Some extracts from the records of that period, 1873-4, shed further light on the establishments of sixty years ago:
On August 15, 1873, a meeting of the Justices took place to consider the advisability of granting the transfer of three public houses' licenses. Mr. Bristow of the "Diver's Arms" applied to have the license of the "Crown and Anchor" tavern transferred to him from Mandus Fernandes, who was going away on account of ill-health. No objection being raised, the transfer was granted. Mr. James McVeaty, proprietor of the "Union Tavern", applied to have the license of the "Diver's Arms" transferred to him from Mr. Bristow.
Mr. Jose Antonio Martos, watchman and bell-ringer at the Spanish Church, Wanchai, applied to have the license of the "Old House at Home" tavern, transferred to him from Mr. Logan, who intended taking a position in the Customs at Canton.
The Hotel de L'Univers was opened in July 1873, and was situated in Wyndham Street (near Hollywood Road Junction). It had three billiard tables and residents could board there for the sum of $35 per month. V. Favre was the name of the proprietor.
506
The Commercial Refreshment and Billiard Rooms, of No.5 Hollywood Road, and late of Queen's Road Central, were flourishing at the time, with Messrs. J.R. White & Co. as the proprietors. The hotel's speciality appeared to be freshly roasted coffee. The following year, mention is made of the Stag Hotel and Billiard Rooms, Queen's Road, J.R. White proprietor late of the Commercial Billiard Rooms.
The Hotel de L'Univers does not appear to have lasted long for in the year following its opening (1874) it is chronicled that after the big typhoon of that summer had demolished the Civil Hospital, the patients were accommodated in "the former Hotel de l'Univers", pending the erection of a new and larger hospital: this latter being the present Government Civil Hospital (see 15-7-33) of which "A" Block was built in 1874, while the oldest part, "C" Block, had survived the typhoon, and dates back to 1861.
In previous issues (for example see 14-8-33) lists were given of the hotels and taverns operating in the Colony.
In a way, the names of these places, and their proprietors, bringing us up to the abolition of taverns within the past quarter century, form an interesting cross-section of the history of this place. Lists for the Forties, Fifties, Sixties and Seventies have been given, and it is intended shortly to come down to the beginning of this century. In the meantime the following names of hotels and taverns existing in the Eighties will serve to take us a step further towards more modern times. It is a list of houses licensed in 1880:
British Crown Tavern 278 Queen's Road, Central (W.H.Manskey).
German Tavern, 224 Queen's Road, Central (W. Peterson).
Hongkong Hotel, Queen's Road (Dorabjee and Hing-kee, lessees).
Land We Live In Hotel, 294 Queen's Road, Central (Louis Mirchman, proprietor).
Liverpool Arms Tavern, 232 Queen's Road, Central (John Juster).
London Inn, 262 Queen's Road Central (J. Humby).
Page 245
Page 246
10.
Some extracts from the records of that period, 1873-4, shed further light on the establishments of sixty years ago:
On August 15, 1873, a meeting of the Justices took place to consider the advisability of granting the transfer of three public houses' licenses. Mr. Bristow of the "Diver's Arms" applied to have the license of the "Crown and
achor" tavern transferred to him from Mandus Fernanders, who was going away on account of ill-health. No objection being raised, the transfer was granted. Mr. James McVeaty, proprietor or the "Union Tavern", applied to have the license of the "Diver's Arms" transferred to him from Mr. Bristow.
Mr. Jose Antonio Martos, watchman and bell-ringer at the Spanish Church, Wanchai, applied to have the license of the "Old House at Home" tavern, transferred to him from Mr. Logan, who intended taking a position in the Customs at Canton.
The Hotel de L'Univers was opened in July 1873, and was situated in Wyndham Street (near Hollywood Road Junction). It had three billiard tables and residents could board there for the sum of $35 per month. V. Favre was the name of the proprietor.
+
506
The Commercial Refreshment and Billiard Rooms, of No.5 Bollywood Road, and late of Queen's Road Central, were flourishing at the time, with Messrs. J.R. White & Co. as the proprietors. The hotel's speciality appeared to be freshly roasted coffee. The following year, mention is made of the Stag Hotel and Billiard Rooms, Queen's Road, J.R. White proprietor late of the Commercial Billiard Rooms.
The Botel de L'Univers does not appear to have lasted long for in the year following its opening (1874) it is chronicled that after the big typhoon of that summer had demolished the Civil Hospital, the patients were accommodated in "the former Hotel de l'Univers", pending the erection of a new and larger hospital: this latter being the present Government Civil Hospital (see 15-7-33) of which "A" Block was built in 1874, while the oldest part, "C" Block, had survived the typhoon, and dates back to 1861.
In previous issues (for example see 14-8-33) lists were given of the hotels and taverns operating in the Colony.
In a way, the names of these places, and their proprietors, bringing us up to the abolition of taverns within the past quarter century, form
interesting cross section of the history of this place. sts for the Forties, Fifties, Sixties and Seventies have been iven, and it is intended shortly to come down to the beginning of this century. In the meantime the following names of hotels and taverns existing in the Eighties will serve to take us a step further towards more modern times. It is a list of houses licensed in 1880:
British Crown Tavern 278 Queen's Road, Central (W.H.Manskey).
German Tavern, 224 Queen's Road, Central (W. Peterson).
Hongkong Hotel, Queen's Road (Dorabjee and Hing-kee, lessees).
Land We Live In Hotel, 294 Queen's Road, Central (Louis Mirchman, proprietor).
Liverpool Arms Tavern, 232 Queen's Road, Central (John
Juster).
London Inn, 262 Queen's Road Central (J. Humby).
Page 245Page 246
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.