Splott News

The Grosvenor Hotel was once one of Cardiff's oldest pubs. Built in the 19^th century by architects Habershon  & Fawckner, it is situated in South Park Road, formally Lascelles Road in Splott.

Brains Brewery, the former owners, claimed it uneconomic to run and closed the pub down three years ago, it has stood derelict and boarded up ever since. The building was sold in January 2010 to a property developer, who proposes to demolish the building and replace it with 22 flats and an underground car park.

Welsh heritage organisation CADW have refused residents the listing of the building so it can't be protected despite the four story building dating back to the late 1890's.

A Cadw spokesman said: Buildings have to be of special historical or architectural interest to be listed, and the Grosvenor doesn't meet the criteria, so we are unable to list it."

Police treated a recent blaze at the hotel as arson and have criticised the owner for leaving the building unsecured and at the mercy of vandals and arsonists.

At this stage the plans to demolish the building are still on the table and are set to go in front of the Council’s Planning Committee July 14th 2010.

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The planning officer's recommendation is to grant outline planning permission, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and relevant conditions.
 
A full copy of the report can be accessed from the Council’s website: www.cardiff.gov.uk

Planning Committee members attended a site visit on 2nd August 2010. Gavin Cox, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Splott also attended the visit, he asked comittee members questions and asked them to take note of certain issues on behalf of local residents campaigning to save the building.

The application to demolish the building and build 22 flats will now be heard by the Planning Committee on Wednesday 11th at 2:30pm.  It’s an open forum so members of the public can attend if they so wish. 

Sadly, Cardiff Council have now approved plans to demolish the Victorian Grosvenor pub and replace it with a block of 22 flats.  

The 1901 census states that 103 years ago  the hotel's Head Proprietor was Percy P W Jacob. aged 28, born in Cardiff. The  manageress was Mrs Avaline R Grantt, aged 30, born in Cambridge.  The hotel also housed two young female servants,  Miss Mary C Baldock, aged 22 and Miss Cillia Stone, aged 20. Mary was born in Cardiff and Cilla was born in Warwick, West Bromwich.

To view the original 1901 census document as a .pdf file  click here 

Click her to read about the architects 

Childhood Memories

Bob David, born in Splott in 1946:

"I remember looking after bikes outside the Grosvenor pub on the corner of Splott Road and Moorland Road. We'd ask a penny a bike and then sit on the wide pub windowsills until the bike owner would come out, often a little worse for drink and give us sixpence"

Marilyn Bendon nee Williams:

"My memories are of singing in the Salvation army Portmanmore Road, looking after bikes at 1p a time outside the Flures pub near the works gates. I even earned a penny taking billy cans to friends of my dads for their lunches. I was really young, can you imagine sending a child to a steel works now? ":

Naj Kael:

"In the early 50s ...going to visit my grandmother, walking over the bridge and smelling the aroma from the biscuit factory! And the wonderful street parties, I didn't live in Splott but always went to your parties with my cousins as they were not so great in my neighbourhood"