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The Norfolk Hotel Hagley Road

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
O

O.C.

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One of Brums best kept secrets of the 50's Good accommodation and good food situated on the Hagely Rd. Edgbaston
 

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Still there as far as I know, Cromwell. We were going to hold our wedding reception there in 1963, but it was far too posh and expensive. We settled on the Hope and Anchor in Edmund Street instead - good choice!
 
norfolk hotel

The norfolk along with the Arden and Cobden in the centre of town were all temperance hotels I think until the 80's.Quite a shock for commercial travellers who booked in for their first [and last] visit!!
 

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Thanks Kenh I was going to put a pic of the Arden on but now I won't bother
 
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I'm sure Charlie made a good choice, celebrating his marriage in the Hope & Anchor - also known as Eli's, after Eli Fletcher, the former guvnor there. I have nothing but good memories of that place from the 1950s, before I left Brum, and before it was sadly demolished. I understand the library on the same site today is now under threat of demolition now. So much for progress!
Peter
 
The Norfolk was always known for it's up-market qualities when I was a private hire driver in the late 50s early 60s. You maybe be surprised to know that it is now an accomodation centre for assylum seekers or something similar. There are usually several rough looking people with plenty of children hanging around and others going in and out. I have seen people with hesian sacks around their shoulders.
 
Sad that such a fine old place has fallen on bad times. When I worked for an old-established firm in the City Centre the Norton was where we'd have our Christmas lunch, even though most of the staff would much rather have gone for a Chinese or an Italian. I don't recall it as being temperence then, though. The food was fine, as was the service. The Cobden was definitely temperance.

Big Gee
 
The Norfolk, maybe around the 1950s although someone may be able to date from the cars in the forecourt. Viv.
image.jpeg
 
The Cobden also moved out of the City Centre to the Hagley Road, a short distance from the Norfolk but on the opposite side of the road

Cobden.jpg

The white building you can see at the end was the original Hagley Road Cobden which was then given a modern extension. Picture from Street View.

I have been in the Cobden several times when I have heard guests ask the receptionist for the bar and being told to go to the hotel next door as the Cobden was a temperance hotel.
 
My younger brother worked for The Cobden/Norfolk on the Hagley Rd when he first left school, early 60's I think. I remember they often had "reps" from Gillette stay there, lots of sample razor blades! Didn't buy one for ages.
 
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