Albany Hotel

[Vivienne14]

The new Albany 'comfort-with-elegance' hotel in 1963. Expect Clint Eastwood would have taken the 110s (£8.33p?) suite when he stayed there. Or maybe he had a penthouse longer term let.

 

[Vivienne14]

A photo from the Hotel brochure of 1967. Would have been up to the minute in terms of design and facilities. Pity the graphic artist didn’t read the small print before going to print -some of it lost under that sofa ! Viv.

 

[mw0njm.]

They did a great sunday carvery.bet Clint enjoyed it
Clint Eastwood at the Albany Hotel on Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, 1967.

 

[Walkscrow]

I was deputy head hallporter there from 1984 to 1988

 

[Dionysius//88]

A friend of mine used the Gun Room lounge at the Albany in the 70's on a Saturday night, after tipping the staff a couple of times in succession over a couple of weeks , they certainly knew who to bring the peanuts to first when the freebies were handed out

 

[mw0njm.]

I was deputy head hallporter there from 1984 to 1988

i was a partime hall porter at the royal angus. wearing a maroon suit with yellow stripe down the leg. no silly hat thank goodness. what was your uniform?

 

[Missy74]

I was deputy head hallporter there from 1984 to 1988

hi
im trying to locate the where abouts of a chef called francois
I dont have a lot to go on except that he worked at the albany hotel in the late 1970's and i believe he relocated back to france.
If anyone could give me any information it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Andrew Hope]

I have stayed in the now Holiday Inn that was the Albany, it's still a great hotel and all the staff are so welcoming.

 

[Andrew Hope]

 

[Vivienne14]

Deltics - these are later than your time at the Albany, but still might be of interest. (Source: British Newspaper Archive)

 

[Vivienne14]

Pat Phoenix on the balcony of the Albany Hotel. That spot was also where Clint Eastwood was photographed. See Pete's post #3. The balcony is shown in the first modern-day Streetview image, the view from the balcony is in the second Streetview image.

Don't remember the Easter Moon Resrautant opposite. But to me, this was a bit out of the way, unless you'd been to the Scala/Odeon - right of Pat's shoulder. I think it's Clydesdale Tower on Holloway Head to the far right, in the process of being built to the right.

 

[Walkscrow]

Re. Post #17

What year was this?.... edit

 

[John L]

Some more famous faces at The Albany 1 The Osmonds 1972, 2 Muhammad Ali 1984 & 3 Clint again, with his wife 1967:

 

[John L]

Pat Phoenix on the balcony of the Albany Hotel. That spot was also where Clint Eastwood was photographed. See Pete's post #3. The balcony is shown in the first modern-day Streetview image, the view from the balcony is in the second Streetview image.

Don't remember the Easter Moon Resrautant opposite. But to me, this was a bit out of the way, unless you'd been to the Scala/Odeon - right of Pat's shoulder. I think it's Clydesdale Tower on Holloway Head to the far right, in the process of being built to the right.

View attachment 206805
View attachment 206807

I think it's Cleveland Tower on the right Viv. I always thought those two huge residential towers, looked out of place on Holloway Head. Nice to see the Odeon open for business.

 

[Dionysius//88]

I think it's Cleveland Tower on the right Viv. I always thought those two huge residential towers, looked out of place on Holloway Head. Nice to see the Odeon open for business.

Wasn’t there a story Noelle Gordon occupied one of those flats in one of the blocks

 

[Astoness]

we are locking this thread for moderation as we seem to have quite a few negative posts and although they may well be true a few accusations about people who may well still be alive...some posts maybe deleted others edited...this will happen when our time permits and the thread will then be reopened

thank you

the team

 

[higgster68]

Hi everyone - I'm a journalist and work for the BBC in Birmingham.
I'm trying to source a good quality photograph of the Albany Hotel, as was, on Smallbrook Queensway from the mid eighties/early nineties. It's now the Holiday Inn.
It's to use in a story I'm currently working on and would be for an online article. There would be a photo credit.
If anyone has one and would be willing to allow me to use it, I'd be very grateful.
Can you let me know ?
Many thanks

 

[mw0njm.]

there is a thread about the Albany hotel but sadly it is closed

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/albany-hotel.54380/#post-841850

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Pete. Thread now edited and re- opened.

 

[mw0njm.]

Thanks Pete. Thread now edited and re- opened.

you are very welcome Our Viv

 

[Vivienne14]

Hi everyone - I'm a journalist and work for the BBC in Birmingham.
I'm trying to source a good quality photograph of the Albany Hotel, as was, on Smallbrook Queensway from the mid eighties/early nineties. It's now the Holiday Inn.
It's to use in a story I'm currently working on and would be for an online article. There would be a photo credit.
If anyone has one and would be willing to allow me to use it, I'd be very grateful.
Can you let me know ?
Many thanks

Probably worth trying the Birmingham Mail photo archives . It's possible they might have a good quality photo. And/or the Library of Birmingham Archives might be worth a try.

There are postcards of the Hotel (eg on eBay), but the quality might not be very good, and they seem to be mostly produced before your time period.

 

[Vivienne14]

Changes over time. Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Richard Dye]

I was deputy head hallporter there from 1984 to 1988

Walkscrow, what are the three stars for?

 

[Vivienne14]

Stirling Moss on the balcony looking out onto Smallbrook Queensway.

 

[Dionysius//88]

MY two years at the albany hotel were the best as i was only 16 when i got the job, my wages were £3.75 a week and had about £30 in tips each week and met lots of film stars and actors and plenty of comedians like Ken Dodd, Jack Douglas, Harry worth, Sandie Shaw, Des Oconnor, AND LOTS MORE. edit .........................
the only person to ever refuse an autograph was CARLOS THE CHEF from crossroads, one day peter Butterworth took me home in his e-type jag

Yes I'd put money on one being unsociable to you , pity how being on the tell turns peoples head

 

[Dionysius//88]

Stirling Moss on the balcony looking out onto Smallbrook Queensway.

View attachment 211251

Viv was Stirling looking at what Clint Eastwood was looking at ?

 

[mw0njm.]

A massive carvery for £15 as much as you could eat

 

[Dionysius//88]

A massive carvery for £15 as much as you could eat

Yes that would go down well nowadays when you analyse the size of some

 

[mw0njm.]

Yes that would go down well nowadays when you analyse the size of some

we went every week and you could do a oliver and get second helpings all in

 

[Dionysius//88]

we went every week and you could do a oliver and get second helpings all in

Even better for these days of nought