The Royal Hotel

Richard A Thackeray · Post by **Richard A Thackeray** » Thu 16 Apr, 2009 3:33 pm

I'm given to understand that this building has a glass-fibre facade, is that trueI've sadly neglected to 'have a feel' whenever I've walked past it

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 16 Apr, 2009 9:13 pm

RichT wrote: I'm given to understand that this building has a glass-fibre facade, is that trueI've sadly neglected to 'have a feel' whenever I've walked past it It is true - and has been covered somewhere on s.l before - though exactly where I couldn't say!This Leodis pic shows it in 1908. The frontage contained shops - access to the pub and stables was down the alleyway. As I understand it the building dates from 1692 and was originally called the 'New King's Arms' [The 'Old King's Arms' was only a little further up Briggate on the same side - for many years they existed simultaneously - i.e the 'New King's Arms' was NOT a replacement for the 'Old King's Arms].The inn was one of the principle coaching inns in Leeds and was renamed the 'Royal Hotel' in 1834 as it ran coaches for the Royal Mail. The pub closed in the late 60s and was demolished . the current building with the imitatative facade was built 1979-1983.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 17 Apr, 2009 11:01 am

Gosh this is most interesting - I must go around in a trance these days as I had completely missed the demolition and imitation process as it happened, or at least it must have failed to register. and I was a fairly frequent shopper at Watson Cairns at the time.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Fri 17 Apr, 2009 11:22 am

Watson Carins, what a great place that was. Why don't shopkeepers wear light brown shop coats anymore?

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Fri 17 Apr, 2009 12:13 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Watson Carins, what a great place that was. Why don't shopkeepers wear light brown shop coats anymore? G G G Granville, fetch yer c c c cloth.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 17 Apr, 2009 12:39 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Watson Carins, what a great place that was. Why don't shopkeepers wear light brown shop coats anymore? Indeed - do you remember the very senior and helpful assistant in the motorcycle department ?? He was a middle aged chap in a dark grey shop coat and knew all about the merchandise in great detail. He had "straight back" greyish hair and glasses, and looked uncannily like Jack Walker - the original long suffering landlord of the "Rovers Return" in Coronation Street.

Richard A Thackeray · Sun 19 Apr, 2009 11:23 pm

Thanks guys for the replies.I too remember Watson-Cairns, & its wonderful atmosphere.I never bought a bike from there, but later buught a couple from its 'replacement' (I mean that as a 'city centre' shop) around the corner on Call Lane; 'Two Wheels Good' Which later transmuted into 'Freewheel' on the corner of Lower-Briggate/Duncan Street

sundowner · Post by **sundowner** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 9:29 pm

RichT wrote: Thanks guys for the replies.I too remember Watson-Cairns, & its wonderful atmosphere.I never bought a bike from there, but later buught a couple from its 'replacement' (I mean that as a 'city centre' shop) around the corner on Call Lane; 'Two Wheels Good' Which later transmuted into 'Freewheel' on the corner of Lower-Briggate/Duncan Street Watson-Cairns opened a new shop on the other side of the road from the Lloyds Arms near the bus station if my memory serves me right.Icant remember when it closed down but i have bought motor bike parts from there in the past.

Si · Post by Si » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 8:55 am

Wasn't there another similar cycle/motorbike shop up near Chapeltown....Carl Wards, or summat?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 11:03 am

sundowner wrote: RichT wrote: Thanks guys for the replies.I too remember Watson-Cairns, & its wonderful atmosphere.I never bought a bike from there, but later buught a couple from its 'replacement' (I mean that as a 'city centre' shop) around the corner on Call Lane; 'Two Wheels Good' Which later transmuted into 'Freewheel' on the corner of Lower-Briggate/Duncan Street Watson-Cairns opened a new shop on the other side of the road from the Lloyds Arms near the bus station if my memory serves me right.Icant remember when it closed down but i have bought motor bike parts from there in the past. Sundowner I THINK that was Walter Wraggs wasn't it ?? - not Watson Cairns ??