a hotel group that already owned a hotel in Plymouth; the Duke Of Cornwall Hotel.
1984-Present Day | Hajiyianni Family
The Hajiyianni family had been involved in the hospitality industry in Plymouth for two decades before acquiring the Continental Hotel in 1984. Steve Hajiyianni was always enchanted by the Continental Hotel’s impressive Italianate style design and its premier location; the jewel in the cities maritime crown, with its rich history and impressive footprint. In 1974, Steve tried unsuccessfully to purchase the hotel from Mr. Nevvar Hicket – he had to wait a further ten years for his dream to come to fruition. Mr Hajiyianni’s patience and determination paid off and he became the proud owner in 1984 when he purchased the hotel from the Plymouth Hotel Group.We have done our very best to extract all of the correct dates and information for this blog; from various sources. If you have any more information, photos or stories you can share – we would love to hear from you.
For further information please see our website www.newcontinental.co.uk