Mexborough and Swinton Times March 22, 1895
Denaby Main Hotel
The hotel at New Conisborough, which the Denaby Main Colliery Company have recently erected and which was open last week, is, we should imagine, the most complete and palatial building of its kind ever erected.
While of course, in point of accommodation it cannot compare with the huge buildings erected as hotels within the last few years in London, yet for the purpose for which it has been erected, another regard to the fact that is far smaller amount of hotel accommodation is called for at Denaby, the Denaby Main Hotel is marvellous in its arrangements, appointment, and style, and it is certain to prove the most popular commercial house, and one where comfort and convenience may be readily obtained.
Entering by the front door one is struck at once by the taste and elaboration of the entrance hall. The floor is tiled and the walls are panelled, while the stained-glass lights throw a glorious richness of colour over the polished woodwork. A splendid chandelier come with lamps of stained-glass, lights the entrance hall by night, and in the daytime gives the hall an oriental appearance quite in keeping with the mosaic tiling underfoot.
The staircase is an imposing structure with broad and easy trades and a beautifully carved balustrade, and, as it had been well said, nothing sets off an entrance hall thoroughly as a well-designed staircase.
To the right of the entrance hall is the bar parlour, a large well lighted room capable of seating at least 50 persons and allowing each to have plenty of room. The leather seats and panelling on the walls give the place a cosy appearance, and the comfort of visitors is taken into consideration by a plentiful supply of chairs about the room and by the provision of hat pegs on the walls.
Down the centre of the room runs a long table as large as the dining table of many an old mansion, and taken all together the room as far more than the appearance of a library reading room than of a bar parlour, the usual distinctive characteristics of a public – house compartment being altogether absent and lost sight of in an appearance of comfort and seclusion.
Adjoining the bar parlour is the billiard room, lighted by an arch skylight and resembling nothing so much as a saloon of a first-class ocean liner. The walls are panelled and the ceiling prettily painted. The leather lounges round the table are comfortable and convenient, and the appointments of the room in every respect perfect. The table, which is by C.Wright and Co. of London, is an exceedingly handsome piece of furniture, and as a billiard table is of the newest and very best design, the cushions being low and true, while the player will find the surface fast and perfect.
Adjoining the billiard room is a well furnished lavatory. On the ground floor are also the tap room and the dram shop, both well furnished and comfortable rooms, and considerably more comfortable than public house rooms are usually found to be. They are closer the bar, which is complete and fitted with the latest appliances, and their proximity to the founding editor of the supply, so to speak, will greatly facilitate the waiting. It should have been so that all the rooms are fitted with electric bells, the gong, with a numbered tell-tale being fitted up in the bar.
Upstairs is a large dining room, where was 150 persons can dine comfortably at once. The walls are panelled and polished and the ceiling finally decorated, while both by day and by night the room is thoroughly well lighted.
Outside the room is a lift from the kitchen ensuring service of dinner with the least delay. The dining room is also intended to be used as a club room for public meetings when required, and when the seats are arranged in close order the accommodation of the room not be far off 300.
The commercial room is also upstairs, a very sensible arrangement ensuring greater quietude to the travellers staying in the house than could be obtained downstairs in closer proximity to the rooms used by the ordinary frequenters of the house. On the same floor as a commercial room are the bedrooms, and when everything is complete the hotel will be able to accommodate 10 travellers.
The bathroom, on the same floor, is a remarkably fine room, with a large splendidly appointed bath and other appliances. Above it is a huge cistern containing 2000 gallons of water, from which the household supply is drawn.
The third floor contains a servant’s quarters, and with the house of such an extent would be readily understood that there is a large staff of servants to accommodate.
Proceeding downstairs we visited the yard and stables. Here one would imagine himself inspecting the stable appointments of a swell hunting box or racing stable. There are three stalls and a large loose box, a saddle room, and a roomy courthouse, as well as large corn bins and fodder store; a while his master cannot fail to be comfortable inside the house the beast will find his quarters is such a stable as this a perfect paradise or the equine equivalent. Over the stable is another large cistern holding 1500 gallons, from which the stable and yard supply is drawn.
Lastly we visited the sellers, where, judging from the store barrels already in stock preparations be made upon a very large scale to sweep out of existence the thirst of Denaby and New Conisborough for all time. The celler will hold about 70 hogsheads, an arrangement which will permit the beer to mature and perfect itself before being supplied to the customers. These were upwards of 60 hogsheads in the cellar at the time of our visit, and a brawny young celler man was rolling up a shirtsleeves preparatory to receiving an additional supply.
The spirit seller is on an equally large scale, and will easily provide accommodation for 2000 gallons of spirits, and of course with such a large stocking the customers will receive the benefit of a properly matured article.
In the bar parlour upstairs ready chat with Mr Thomas Atkinson, the manager of the hotel, were courteously shown as over the building. He is a model landlord, genial and urbane, and thoroughly understand his business. Among perfect strangers as he presently is, he has of course experienced a little difficulty to begin with, but it will not be long before he understands his customers and they understand him. And, as a rule, public house frequencters are ready to appreciate a man who understands the trade to the extent of placing everything in the alcoholic line on sale in the best of condition, and that Mr Atkinson can pride himself upon being able to do.
The firm deals with three brewers for its beer – Bentleys of Woodlesford, near Leeds; John Smith and Co of Tadcaster and Worthington’s of Burton on Trent. We sampled one of the brands, and in a glass of Bentleys “Timothy” beer drank the finest glass of beer it has ever been our fortune to taste. “Timothy” is a beer which fully oppose the reputation of Messrs Bentleys firm, and will be a popular draft at the Denaby Main Hotel. Moderation – and the strength of “Timothy” – forbade us to sample the other beers, but it may be taken for granted that Messrs Smith and Coles and Messrs Worthington’s beers are well up to the standard of excellence that the working man, and the indeed any other man, likes for his money.
We are not all those teetotallers in this world, and while there are those who are content to swell the revenue by quenching their first was something stronger than water, it is as well that the liquid they take shall be worth drinking – and, in moderation, shall be harmless to them; and with such an end in view is safe to recommend the Denaby Main Hotel for the quality of the liquors it sells.
Mexborough and Swinton Times March 15, 1895
New Hotel at Denaby Main
The new Hotel, which has just been completed at an enormous expense by the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colories was opened on Tuesday, and judging from the amount of business done already there promises to be no lack of custom.
The day of opening was characterised by the place being packed from the time it was opened until the close.
The hotel, which has been aptly called the Denaby Main Hotel, has been built by Messrs. Arnold and Son, of Doncaster, and presents a very striking appearance from the main road adjoining, whilst the whole of the interior has been fitted up and finished by the Colliery Company on a most elaborate and extensive scale, comprising billiards and all the latest improvements.
Mr. H. L. Smethurst is the architect.