Building record MDO45164 - Café Royal, Bridport Bus Station

A café probably built as part of the development of the coach station in Bridport, built in the 1950s or 1960s, partly on the site of a former tannery. The café is built in an `American diner' style by an unknown architect. Since 2001, the Café Royal has been the subject of a number of 1950s style oil paintings by Kit Glaiser, a local artist. A café single-storey flat roofed building, built to an elongated L-shaped plan with the Café at its south end and a row of shops attached to its north, facing Tannery Road. The double door entrance is situated on its south-west corner, set back into the elevation creating a small portico. The south and west elevations have full height vertical, Crittal-style windows along the south and west elevation, with a continuous strip of fixed lights above it. This building was assessed for listing in 2011 but failed to meet the required criteria.

The Café Royal was probably built as part of the development of the coach station in Bridport, built in the 1950s or 1960s, partly on the site of a former tannery. The Café is built in an `American diner style¿ by an unknown architect. Since 2001, the Café Royal has been the subject of a number of 1950s style oil paintings by Kit Glaiser, a local artist.

The Café Royal is a single-storey flat roofed building, built to an elongated L-shaped plan with the Café at its south end and a row of shops attached to its north, facing Tannery Road. The double door entrance is situated on its south-west corner, set back into the elevation creating a small portico. The south and west elevations have full height vertical, Crittal-style windows along the south and west elevation, with a continuous strip of fixed lights above it.

In accordance with the revised Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings (2010) particularly careful selection is required for buildings dating after 1945. As stated in English Heritage¿s Selection Guide for Commercial Buildings (2007), survival rates of 1950s café¿s and coffee bars, which reflect the revolution in British eating and drinking culture of the period, are very low. Those that display interesting architectural detailing and retain their original interior, with good quality decorations and fixtures, deserve serious consideration.

It is true that the external appearance of the Café Royal is unusual for Bridport and arguably reflects changes in the local eating and drinking culture since the Second World War. However, in a national context, it is a rather plain and standard example for a café of this type and date, many of which were indeed built throughout the country, and are indeed often associated with coach stations. As stated by the applicant, the interior of the Café Royal has been altered, and photographic evidence clearly indicates it is very plain and does not contain any features or fixtures of particular note. When comparing it with for example Pellicci¿s Café of 1948, Bethnal Green Road, London (listed at grade II), it is clear that the Café Royal does not have the special architectural interest needed for it to merit designation on a national level. It can therefore not be recommended for listing. Nevertheless, in a local context, the 1950s American diner style Café Royal makes an unusual contribution to Bridport¿s local street scene, as also expressed by the fact the building continues to inspire the local artist Kit Glaiser. <1>

<1> English Heritage, English Heritage Listing File, 172338 (Scheduling record). SDO17502.

Report on case 172338

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1532149 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2024 11:22AM