Can anyone give me any information about the Grand Hotel in Sheffield.......my husbands father was the Head Waiter there until his death in 1952, we are just doing the Sheffield part of the family tree and would love to know anything about the Grand.

my ex husband was a fireman,when the grand hotel was being demolished the fire brigade were called out, he picked up a plastic key ring which measured 2"x4" which said grand hotel sheffield ,with a square for a postage stamp in case anyone forgot to leave the key they could pop it in the postbox to be returned,i think the room no was something like 405.can you imagine posting a key for a top hotel with the room no on, in the post, anyhow for yrs i had the poshest shed in town because the address was room 405,grand hotel sheffield.

Thankyou very much for that info......................I have found a old picture on one of the web sites. Can you tell me when in was demolished :-(

well he joined the fire brigade around 1970 and was based at division st, he was only at division for about 2 yrs he then went to rivelin,so i would hazard a guess it was somewhere between1970/1 to 1973/4

Can you tell me what is on the site now? If anything?

found this info,

hope its of use

http://sucod.shef.ac.uk/sucod/gallery/arc202/2001/Proj2/G3/Barkerspool.htm

There used to be a wonderful bar underneath the Grand, by the name of the Buccaneer Bar, it holds very fond memories for a lot Sheffields better educated people.

http://www.aburke.freeuk.com/buccaneer.htm

The Grand Hotel was just that....THE hotel in Sheffield....
My family came across from Ireland in the "bad" winter - ('62?) to join my dad who was already "living" at the Grand, courtesy of his employer.
The hotel was really "the place to stay", but unfortunately (because of the reputation) most of the staff tended to look down on customers...It was a case of "The Ritz" of Sheffield....
The lower ground floor was a gents' barbers, with half a dozen (+?) seats.....In the days of extreme politeness, with "anything for the weekend, sir?" thrown in......!
When demolished (mid sixties?) the site became the Buccaneer bar, before changing to the Pig and Whistle if memory serves me...

then the fountain bar,i think it has some obscure name now.

Originally posted by roughy101
then the fountain bar,i think it has some obscure name now.

yer..... the fountain (bar bit dropped) - hardly obscure

Noooo, between time of fountain bar and fountain, i know its the fountain now,but somewhere between maybe around the millenium it had some obscure name. or so my daughter says,and shes younger than me(i hope)

Here's some info. about the band at the grand in the 60'S:

Piano and leader: Winston Lee
Bass: maybe Len Stewart
Drums: Tony Oxley
Tenor sax: Bunny Harrison
Trumpet: Ray Hollingsworth

Originally posted by owdlad
There used to be a wonderful bar underneath the Grand, by the name of the Buccaneer Bar, it holds very fond memories for a lot Sheffields better educated people.

http://www.aburke.freeuk.com/buccaneer.htm

so how did you find out about it?

Originally posted by kirky
so how did you find out about it?

I will treat that remark with the contempt that it deserves, and the next time we have a reunion at the Uni we will no doubt have a good old chuckle about you. :P

I worked on The Grand ,painting the outside around 64.
There were a few rooms with permanent residents.
The bar,(was it 'The Round Bar)? up the stairs off
Leopold St,was one of the early hangouts of the homosexual crowd

Originally posted by sweetdexter
I worked on The Grand ,painting the outside around 64.
There were a few rooms with permanent residents.
The bar,(was it 'The Round Bar)? up the stairs off
Leopold St,was one of the early hangouts of the homosexual crowd

Sodding hell! :o I used to go in there and always found it to be just another resting place from the madness down stairs in the Buc

Hey Drainpipe, Interesting that someone remembers good musicians. Tony Oxley is still around, saw him in New York a couple or three years ago, in a club in Chinatown.

Originally posted by decking
Can anyone give me any information about the Grand Hotel in Sheffield.......my husbands father was the Head Waiter there until his death in 1952, we are just doing the Sheffield part of the family tree and would love to know anything about the Grand.

I have very fond memories of The Grand, which I have written about at some length (I used to keep a diary lol!) I worked there 1956/7. I originally applied for the vacancy of 'trainee telephonist', but found that my main duties were operating the lift and general dogsbody. I did get to learn how to operate the switchboard tho' and would take over at weekends, holidays and sickness.
Mind you, working on the lift brought me in close contact with the folk who stayed there, including many big names of the day - Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell, Larry Parkes & Betty Garrett - and so many more.

Email me for anything else I might be able to help you with.

I would also love to hear from anyone else who worked at The Grand during the fifities. The only 'memorabilia' that I have is a letter heading and a 'This is your morning paper' sticker. Although I have found some pics of The Grand from the Leopold St. angle, on the web - they are not very clear :-(

Had some wonderful times at the Buc but you had to be careful of the fishing nets hung from the ceiling if you were tall like me and the lobster pot style stools were non too stable when you'd had a few. Is it just my age or did City Centre pubs have individual characters then? These days they all seem very much the same. Does anyone remember the Museum pub across the road from the Buc?

Originally posted by RiffRaff
The hotel was really "the place to stay", but unfortunately (because of the reputation) most of the staff tended to look down on customers...
I wondered where Coles managed to find so many of their sales assistants :D

Hola Catmiss, I remember the Museum, it was like next to the last stop before the Lion at the back of the City. It went, coming from downtown, Stone House, Museum, Three Tuns, Lion, City. From Pitsmoor we could get a half in eight pubs or so, before getting in the Lion for the last one,before getting in the queue for the City.

Hi Texas,
Your route sounds very familiar.
We used to visit your pubs .We started at ' the Black Swan'
'Dove & Rainbow' ,'Mullbery',Bell',Then we would take your route.Finishing at the 'Athol'.
My buddy was married so we would head back home.and not the City Hall.
Anyway we were in no shape for dancing.

Inspirsed with the half's of bitter would be a few gin& tonic's and Pernod's.
This would be 60-3-4-5

Originally posted by Freda

Mind you, working on the lift brought me in close contact with the folk who stayed there, including many big names of the day - Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell, Larry Parkes & Betty Garrett - and so many more.


Freda,
Was that Larry Parkes the actor, or Larry Parkes the famous cartoonist? Or do you mean Larry Parnes the pop impresario who discovered Billy Fury, Marty Wilde etc

It was Larry Parks, he played Al Jolson In The Jolson Story.
He stayed at The Grand with his wife Betty Garrett. They were appearing at the The Empire Theatre. They had a song and dance act together - which was really old hat and didn't go down very well, the theatre was half empty. He was in a terrible mood during the week he stayed - and no wonder!
He was a gorgeous looking feller tho. :-)

I anyone is interested follow this li9nk for some pics

http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl

Originally posted by Albatross
I anyone is interested follow this li9nk for some pics

http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl

Twould help if it didn't want a password to get onto the site ;)

Sorry about that it's because I took it from the pics page itself try going this way.
http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/

During the war the Grand Hotel’s ‘Round Bar’ was on the left hand side of the hotel’s main entrance, and down a flight of steps — not up! It was so called because the bar was round! Seating was quite posh and it wa mainly frequented by American and Canadian soldiers. Even when beer was in short supply, I don’t think it ever closed for the odd day or two — as many local pubs did.

The hotel was much bigger than just the corner bar that came into being near Leopold Street. At the Balm Green end, opposite the City Hall, was an underground car park down the left handside and then two entrances through which cars/taxis could enter and leave (forecourt). Josephine's Night Club was later built on this site. The rear entance, had a revolving door and then steps down on to Leopold Street. John Spitzer, manager of the Empire could be spotted, frequently, exiting from that entrance.
Football clubs either stayed at the Grand of the Royal Victoria. In the 60's they were virtually the only city centre hotels. Artistes appearing at the City Hall also stayed there as did cricket teams playing at Bramall Lane. I can remember an 'A' board that used to advertise the Winston Lee band. It was just inside those aforementioned revolving doors.
I can remember a few of us (still at school) wearing smart raincoats in order to gain admission, as we had autograph annuals of footballers tucked inside them, waiting to be signed!

QUOTE=peterw]During the war the Grand Hotel’s ‘Round Bar’ was on the left hand side of the hotel’s main entrance, and down a flight of steps — not up! It was so called because the bar was round! Seating was quite posh and it wa mainly frequented by American and Canadian soldiers. Even when beer was in short supply, I don’t think it ever closed for the odd day or two — as many local pubs did.[/QUOTE]

I worked at the Grand in 1956, by which time the 'Round Bar' had become a gents hardressers, so I never got to see what it was like down there. Barry was the barber and he occasonally 'came up for air' and to chat to me. I remember Johnny Sptitzer - he used to give me two free tickets for any of the shows I wanted to see at the Empire Theatre. Surprised to hear that he used the swing doors as he was a very large man ;-) I usually observed him coming in the doors at the Barkers Pool side of The Grand.
Whilst I was at the Grand, I met, Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, The Platters, The Harlem GlobeTrotters & American Allstars (went to see them play basket ball at the Wednesday Ground - fabulous show) Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, David Whitfield, Jimmy Young, Lita Rosa, Hilda Baker etc. etc. Sheesh I feel old :-D

Great reminiscences Freda. I was only on the outside looking in but going to the school across the road, I spent hours waiting on the pavement in Balm Green for sporting autographs. You may well remember Pele and Brazilian team Santos staying there? Do you recall the wavy-haired guy, wearing a hard flat cap (uniform) who stood in a little kiosk in that forecourt organising parking, taxis and moving us away from the doors? I'd be talking 62ish time.

Sorry Chairboy - I only worked at The Grand 1956/7, 1960 I went to work in London - I don't remember the parking bit at all. But then I always had to enter and leave by the staff entrance in the bowels of the building :-( came out in Orchard St I think ( a narrow road running by the side of the Grand) and then into Leopold Street. You school kids used to wear a dark green uniform, didn't you? My older bruv used to go there - it was the Sheffield Tech.

The narrow road was Orchard Lane and on the other side of the road were the Education Offices merged with the City Grammar School (green uniforms/red piping) and the Central Technical School (Oxbridge blue). That merged site took in Holly Street, the Bow Building and the main West Street entrance/Leopold Street and much of it is being demolished as we write, sadly!

Hi from pockets I used to work at the grand hotel in the 60/70 years i many autographs i have some old photos i took in thoses days:hihi:

Freda — you probably also saw Lon Chaney at the Grand, and another old music-hall name Wee Georgie Wood. They also stayed at the Grand while appearing at the Empire — as did Frankie Howerd, Boris Karloff and the singer Donald Peers who also had a radio show.

I can remember me sitting on the front seat of my dads taxi one sun; am in 1936 on leopold st and the signal came from the Grand for a taxi Ihad to bob down onthe floor we went to the main entrance then I heard aloud voice [ Iordered a taxi not a pill box] it was Teddy Johnson at that time a famous zylophone player about 24 st my dad said this is the widest door on the rank , he got in ok we took him to the Midland Station , on the way he spotted me onhis way out and threw me a sixpence a fortune for me in those days , he tipped dad a halfcrown 3 times the fare.

Did the Grand not occupy all of the site which went on to become "The Fountain Precinct"? Looking at another thread tonight someone has been asking about the Hallam Tower Hotel. There has always been a shortage of good hotels in Sheffield. I seem to think that at the time of the Grand there was only the Royal Victoria as an alternative. Then they built the Hallam Tower about the same time as the Grosvenor House and knocked the Grand down.

Hi Freda,

I read your diaries on the net and they were brilliant and they brought back alot of memories.

I was at the Grand Hotel in the early 1960's as a small child, so I missed you by a couple of years. My mother worked there and had to take me to work with her sometimes - remember the ladies hairdressers upstairs? I used to sit on the bottom of the wide staircase, which let to the rooms and the salon, and watch the world go by.

I also knew Johnny Spitzer and used to skip along the corridors singing 'Mr. Spitzer, Mr. Spitzer' cos as a child I thought it was such a funny name to say. As you know, he lived at the Grand, and my mother and me used to go to his 'suite' and have tea with him - and looking back now, what was going on there?! I wonder what happened to him and where he went after the Grand closed down.

Thanks for sharing your diaries Freda, certain chapters where very enlightening!

Stevie Boo, In fairness to myself, Chairboy, I raised the topic of John Spitzer and the revolving doors on Page 2 of the thread!
Gordon b, you are correct that the Grand Hotel occupied the whole of what became known as the Fountain Precinct and further, that the Grand and Royal Victoria (now Holiday Inn) were the only two large hotels in Sheffield at that time. There was, of course, the Rutland Hotel on Glossop Road, which housed the England football that was training at the nearby University for three days in 1964. Just after that, the Hallam Tower hotel (THF) was built ahead of the World Cup in 1966 and the Grosvenor House hotel followed.
The Austalian cricket team stayed at the Hallam Tower but before it's birth, had always used the Maynard Arms at Grindleford. The 1963 West Indian team, with Sobers, stayed at The Grand.

The rear entance, had a revolving door and then steps down on to Leopold Street. John Spitzer, manager of the Empire could be spotted, frequently, exiting from that entrance.

Hi Chairboy,

As a child, I often used to play in those revolving doors and was always getting told off by the doormen. I also knew 'Mr Spitzer' and was as surprised as Freda was to learn that he used those doors, what with him being slightly erm 'rotund'!;)

I can only confirm that I saw Mr.Spitzer using those revolving doors. I don't know how often he did, but autograph hunters had to cover both the Balm Green entrance as well as the Leopold Street doors. I guess it depended whereabouts he wanted to be in town?
I found it strange that the Leopold St. entrance was the rear door when it brought you on to the street, whereas the main entrance brought you out opposite the City Hall. Just a quirk at that time. We, too, got badgered or moved on by the car park man. I spent hours there. We'd meet teams at Midland Station and then run like billy up Howard Street to try and meet the players' coach at the hotel. The players always asked us what was on at the cinemas or asked for directions to Owlerton dogs. They'd then return to London on Saturday evening on the 5.42pm train from Victoria station.

Noooo, between time of fountain bar and fountain, i know its the fountain now,but somewhere between maybe around the millenium it had some obscure name. or so my daughter says,and shes younger than me(i hope)

It was at one time The Pig and Whistle

My Godfather was the manager of the Grand until some time in the 50's or 60's ,I think, when he came to live next door to my late parents. He was called Frank (Francis) Rendall and his wife was called Wynne (although I later discovered that his first wife was called Rachael?).

I'd love to hear from anyone who can remember him, I don't know much about his time in Sheffield. He did run his house like a hotel though, the table was set every night before going to bed, silver napkin rings etc etc and he always wore a suit. He had "drinks" every afternoon and everything lived in a certain place (and had a label). Sadly, when he became ill, he often thought he was still living in the Grand; it must have been a very happy time for him.

I had a small silver penknife somewhere from the Hotel, I remember almost severing my thumb with it as a child! I think we may have one or two other bits an pieces from there too (table cloths, napkins, silverware) but I have no idea what happened to all the other stuff he had stored away in his attic. :(

http://www.postcardworld.co.uk/cards/England/Yorks/barker.jpg
Is it on that photo at all? I'm not sure which angle that's taken from.

I worked in a tailors shop in Fargate in the early 60's and many of the customers were guests at The Grand Hotel. They more often than not could not be bothered to carry their purchases and insisted on them being delivered. As the most junior member of staff deliveries were my responsibility.

This is where the fun started, the head porter at the Grand (Les Gretton I think) was very keen to take delivery of all packets and parcels as he would collect the tip that was usually half a crown. I used to sneak around and wait for him to go to one side of the hotel or the other and then leg it up the stairs, deliver the goods and pocket the tip.

Once he spotted me and attempted to cut me off, I bluffed that I was going round to the Leopold St entrance but doubled back and just made it to the stairs first. It was a no contest by then he gave up the chase and I collected my tip, not being content with my victory I walked past him flipping the coin in the air.

Happy days.

Arthur Fearn, didn't you mean Teddy BROWN who was chucking his money around?

Good spot Texas. Teddy Johnson was a singer in a duo with his wife Pearl Carr. They finished second in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest with "Sing Little Birdie".

It was at one time The Pig and Whistle
It was also called houlihans.

http://www.postcardworld.co.uk/cards/England/Yorks/barker.jpg
Is it on that photo at all? I'm not sure which angle that's taken from.

Looking down Barkers Pool with Mothercare on the right and Holland & Barratt on the left. The Grand occupied all of the Fountain Precinct site opposite the bottom side of the City Hall, Orchard Lane and the part of Leopold St up to what now is the Yorkshire Building Society.

I used to use the Grand as a route from the 'Three Tuns' to the 'Lion' at the back of the City Hall, especially if it was raining. In a fantasy frame of mind, imagine meeting Johnny Spitzer and Teddy Brown in the revolving doors. The stuff of nightmares.

Arthur Fearn, didn't you mean Teddy BROWN who was chucking his money around?
Hi Texas you are correct it was Teddy Brown, ihave been calling him by the wrong name for years, you must be around my age group to remember him.Bye for now.

I used to use the Grand as a route from the 'Three Tuns' to the 'Lion' at the back of the City Hall, especially if it was raining. In a fantasy frame of mind, imagine meeting Johnny Spitzer and Teddy Brown in the revolving doors. The stuff of nightmares.
A grand pint in the red lion did you go in there when the bagatelle table was there

Good spot Texas. Teddy Johnson was a singer in a duo with his wife Pearl Carr. They finished second in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest with "Sing Little Birdie".
thats where i got Teddy Johnson from

I did go in the Lion when the bagatelle table was in residence. As I've said before it was the best pint of Stones's in the city.

Looking down Barkers Pool with Mothercare on the right and Holland & Barratt on the left. The Grand occupied all of the Fountain Precinct site opposite the bottom side of the City Hall, Orchard Lane and the part of Leopold St up to what now is the Yorkshire Building Society.Hi Crookesey Ican remember that scene of Barkers Pool very well, do you know the date of it, my father was probably sat in one of the taxis on the rank there, he plyed for hire there, and on Leopold st, before the war , and was the first man to have one of the STREALINE taxis ,they were Wolsleys black with a yellow flash down the side ,anyone remember them?

I worked as 'Head Cellarman' at the Grand in the early 60's. It was owned at the time by Russell Hotel Group in London which also included the Grand at Manchester and another in Leeds. The Manager was a Frank Rendall, a real gent, who was replaced by a Scot Mc. something or other. Always boasted about being from the top family on the Isle of Skye. The Head Waiter was 'Mister Bert' an Italian who, I believe, had been interned on the Isle of Man in World War II. The night porter was called 'Dennis', the Head Receptionist was the formidable Miss Bogan' and the clef d'or was another Scot whose name I forget. I remember many faces but not names. A Wine Waiter was called 'Leslie' another, a Londoner called 'Tom'. The Round Bar was accessed by going down steps from Leopold St. The Smoke Bar was at the top of some steps from Leopold St. This was run by a lady who also had a newagents at Highfields. She was the only female allowed there as it was foir 'Gentlemen Only'. This was full of characters including an ex Chelsea 'toff' who had a stall in Barnsley Market. Past the Smoke Bar were showcases for Swan & Edgar (I dated a window dresser from there at one time). Further down on the right was the American Bar (the only cocktail bar in Sheffield!!) ran by 'Roland' who also had a newsagents down Heeley way (Arundel Rd?). Then there was a Dispense Bar, not open to the public but purely for service to the restaurant. The 'high season' was October-March when events for 200 plus were staged most nights. All the Steel Works works had their annual and Christmas do's there as there was no other venue except the Victoria Hotel. Ther main entrance faced the City Hall. I remember survivors from the Sheffield City Batallion from WWI also having a reunion there. All the stars who appeared at the City Hall etc stayed there including Frank Sinatra JNR who appeared with a reformed Dorsey? band. A telephonist got me his autograph but as I couldn't read it I dumped it. When a new lift was installed an old medieval well was discovered in the cellar. It was promptly filled in and is located somewhere under the present car park ramp. Today it would have had a Heritage order slapped on it. If I remember any more I'll post it. By the way Freda, I am also located in Cambridgeshire.

The draught beer sold at the Grand was Worthington E in 36 gall hogsheads delivered by British Rail directly from Burton. It had real hops in it and the ceiling of these cellars had a thick layer of these where the beer had 'worked' and squirted out the bung. We went through a lot of these in one week. About '62 or '63 the first cask beer came on the market. It was Watneys 'Red Barrel' and such was the conservative ways of Sheffield's drinkers we had a helluva job selling it. The old guys in the 'Smoke Bar' just refused to buy it. But I did get a nice key ring with a red barrel on it from the rep. There was an extensive wine list. Only one Italian, chianti in a straw flask, and a few German hocks. Bin 70 was 'Crown of Crowns', Bin 76 was 'Blue Nun', Bin 93 was 'Bernkasteler Estate' but as French wines were THE wines of the day the Grand had an excellent list, especially Premiere Cru chateau bottled Bordeaux, top Burgundy's etc. but as I recall only one Rose. I remember wine waiter Tom calling me up to the Dispense Bar when one diner had left half a bottle of Chateau d' Yquem because it was 'too sweet'. Sacrilege!!! 'You've worked hard boy' he said. 'take this downstairs and drink it before it ullages'. Through blokes like Tom and Leslie I learned to appreciate wines and slowly Stone's 'The Fighting Beer', began taking second place when I 'dined out'. Of course then my Sheffield mates, the Mambo, Rendezvous, Havelock Square crowd, some of whom already thought me strange because I had a 'London' accent, considered me to be completely off my trolley. I still have my southern accent, although born in Sheffied way, way, back but my son, born in London works there and lives in Rotherham so perhaps if anyone from the late 50s early 60s remembers the young ex paratrooper nicknamed 'Andy' (him from London) although I wasn't then, who went poofy because he liked wine, well that's why. Very Happy Days!!!!

Does anyone remember the ladies hairdressers upstairs? My mum used to work there and sometimes had to take me into work with her. Anyone remember me, a little girl wandering around the place looking bored? I spent alot of my time sitting on the stairs which led up to the rooms, watching the world go by. The staff were really nice to me and when there was function on like a wedding or something, they would let me watch. Once I got invited in for a while and was given a bit of cake.:)

I remember around '43-'44, myself and a couple of mates, we were about 11 or 12 years old, walking past the Leopold St entrance to the Grand. Lounging around at the top of the steps were these American soldiers, on the pull I suppose. Anyhow, came the cry, ' Got any gum chum? and we proceeded to make nuisances of ourselves. 'Hey kid' one said, 'Hit the road and take off.' I'll never forget it, never heard a saying like that before, and I was the recipient.
So it being after closing time, and our American friends having disapeared inside, we decided to have a look down the stairs to the left, where the bar was. We got down to the bottom of the steps at the same time as the cleaner was doing the toilets, she wanged me round the head with a wet mop, really I didn't have a good day that day.

Arthur Fearn, didn't you mean Teddy BROWN who was chucking his money around?

Just for those who don’t remember him, he was zxylophonist and topped the bill at the Empire Theatre during the war. He was a regular on radio so I went to see him. Boy! Was he obese! But he could certainly move around on the zylophone and sweat poured off him. Went in the Fauteils (0r is it fautiels?) Went with my mother. Dad would have been am embarrassment because when he would book tickets he always asked for “two (or three) in the fart oiles”!

The Grand Hotel. Where you were served a pot of coffee in silverware and poured it into thimble sized cups. Back in the 60s it was one of the few places around where they served real coffee as opposed to instant.

I have a quite racy memory to share abt the GH. I was a good looking young feller (allow me that indulgence, please) walking past the front steps of the GH and holding an umbrella. They were fashionable among the university crowd. A group of abt six inebriated women approached me, grabbed hold of my umbrella, while one of them started "snogging" me. Oh dear, how terrible. They marched me up the steps of the GH and insisted that they buy me a drink. Tut, tut. Well, we'll leave the story there. Suffice it to say that it's left an indelible impression on me and the GH has a special place in my memory. Too bad it's gone now? Just kidding (but not abt the incident)

I worked on The Grand ,painting the outside around 64.
There were a few rooms with permanent residents.
The bar,(was it 'The Round Bar)? up the stairs off
Leopold St,was one of the early hangouts of the homosexual crowd

The Gold Bar.

I remember the Buccanear bar underneath. So much smoke you could hardly breathe and a poor old parrot on a stand that lived on beer and crisps

my late brother worked their in the early 60s.His name was Barry he was a waiter.He met his future wife there her name was Maureen she left to go and work as a waitress in walshes.The wine waiter mentioned in a previous thread was most likely my cousin leslie.He went on to be head waiter on one of the cruise ships.His brother sidney also worked there he went on to the Peacock at Rowsley before joining the R.A.F.as a fireman. A good friend of theirs also worked there his name was Stewart he went on to be afamily friend and we spent many a happy holiday at Butlins Skeggy.The last i heard about him he was manager of the Maynard Arms he will be in his seventies now so no doubt retired.As you can see the Grand employed quite a few of my relations.

Hi Freda,

I read your diaries on the net and they were brilliant and they brought back alot of memories.

I was at the Grand Hotel in the early 1960's as a small child, so I missed you by a couple of years. My mother worked there and had to take me to work with her sometimes - remember the ladies hairdressers upstairs? I used to sit on the bottom of the wide staircase, which let to the rooms and the salon, and watch the world go by.

I also knew Johnny Spitzer and used to skip along the corridors singing 'Mr. Spitzer, Mr. Spitzer' cos as a child I thought it was such a funny name to say. As you know, he lived at the Grand, and my mother and me used to go to his 'suite' and have tea with him - and looking back now, what was going on there?! I wonder what happened to him and where he went after the Grand closed down.

Thanks for sharing your diaries Freda, certain chapters where very enlightening!

I can remember Johny Spitzer, he was a huge man and a friend of my dads, Denis Peacock. Mr Spitzer was the manager of the Empire though I cant remember that. We used to regularly go to his room at the Grand and he would order tea for him and my dad and squash for me. He died before the Grand was demolished, he cant have been very old.

Does anyone remember the ladies hairdressers upstairs? My mum used to work there and sometimes had to take me into work with her. Anyone remember me, a little girl wandering around the place looking bored? I spent alot of my time sitting on the stairs which led up to the rooms, watching the world go by. The staff were really nice to me and when there was function on like a wedding or something, they would let me watch. Once I got invited in for a while and was given a bit of cake.:)

It was called Marjorie Daltons and when the Grand closed it moved to West St

In the 60's you could go to the Grand for a coffee after a visit to the pictures, I went with my friend Carmen Salt.( Where are you now?!) We were in the company of |BillyJ Kramer and Gene Pitney! We were trying to be very 'non plussed' at he idea of being in the company of pop stars, but were very excited. met a friend of mine who is three years younger than me, and got eh autograph of Gene Pitney(?) Thought I was very sophisticated! I remember Margery Daltons salon on west St she was there for years. Does anybody remember Furmans, the fabulous shoe shop on West St?

When I left school I was apprenticed to Marjorie Dalton initially at the main branch on West St. However I spent approx. 4 years at the Grand in the early '60,s .I had the good fortune to meet many of the star's attending the City Hall who stayed at the Grand and used the salon .I met Mick Jagger and took a message for him to his grandmother in Eckington .My name is Jane and I was a junior to Karen the German stylist The manager Nicholas real name Sandro was the Italian manager ,Jill his junior .Frances was the beautician,Margrit the swiss stylist was there part of 1966 .
I have many memories of the Grand during that period including meeting many celebrities and football teams .I shall try to add more over next few weeks and would be pleased if anyone remembers me and the people I have mentioned .

In the 60's you could go to the Grand for a coffee after a visit to the pictures, I went with my friend Carmen Salt.( Where are you now?!) We were in the company of |BillyJ Kramer and Gene Pitney! We were trying to be very 'non plussed' at he idea of being in the company of pop stars, but were very excited. met a friend of mine who is three years younger than me, and got eh autograph of Gene Pitney(?) Thought I was very sophisticated! I remember Margery Daltons salon on west St she was there for years. Does anybody remember Furmans, the fabulous shoe shop on West St?

Thats just reminded me that my big sis walked into the Grand,to the lounge and calmly asked Cliff Richard for his autograph! He was relaxing at the time but gladly signed for her.She was about 16 at the time and second guessed he would be staying there whilst appearing at the City Hall...:D

I vaguely remember my Mum and Dad going to an auction when they closed the Grand and buying a carpet for our living room, they may have bought other stuff but I can't remember now, I do remember us having one of the big plastic keyrings though with room number and Grand Hotel on.

Sabina please contact Jane about the above :-

doctorgisborne@romley.co.uk

Sorry I have not done enough posts to go through the Forum process .

My mother used to be receptionist there and ells a great tale of when Bill Haley stayed, a crowd of fans were trying to get in and were pressed against the doors to the point they were bowed inwards and nearly breaking.

When the grand was pulled down all the re-usable timber was stored in a yard in Liverpool st Attercliffe to be sold. So anyone who would like to see a "little bit" of the old place have a look for a garage with a flat roof on the Beaver hill estate in Handsworth-- its still there!:D

George Mooney the old gangster always used the Round bar as his watering hole and reminisce about the 'good' old days.
I used to attend City Grammar and one lunch time I saw Churchill going in the main entrance .

During 1968 - 69 at Hurlfield School the boys in my year were split into groups to visit places of interest. Some went to the Gaumont, some to Granville college, some to Sheffield Wednesdays ground and I was in the group to visit the Grand Hotel. The head porter showed us around for a couple of hours and pointed out the various bedrooms to us of famous people who had slept in them, the Beatles, Enrico Caruso, Pablo Picasso etc. His big mistake was showiing us the cellar because some of us managed to smuggle out bottles of Mackeson and Jubilee Stout and also various brands of fags including Sobranie Black Russian.
Another memory was when Manchester United stayed there. At that time I with a few others collected football autographs at hotels. On this occassion two of us went around to the Leopold Street side because we knew from past experience that George Best would come out and nip into the Buccaneer for a swift 'un, we didn't have to wait long and we collared him and he gladly signed several pictures for each of us.
Someone mentioned Tony Oxley, I came across him when i lived in Germany, me in Hannover him in Duesseldorf. I have several elpees of this fine Made in Sheffield jazz drummer.

P.S I could write a book about the escapades and tricks we used to get up to collecting autographs of footballers around the country including 'bunking it' on trains costing British Rail a fortune, cadging lifts on team coaches, sneaking into hotels, lifts in players cars, training grounds, free admission in grounds etc. The KGB would have been proud of us! Sorry self-indulgence.

I apparantly have had in my possession the bell from the desk of the grand hotel (from what I have beenm told!)

I remember the Grand from my childhood, my father and grandfather used to go for lunch every Thursday and i was taken and I remember the head-waiter ..was it Mr Bird, and I am sure I have a pic of him at a family meal in 1948..... my memory was of the loos ..they seemed to be of solid marble

When I used to go drinking round town with the lads in the 60,s the guy who dropped for a round in the Grand drew the short straw as it was about 3 bob a pint (30 pence) First saw a colour tele in there Violet Carsons ( Ena Sharples from Coro St. was sat watching it) in one of the lounges.

Didnt go into the hotel but I did have a look at the kitchens. A friend from school went as a chef, his name was Anthony Russell -Ward . As far as I remember he was a pastry chef, dont know if he stayed . This was around 1969 -1970 ish !

Didnt go into the hotel but I did have a look at the kitchens. A friend from school went as a chef, his name was Anthony Russell -Ward . As far as I remember he was a pastry chef, dont know if he stayed . This was around 1969 -1970 ish !

know ARW ..he went on to be in the marines and then into the chemical business..he still lives in Sheffield ...that's if its the same guy but the name is not common lol

know ARW ..he went on to be in the marines and then into the chemical business..he still lives in Sheffield ...that's if its the same guy but the name is not common lol

Think it must be the same one. Knew he'd joined the marines,information from mutual friends. Good to know he's still around !

:help: I have recently discovered a number of documents relating to the Grand Hotel, mainly letters from the manager regarding meetings held by The Public Dental Service Association, dated in the 1920s.
If anyone is interested, please let me know.

:help: I have recently discovered a number of documents relating to the Grand Hotel, mainly letters from the manager regarding meetings held by The Public Dental Service Association, dated in the 1920s.
If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Sheffield archives would probably welcome them.

Thanks for that harvey19, I have already contacted them about some other findings and will pass this detail on to them.
Cheers

Can anyone give me any information about the Grand Hotel in Sheffield.......my husbands father was the Head Waiter there until his death in 1952, we are just doing the Sheffield part of the family tree and would love to know anything about the Grand.

I remember the wine waiter, Armando Nunes Da Silva who lived in Wakefield and had a Messersmidt bubble car. I had to replace his silencer but he made me drill holes in it to make a loud noise. This was 1955, I was 15 at the time, he stopped at the filling station on Barnsley Road which was called Taylor and Wife.