SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2000-02 > 0949923603


From: The Thornleys <>
Subject: Re: Grand Hotel name in 1901?
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 13:40:03 +0200


Hi Sidney,
I can't really answer your question. I do have a photo, not a good one of
the Grand Hotel taken in 1949 in its Victorian glory and published in a book
entitled South Africa's Yesteryears. This hotel was totally renovated into
the square style of the 50s, losing all its Victorian facades etc. In its 50
style I do remember the pub had its entrance on the corner of Strand Street
and St Georges Street, one couldn't miss it on such busy streets and I do
recall it had a very long counter, but whether this was the site of the
original "long bar" I really cannot say. In 1949 I was in my first year at
school and so cannot remember the original hotel. The Coral Lounge was
upstairs on the 1st floor. Very much a tastefully decorated cocktail bar and
and venue for live music, it was built at a time when ladies were not
permitted in pubs. I don't believe this was the original long bar. I can't
however, substantiate that. Well that's the best I can do.
Regards,
Ralph.
----- Original Message -----
From: Sidney Allinson <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 10:20 PM
Subject: Re: Grand Hotel name in 1901?


> At 10:37 PM 2/3/00 +0200, you wrote:
> >Hi,
> >Grand Hotel stood on the corner of Adderley Street and Strand Street. It
in
> >fact ran from Adderley Street along Strand Street to St George's Street.
The
> >main entrance was in Strand Street. It was pulled down towards the end of
> >the 60s and the beginning of the 70s. The most popular part of the hotel
was
> >the famous Coral Lounge.
> >Ralph Thornley.
>
> Thanks, Ralph.
> Do you happen to know if the Coral Lounge was the same as
> the "long bar"? I understand there was a huge bar-room in the
> Grand Hotel that was a popular meeting-place for Canadian
> and Australian troops during the Boer War.
> - Sidney.
>
>
>
> ==== SOUTH-AFRICA Mailing List ====
> ***********************************************************************
> To find out about South African Research and how to do it please visit:
> http://home.global.co.za/~mercon/
>

This thread: