
Features / old photos
18 historic photographs of Bristol’s hotels
The oldest hotel in the city, the Bristol Marriott Royal, is celebrating since it was first opened by Walter William Hughes on March 23, 1868. Delve into other past hotels Bristol had to offer in the 20th century, through the vast postcard collection of Bristol Archives.

View of the lounge of The Royal Hotel, now Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, 1910 43207/32/2/30

Front of The Royal Hotel, College Green, 1900s 43207/32/2/25

Aerial view of The Royal Hotel from 1958 showing the church that once stood next to it 43207/32/2/23

Exterior of The Hydro, behind City Hall, in the 1920s. The building is now being converted into student accommodation 43207/32/2/11

The once-proud exterior of the Grosvenor Hotel near Temple Meads, 1900s 43207/32/2/1

The Royal Sovereign Hotel on Clarence Road, 1912 43207/32/2/4

Smart’s Commercial Hotel on York Road, Southville, 1910 43207/32/2/7

Imperial Hotel on Whiteladies Road, built to serve the hoards visiting Clifton Down railway station, 1908 43207/32/2/10

Cooling Room at The Hydro, 1900s 43207/32/2/13
is needed now More than ever

Smoke Room at The Hydro, 1911 43207/32/2/14

Colourised exterior view of The Hydro, 1900s 43207/32/2/15

County Ground Hotel, 1900s, now The Sportsman pub in Bishopston 43207/32/2/33

Clifton Down Hotel, located near the Suspension Bridge and now the site of Sion House, 1912 43207/32/2/40

Inside the Dining Room, Clifton Down Hotel, 1930s 43207/32/2/41

Front view of Cheyne House Private Hotel, Clifton, on a postcard sent on June 14 1918 43207/32/2/46

View of the carved mantelpiece in the State Room, Assize Courts Hotel, Small Street, 1900s. The Jacobean ceiling was destroyed by developers in September 2017, one day before Historic England were due to visit the site 43207/32/2/47

Queen’s Hotel Bristol, Queen’s Road, 1912 43207/32/2/9

Line drawing showing the modern & medieval sides of the now-demolished Swan Hotel, 1900s 43207/32/2/8