British Hotel North Quay Douglas

THE NEW HOTEL, MARKET PLACE - ARCHITECTS are invited to send in COMPETITIVE PLANS, for the NEW HOTEL, about to be erected on the NORTH QUAY, and MARKET PLACE. The Premiums offered are £15 for the first prize, and £5 for the second. The Proprietors do not bind themselves to accept any Plans submitted, or to employ the Architect to carry out the successful plans, which will be regarded as the absolute property and at the absolute disposal of the advertisers The Plans to be deposited with the undersigned not later than the 21st day of December 1895. For further particulars apply to F. R. ROWE, Secretary of Woolf's Brewery and Mineral Water Company, Limited. Athol-street, Douglas, 29 November 1895. [Isle of Man Times 10 December 1895 page 9]

THE NEW HOTEL, MARKET PLACE, DOUGLAS. NOTICE TO BUILDERS. - BUILDERS wishing to Tender for the ERECTION of the NEW HOTEL, North Quay, for Woolf's Brewery Co., should send in their Names on or before Tuesday next to Mr Rigby, Architect, c/o Mr Rowe, Athol Street. Plans, Specifications, and Quantities may be obtained at same office on Thursday next, between 2 and 3 p.m., by those who have sent in their names as directed. [Isle of Man Times 18 January 1896 page 1 - contracts.

THE BRITISH HOTEL - THE OPENING - The British Hotel which has been erected on the site of the old British Hotel in the Market Place, Douglas, is one of the quaintest and most interesting buildings in Douglas. The hotel is built from designs by Mr Armitage Rigby. of Ballamona, and the work has been carried out by Mr Mark Carine. the result being a great artistic success, and we have no doubt the place will prove as great a success financially. The exterior of the building is very striking, being in the Cheshire half-timbered style on the upper storeys, the lower storeys being faced with Ballanard red brick. The quaint projecting oriel windows, and the red-tiled high-peaked roof add to the old-fashioned effect. A balcony runs along the front of the house, facing the harbour. The same quaint, comfortable, and old-fashioned tone pervades the inside of the house, as well as the outside. There are broad stairs, cosy window seats, with windows latticed and mullioned, strange fireplaces, and ingle nooks, and such old-world coves and corners as one naturally expects to find iu an old-fashioned house of the time of good Queen Bess, rather than in a present-day public house. On entering the house from the main entrance on the Quay, we find ourselves in a broad and spacious hall, with wainscoted walls and tiled floor, with a bar just round the corner, and a fireplace, which will give the place a comfortable, homely appearance in the winter time. On the right-hand side are a small "snug" and the manager's private room, while on the other side of the hall is the public smoke-room. This is a splendid apartment, measuring some 11 feet by 20 feet, wainscotted in kauri wood, and fitted with old-fashioned oak “settles" all round. Overhead are immense moulded beams supporting the floor above. and there are two fireplaces of quaint, design showing the natural brick work of the walls, and which are occupied by dog grates of wrought iron made by Mr Cowley, of Douglas. Mr T. H. Cormode. of Quine's Hill Smithy, is also making a dog grate for the hall.  This room will be a very handsome and comfortable smoke room, and the furnishing will be done in a first-class manner. On the ground floor, and facing towards the Market, are the vaults, measuring 42 feet by 16 feet, with three entrances. The bar is built of kauri pine, a beautiful Australian wood, with walnut top. and the fittings of the room are en-suite. The beer engines and bar fittings are by Samuel Mason, of Birmingham, who have also done the work of fitting up the bars in the other parts of the house, and this well-known firm has made a very good job of the portion of the work entrusted to them. Returning to the other part of the house, the first floor is approached by a broad old-fashioned staircase, with a coloured glass window on the landing. The principal room on the first, floor measures some 60 feet by 20 feet, and will be very suitable for meetings of any kind, and from its situation, so close to the Market, should prove a useful room for the farmers. As a place for a large dinner or such like festivity, it will equal any room in Douglas. From the windows there is a magnificent view of the old harbour and the busy life of the quays and the market. On the same floor are also the dining-room and sitting-rooms and first-class lavatory accommodation, fitted by Mr J. H. Cubbon, of Finch-road, in an efficient and expensive style. While on this subject, we should mention that the sanitary appliances throughout the house have also been done by Mr Cubbon and will be found to lie the best arrangements that science can suggest. The second, or top, floor provides seven bedrooms, kitchen, and other offices. The cellarage is very extensive. comprising five large, cool, and well-ventilated rooms fur the storage of ales, wines, and spirits, and there is also a washhouse on this floor. The cellars are connected with the upper floor by powerful lifts, and the whole of the building is fitted with electric bells. The architect, Mr Rigby, has designed some furniture for the principal rooms, to be in keeping with the style of the building. As we have said, the plans were from the able hands of Mr Armitage Rigby, being accepted by the directors of Woolfs Brewery and Mineral Water Company. Limited, out. of a large number as being the most suitable for the house which was required; the contract was let to Mr Carine. and the work has been carried out in a very substantial manner—as might be expected from Mr Carine. and his able foreman, Mr Cretaey - under the personal supervision of Mr Rigby. The painting has been done by Mr R. S. Corlett but it is not intended to complete the decorations before next spring. The ironmongery is by Colledge and Bridgen, of Wolverhampton; anil the lead lights by Samuel Evans, of Birmingham. [Isle of Man Times 5 September 1896 page 7].