BRITISH EMPIRE HOTEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 436, 7 June 1902, Page 2

BRITISH EMPIRE HOTEL.

TO BE OPENED TO DAY. “ A really fine house, and the proprietor is to bo congratulated,” was the opinion expressed by' tho Stipendiary Magistrate at the meeting of the Licensing Bench yesterday, in referring to tho new British Empire Hotel in Peel street, and this opinion will be endorsed by the many persons who inspected the house yesterday afternoon. No expense has been spared by Air Larsen to make the hotel as thoroughly up-to date as possible, and we are sure that visitors to Gisborno will be pleased with the accommodation provided. The furnishing of tho hotel has been carried out in a most elaborate manner, and excellent taste has beon shown throughout. The privato entrance to the hotel has had considerable attention bestowed upon it, and tho broad passage and lofty hall tend to create a most favorable impression in the mind of the visitor, and this feeling is further increased as one inspects the other portions of the hotel. The dining-room, which is off the hall, on the ground floor, is a very handsome room, and the furnishing of the apartment has boon carried out on a most lavish scale, everything in regard to plate and glassware, etc., being now. The second floor is reached by a broad staircase, the steps of which have been covered with cork, whilst tho whole stairway is beautifully carpeted. The upstair passages are roomy and excellently ventilated, whilst all the bedrooms are of good size. The several drawing-rooms and sitting-rooms have been most richly decorated, and are in many ways superior to those of the leading city hotels of the colony. Excellent provision has been made for baths, lavatories, etc., and all matters with regard to sanitation have been most carfully considered. In addition to the beautifully balcony, which, in the event of a fire occurring, would afford a ready means of escape, there is a flight of steps from the second storey to the ground, and other means of escape are also provided. The bar at the British Empire is constructed on good lines, and ample provision is made for carrying on a good trade. Tho interior decorations have not yet been quite completed by Mr Larsen, but sufficient has been done to show the general design of the work, and when everything is in order the bar should be one of the finest in the colony. Off the bar are two very handsomely furnished sitting-rooms, as well as a very handy office. There is also a third sitting-room on the ground floor, which was originally intended for a billiard-room, but it has been decided to use it for other purposes. The room is of such dimensions that it would be splendidly adapted for meetings of a public character, and we understand that it is the intention of the proprietor to use it for this purpose. The kitchen, scullery, pantry, and store rooms have been carried out on the same liberal scale as the other parts of the house, and there is every convenience for work to be carried on most successfully. In the kitchen is a fine new Atlas range, which should be a great boon to those engaged in the culinary department of the hotel. A beautiful cool cellar has been provided in connection with the bar, and should greatly improve the beer stored and kept on tap, especially during the summer months. Both Air and Airs Larsen have had considerable experience in the running of first-class hotels in other parts of the colony, and we feel sure that they will be most successful in their present venture. The hotel is most- centrally situated, anl is in every respect adapted for a commercial and family trade. No efforts are being spared by the host and hostess to make the hotel popular with the travelling public, and we feel sure that they will be accorded a full share of public patronage. In concluding, a word of praise is specially due to Mr Finneran, the architect of the building, and to the Messrs Haisman for the faithful manner in which the contract was carried out. The hotel will be opened for business this morning.