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Article THE SALUTATION TAVERN AND ITS VICINITY. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SALUTATION TAVERN AND ITS VICINITY. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Salutation Tavern And Its Vicinity.
THE SALUTATION TAVERN AND ITS VICINITY .
( Continued from page 213 . ) TO those who remember the Salutation Tavern as it was , with its close smelling rooms and the dingy passage entrance from Newgate street , the now building , as established under the magic influence of Bro . Liebmann , offers the strongest possible contrast , and when the decorations and fittings are complete , we venture to say there will be
no handsomer or better-appointed house of its kind in the metropolis . It will , of course , be understood that the proprietor has had to confine his operations to the space originally marked out , but he has made the moat of his opportunities , and if the ground covered by tho new hostelry ia no larger than it was in the days of Coleridge and Lamb , the accommodation provided within its four walls is
undoubtedly on a more extensive scale . In fact , all is changed , with the solitary exception already noticed , namely , that the same jovial spirit of hospitality will be fonnd in the present tavern as in its predecessor . It may not , probably will not , again occur , that ono of our most brilliant poets will seek refuge in its parlours from the busy haunts of man . Magazine proprietors aud antiquaries may no longer be
"desired on Monday night to meet , At Salutation Tavern , Newgate-street , " but frequenters of the City will find in Bro . Liebmann one who ministers both to the comfort and pleasure of his patrons , and , once they have visited bis premises and learned to appreciate his " Salu . tation , " no poetical invitations will be needed to induce them to
repeat the experiment . We have spoken of the Salutation Tavern as it was in bygone days , when , in spite of its dinginess , it enjoyed the reputation of being a well-found house of call , not only among residents in the neighbourhood , bnt likewise among visitors from remoter districts . Under the new auspices it bids fair to maintain , and even enhance ,
that reputation . What money can do in order to combine elegance with comfort has been done by Bro . Liebmann , who has spared no pains or expense in setting his new house in order . He has in the first place shown his wisdom by inviting the co-operation of people who are known to be competent business and professional men . Messrs . Wylson and Long , of King William-street , Strand , are his
architects ; Messrs . Pickers-jill Brothers , of West-street , Soho , are his builders ; and Mr . Robert Eddie his Clerk of Works . With the assistance of men of this calibre it is not astonishing he should have succeeded in erecting a tavern that will meet the requirements even of more exacting patrons than the general public . The house is substantially built from roof to basement , the rooms are lofty and commodious , the offices ample nnd well-appointed , and the
communications between the several parts of the establishment such as leaves nothing to be desired in respect either of safety or rapidity . Even the apparently insuperable difficulty of making attractive the narrow entrance to the Tavern from the main thoroughfare has been successfully met , and the old unsightly passage looks quite brave with its elegant mosaic pavement and the handsome swing mahogany glass doors .
But it will be as well , perhaps , if , in imagination , the reader will be so good as to accompany ns on a tour of inspection throughout the premises , and for this purpose we cannot do better than take him , not to the topmost floor of all , where are situated the sleeping apartments of the servants of the house , but to that immediately beneath , which , seeing that ifc contains the kitchens and attendant
offices , is , after all , of the greatest importance in snch an establishment as this . Here will be found all the latest and most approved appliances that are necessary in the practice of the culinary art , the cooking range in particular being admirably fitted and possessing very great capacity , so that in ono part of it two lambs , or at most two sheep , may be roasted whole . The service arrangements are
likewise excellent , there being no need for the slightest delay in serving the various dishes and courses , while one feature may be noted here , though our remarks are equally applicable to the other floors , namely , that all the flooring , which has been supplied and fitted by Messrs . Dennett and Ingle , is fireproof . Descending to the floor immediately beneath , we find ourselves , on
the one hand , in a large and handsomely-fitted dining-room , where quite a hundred gnests may sit down to table without in the slightest degree inconveniencing one another . Separated from this by folding-doors is another room , devoted to the same purpose , which , in case it shonld be wanted by a small private party , may be kept separate and distinct from the principal room ; or , should the guests
be too numerous for the larger apartment , by un-hanging or fold , ing back the doors , the two rooms may be made into one . This is unquestionably a great convenience , as especially in Masonic gatherings it is not always possible to determine beforehand even approximately the number of brethren who intend remaining for the banquet . These rooms occupy one-half of the floor , the other half being
occupied by the Masonic Temple , with ante-room for tbe Tyler's nse . Here Bro . Liebmann has laid himself out to provide Lodge accommodation , which , given an equal expenditure of money and the same display of taste , is capable of being equalled , but cannot certainly be surpassed . Even the minutest details of fitting and arrangement have been attended to . Everything is of the handsomest , and the
utmost care has been taken that the brethren , when in Lodge assembled , shall enjoy the greatest possible amount of comfort . Bnt the feature which will strike tho visitor most forcibly is , that the bar . monies have been most scrupulously preserved . There is the most complete uniformity of design throughout , while the decorations
and appointments are in keeping with the purposes for which the apartments aro intended . The Temple itself is mosfc commodious , and has been so bnilt thafc tho chair of K . S . will occupy its proper place , due east , the windows being likewise so placed as to conform strictly witn the plan on which all Masonic Lodge-rooms should be
The Salutation Tavern And Its Vicinity.
arranged . The walls and ceiling are handsomely and appropriately decorated with Masonio symbols and devices , and the dome , when completed , will be , in the strictest sense , the chief artistic as well as architectural feature of the room . Even the elaborately . painted glass windows , though as Lodges generally meet in the evening their full effect will stand less chance of being appreciated as they deserve
have been filled in with elegantly-drawn Masonic insignia , the devices being for the most part representations of the jewels worn by the principal and other Officers of Grand Lodge . These windows are four in number , each with a fanlight above , three of them being placed at the east end of the room , while the fourth is situated to the north-weat . In the fan over the central east window ia the
Grand Master a jewel and chair of office , while the fans on either aide are filled in with two handsomely painted columns rising from a tesselated pavement . The windows beneath these are richly and effectively coloured ; the two compartments of the middle window containing in the one case the Master ' s jewel and collar , and in the other the jewel and collar of a Paat Master , each compartment of the
remaining windows being decorated with the jewel worn by some one of the Grand Officers . The room is lighted by means of a very handsome ruby out glass gas burner , specially designed and wrought by the well-known firm of Stevens and Son , and it has been so con . trived that the light can be raised or lowered to any extent that may be required from fche Tyler ' s room . Another arrangement well
worthy of notice is that the . door is constructed of sliding panels which may be opened to their widest extent or only enough to allow of a report being handed in without incommoding any one or display , ing any portion of the interior of the Lodge . Moreover , Bro . Liebmann has provided a handsome damask curtain , whioh when held com . pletely shuts out the door from the gaze of the brethren , and afc the
same , time gives an appearance of warmth and comfort to the room , which even the most indifferent visitor will have good reason to ap . predate . The Tyler ' s room is alao a perfect model of a wellarranged apartment , well furniahed , and lighted by means of painted glass windows , ornamented with coats of arms of different City Companics . Thus , the whole floor , leaving out of the question for the
moment the artistic beauty of its decorations and fittings , is ad . mirably deaigned for a Masonic Lodge meeting , the Lodge and Tyler's rooms , the banqueting . room , and the retiring-rooms being all in close proximity to each other , and so arranged as to insure complete pri . vacy from the rest of the Tavern , the electric bell in the Tyler's room enabling that officer to communicate with the waiters and
attendants elsewhere , so that once the brethren have assembled , there is no need for any of them to visit any other part of the house during the period assigned either to labour or refreshment . The accommodation on the ground floor , except in matters of detail , is the same as that we have jnst described . There is here another Lodge room suitably fitted and furniahed in the
best possible style , while tbe richly carved ceiling may be noted as a special feature for the visitor ' s inspection . Tho banqueting room adjoining has its walls panelled with handsome mirrors and is lighted by a series of specially designed gas brackets . Care has been taken that every thing in this suite of rooms shall minister to the comfort and convenience of visitors . There is nothing in the decora .
tions which can offend even the most critical taste , while as regards the service—and when we say thia , our remarks must be understood as applying with equal force to the whole establishment—it has been so excellently arranged that whatever ia required can be had on the instant and without causing inconvenience to anybody . In fact the service part of the establishment is quite apart from that
appropriated to the gnests , while each floor is in a greafc measure a com . plete and separate establishment in itself , the one being entirely independent of the other , though both , as a matter of course , have their requirements satisfied by the proprietor and his staff . And this isolation of the business or service part of the tavern ia made all tbe more complete by the fact of there being a principal staircase
which is used only by Brother Liebmann's patrons , the other being intended only for the servants in attendance . This is a point in Bro . Liebmann ' s arrangements on which we may be excused for laying particular stress . There are many people who are quite willing to avail themselves of snch accommodation aa is afforded by the Salutation and similar houses , but they have a horror of being
pestered or confronted by the waiters . Here there is no possibility of such inconvenience befalling them , and to a certain extent they will find the same peace and quietness with the same freedom from personal contact with tbe attendants as they are in the habit of enjoying at home . We must not omit to mention that on the basement floor will be
found a large and well-appointed billiard room , the tables being by the best makers , while the fittings and appointments are of the latest and most approved character . Bro . Liebmann's aim here , as elsewhere , has been to provide the best of everything , the best and mosfc suitable as well aa the most likely to meet the public taste which money can procure . There is nofc the slightest chance of any one
having reason to complain of any shortcoming in one part of the arrangements neutralising tbe good effect produced by excellence in the other departments . The proprietor , as we have said before , has taken care that the several branches of bis establishment , like the several rooma ifc contains , with their reapective fittings and appointments , shall harmonise together most completely , and even those who think
the whole duty of a critic ia to find fault will be puzzled to know what fault can be fonnd with the Salutation Tavern in its new aspect . We heartily congratulate Bro . Liebmann on the auccess he haa achieved , and aa by the provision of Maaonic Lodge and banqueting rooma he may be said to appeal especially , though not solely , to the Masonic public for support , we sincerely trust he will
meet with thafc reward which hia unbounded liberality of outlay and the exceeding taste he haa shown throughout so fully deserve . His great aim has been to please the public generally and Masons in particular , and we are satisfied neither the one nor the other will be found loath to avail themselves of the pleasure he is so willing and anxious to purvey .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Salutation Tavern And Its Vicinity.
THE SALUTATION TAVERN AND ITS VICINITY .
( Continued from page 213 . ) TO those who remember the Salutation Tavern as it was , with its close smelling rooms and the dingy passage entrance from Newgate street , the now building , as established under the magic influence of Bro . Liebmann , offers the strongest possible contrast , and when the decorations and fittings are complete , we venture to say there will be
no handsomer or better-appointed house of its kind in the metropolis . It will , of course , be understood that the proprietor has had to confine his operations to the space originally marked out , but he has made the moat of his opportunities , and if the ground covered by tho new hostelry ia no larger than it was in the days of Coleridge and Lamb , the accommodation provided within its four walls is
undoubtedly on a more extensive scale . In fact , all is changed , with the solitary exception already noticed , namely , that the same jovial spirit of hospitality will be fonnd in the present tavern as in its predecessor . It may not , probably will not , again occur , that ono of our most brilliant poets will seek refuge in its parlours from the busy haunts of man . Magazine proprietors aud antiquaries may no longer be
"desired on Monday night to meet , At Salutation Tavern , Newgate-street , " but frequenters of the City will find in Bro . Liebmann one who ministers both to the comfort and pleasure of his patrons , and , once they have visited bis premises and learned to appreciate his " Salu . tation , " no poetical invitations will be needed to induce them to
repeat the experiment . We have spoken of the Salutation Tavern as it was in bygone days , when , in spite of its dinginess , it enjoyed the reputation of being a well-found house of call , not only among residents in the neighbourhood , bnt likewise among visitors from remoter districts . Under the new auspices it bids fair to maintain , and even enhance ,
that reputation . What money can do in order to combine elegance with comfort has been done by Bro . Liebmann , who has spared no pains or expense in setting his new house in order . He has in the first place shown his wisdom by inviting the co-operation of people who are known to be competent business and professional men . Messrs . Wylson and Long , of King William-street , Strand , are his
architects ; Messrs . Pickers-jill Brothers , of West-street , Soho , are his builders ; and Mr . Robert Eddie his Clerk of Works . With the assistance of men of this calibre it is not astonishing he should have succeeded in erecting a tavern that will meet the requirements even of more exacting patrons than the general public . The house is substantially built from roof to basement , the rooms are lofty and commodious , the offices ample nnd well-appointed , and the
communications between the several parts of the establishment such as leaves nothing to be desired in respect either of safety or rapidity . Even the apparently insuperable difficulty of making attractive the narrow entrance to the Tavern from the main thoroughfare has been successfully met , and the old unsightly passage looks quite brave with its elegant mosaic pavement and the handsome swing mahogany glass doors .
But it will be as well , perhaps , if , in imagination , the reader will be so good as to accompany ns on a tour of inspection throughout the premises , and for this purpose we cannot do better than take him , not to the topmost floor of all , where are situated the sleeping apartments of the servants of the house , but to that immediately beneath , which , seeing that ifc contains the kitchens and attendant
offices , is , after all , of the greatest importance in snch an establishment as this . Here will be found all the latest and most approved appliances that are necessary in the practice of the culinary art , the cooking range in particular being admirably fitted and possessing very great capacity , so that in ono part of it two lambs , or at most two sheep , may be roasted whole . The service arrangements are
likewise excellent , there being no need for the slightest delay in serving the various dishes and courses , while one feature may be noted here , though our remarks are equally applicable to the other floors , namely , that all the flooring , which has been supplied and fitted by Messrs . Dennett and Ingle , is fireproof . Descending to the floor immediately beneath , we find ourselves , on
the one hand , in a large and handsomely-fitted dining-room , where quite a hundred gnests may sit down to table without in the slightest degree inconveniencing one another . Separated from this by folding-doors is another room , devoted to the same purpose , which , in case it shonld be wanted by a small private party , may be kept separate and distinct from the principal room ; or , should the guests
be too numerous for the larger apartment , by un-hanging or fold , ing back the doors , the two rooms may be made into one . This is unquestionably a great convenience , as especially in Masonic gatherings it is not always possible to determine beforehand even approximately the number of brethren who intend remaining for the banquet . These rooms occupy one-half of the floor , the other half being
occupied by the Masonic Temple , with ante-room for tbe Tyler's nse . Here Bro . Liebmann has laid himself out to provide Lodge accommodation , which , given an equal expenditure of money and the same display of taste , is capable of being equalled , but cannot certainly be surpassed . Even the minutest details of fitting and arrangement have been attended to . Everything is of the handsomest , and the
utmost care has been taken that the brethren , when in Lodge assembled , shall enjoy the greatest possible amount of comfort . Bnt the feature which will strike tho visitor most forcibly is , that the bar . monies have been most scrupulously preserved . There is the most complete uniformity of design throughout , while the decorations
and appointments are in keeping with the purposes for which the apartments aro intended . The Temple itself is mosfc commodious , and has been so bnilt thafc tho chair of K . S . will occupy its proper place , due east , the windows being likewise so placed as to conform strictly witn the plan on which all Masonic Lodge-rooms should be
The Salutation Tavern And Its Vicinity.
arranged . The walls and ceiling are handsomely and appropriately decorated with Masonio symbols and devices , and the dome , when completed , will be , in the strictest sense , the chief artistic as well as architectural feature of the room . Even the elaborately . painted glass windows , though as Lodges generally meet in the evening their full effect will stand less chance of being appreciated as they deserve
have been filled in with elegantly-drawn Masonic insignia , the devices being for the most part representations of the jewels worn by the principal and other Officers of Grand Lodge . These windows are four in number , each with a fanlight above , three of them being placed at the east end of the room , while the fourth is situated to the north-weat . In the fan over the central east window ia the
Grand Master a jewel and chair of office , while the fans on either aide are filled in with two handsomely painted columns rising from a tesselated pavement . The windows beneath these are richly and effectively coloured ; the two compartments of the middle window containing in the one case the Master ' s jewel and collar , and in the other the jewel and collar of a Paat Master , each compartment of the
remaining windows being decorated with the jewel worn by some one of the Grand Officers . The room is lighted by means of a very handsome ruby out glass gas burner , specially designed and wrought by the well-known firm of Stevens and Son , and it has been so con . trived that the light can be raised or lowered to any extent that may be required from fche Tyler ' s room . Another arrangement well
worthy of notice is that the . door is constructed of sliding panels which may be opened to their widest extent or only enough to allow of a report being handed in without incommoding any one or display , ing any portion of the interior of the Lodge . Moreover , Bro . Liebmann has provided a handsome damask curtain , whioh when held com . pletely shuts out the door from the gaze of the brethren , and afc the
same , time gives an appearance of warmth and comfort to the room , which even the most indifferent visitor will have good reason to ap . predate . The Tyler ' s room is alao a perfect model of a wellarranged apartment , well furniahed , and lighted by means of painted glass windows , ornamented with coats of arms of different City Companics . Thus , the whole floor , leaving out of the question for the
moment the artistic beauty of its decorations and fittings , is ad . mirably deaigned for a Masonic Lodge meeting , the Lodge and Tyler's rooms , the banqueting . room , and the retiring-rooms being all in close proximity to each other , and so arranged as to insure complete pri . vacy from the rest of the Tavern , the electric bell in the Tyler's room enabling that officer to communicate with the waiters and
attendants elsewhere , so that once the brethren have assembled , there is no need for any of them to visit any other part of the house during the period assigned either to labour or refreshment . The accommodation on the ground floor , except in matters of detail , is the same as that we have jnst described . There is here another Lodge room suitably fitted and furniahed in the
best possible style , while tbe richly carved ceiling may be noted as a special feature for the visitor ' s inspection . Tho banqueting room adjoining has its walls panelled with handsome mirrors and is lighted by a series of specially designed gas brackets . Care has been taken that every thing in this suite of rooms shall minister to the comfort and convenience of visitors . There is nothing in the decora .
tions which can offend even the most critical taste , while as regards the service—and when we say thia , our remarks must be understood as applying with equal force to the whole establishment—it has been so excellently arranged that whatever ia required can be had on the instant and without causing inconvenience to anybody . In fact the service part of the establishment is quite apart from that
appropriated to the gnests , while each floor is in a greafc measure a com . plete and separate establishment in itself , the one being entirely independent of the other , though both , as a matter of course , have their requirements satisfied by the proprietor and his staff . And this isolation of the business or service part of the tavern ia made all tbe more complete by the fact of there being a principal staircase
which is used only by Brother Liebmann's patrons , the other being intended only for the servants in attendance . This is a point in Bro . Liebmann ' s arrangements on which we may be excused for laying particular stress . There are many people who are quite willing to avail themselves of snch accommodation aa is afforded by the Salutation and similar houses , but they have a horror of being
pestered or confronted by the waiters . Here there is no possibility of such inconvenience befalling them , and to a certain extent they will find the same peace and quietness with the same freedom from personal contact with tbe attendants as they are in the habit of enjoying at home . We must not omit to mention that on the basement floor will be
found a large and well-appointed billiard room , the tables being by the best makers , while the fittings and appointments are of the latest and most approved character . Bro . Liebmann's aim here , as elsewhere , has been to provide the best of everything , the best and mosfc suitable as well aa the most likely to meet the public taste which money can procure . There is nofc the slightest chance of any one
having reason to complain of any shortcoming in one part of the arrangements neutralising tbe good effect produced by excellence in the other departments . The proprietor , as we have said before , has taken care that the several branches of bis establishment , like the several rooma ifc contains , with their reapective fittings and appointments , shall harmonise together most completely , and even those who think
the whole duty of a critic ia to find fault will be puzzled to know what fault can be fonnd with the Salutation Tavern in its new aspect . We heartily congratulate Bro . Liebmann on the auccess he haa achieved , and aa by the provision of Maaonic Lodge and banqueting rooma he may be said to appeal especially , though not solely , to the Masonic public for support , we sincerely trust he will
meet with thafc reward which hia unbounded liberality of outlay and the exceeding taste he haa shown throughout so fully deserve . His great aim has been to please the public generally and Masons in particular , and we are satisfied neither the one nor the other will be found loath to avail themselves of the pleasure he is so willing and anxious to purvey .