Railway hotel

[struthious2]

Hi Everyone,

My father's company based in London was a wine and spirit importer and his job was manager and licencee of various pubs and off licences in London. However, the company bought or leased two hotels and one of them was in Hastings. I visited there as a child and seem to remember it was either part of the railway station or nearby. Does anyone have any information? I would have visited in the late 1950's.

[whiffler]

Could have been the Railway at St Leonards Warrior Square

https://www.hastingspubhistory.com/page45.html

Or the Railway at Hastings - at some stage differently named. This site for the pub on the opposite corner (left in first illustration), but shows on the right. Closed 1964, demolished 70s ? and became DVLA, maybe demolished again since. I have seen other pics, including interior - it was a big place.

https://www.hastingspubhistory.com/page58.html

more info, especially landlords - https://pubwiki.co.uk/SussexPubs/Hastin ... otel.shtml

and a post card

https://www.1066online.co.uk/gallery/ol ... hotel-1920

And a high level shot from 100 years ago. Upper centre - register for free and get magnification, albeit quality suffers a little

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW000740

[struthious2]

Thanks, Whiffler, excellent info and very informative. Whilst I am now unsure which hotel/pub I visited, the information tallies with my experiences working in the wines and spirits trade when I was younger. Plenty of fights and thievery for sure! This was of course in London in the poorer areas sometimes frequented by IRA sympathisers. Dodgy times!

[whiffler]

If it was on a crossroads at the end of station approach, it was Greens or maybe the Old Golden Cross. Hastings Station.

If it was facing the station it was either the Railway or Royal (South side) or Clifton Tavern (North side). St Leonards Warrior Square Station.

If it was within sight of the sea, it was the Bo Peep. Marina or West St Leonards stations.

If it was up a hill it might have been the Mount Pleasant, or the Shah, or the Fortune of War. Ore Station.


A hundred and one other pubs are available, but these are the nearest