REGENT ROAD
The New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth front page
1927
Named after the
Prince Regent, later George IV, Regent
Road was originally a track in the sand across the denes (or dunes) to the
middle well. It ran from Oxney's gate
in an easterly direction towards the sea. It appears to me that the gate was
placed here by the earliest builders of any sort of mound, palisade or wall, so
as to get conveniently to the well that had already been dug there. Wells were
dug from very ancient times, and even an attempt to divert the river to bring
fresh water to the town could have had problems from salt water rushing in at
high tide. Theatre gate was called
Oxney's gate before Swinden's time and then Steele's gate during Swinden's
lifetime. The tower associated with the gate was pulled down in 1776.*3
Townwall House,
built by De Caux
In 1992, from
the south‑west end of Regent Road, there is Greens outfitters;
"Occasions" ‑Quality Gifts and Cards; then, crossing Deneside,
there is the British Home Stores on the site of the old Wesleyan Chapel and
School.
the
organ that was in the Wesleyan Hall
6 Regent Road,
Sam Gunton’s House, 1903.
The Wesleyan Church in Regent Road (corner of
Deneside) now British Home Stores.
inside the
Wesleyan Church
On the east
side of British Home Stores can still be seen a portion of the ancient town
wall. Here is the site of Oxney's gate, mentioned above. East of the wall is
"Spud‑u‑like", in a flat‑roofed shoe box shaped
building, beside which is the 1923 Billiard Hall. This still has billiards and
snooker on the top floor. Entrance is free, and the tables 2 pounds and fifty
pence for a session. Below it are Lloyds Supersave Drugstore, and at no.114,
also below the billiard hall, are the immensely successful franchises of
Kentucky Fried Chicken, and MacDonald's Hamburgers. At one time here, was Woolworths, beside Alexandra Road.
Regent Road, about 1960. note on
the right is Electric House, see below
“Electric
House” being demolished
inside the
Theatre Royal
John
Nightingale and the Theatre Royal
On the north‑west
side of the street, this starts from the junction with King Street with Clark's
Shoes, just this year changed from "Farmers". Here was Divers public
house and off‑licence. Across Deneside, there is the site of the former
Theatre. The old Theatre Royal seated
some 7‑800 persons.
silver tokens
were season tickets at the Theatre Royal
Before the 1914
war, the Theatre Royal had closed in the winter, whereas the Royal
Aquarium had been open all year round.
In 1915 the Defence of the Realm Act placed restrictions on lighting, and
power. The trams in the winter ceased to run down Regent Road, and therefore
Mr.Nightingale, who owned both establishments, decided to keep the Theatre
Royal open in preference, and transferred all his shows there. For many years
subsequently, this prevailed. John Nightingale also owned and directed the
revolving tower, was a principal shareholder in the Britannia pier company,
owned the Queens Hotel, leased the Masonic club, then the assembly rooms, and
even had entertainment at the latter. He was liason officer for the Bass
company, who had thousands of workers descend upon the town on their
outings. The Bass outings rotated
between Yarmouth, Blackpool, and Scarborough. Nightingale had come to Yarmouth
from London. He was trained as a caterer in London, and catered for any number from one to a
thousand. Nightingale senior died in about 1911, of a broken heart, after the
fire destroyed the pavilion on the Britannia pier. His son Walter Nightingale
was in charge after that. John Nightingale and his son also in turn, died at
the young age of 61. John Nightingale did everything in style, and was to be
seen in top hat and tails, escorting his top artiste across the road to the
concert hall from the Queens Hotel.
The A.B.C.
cinema that was built in place of
the Theatre Royal appeared to be successful, and had some sell‑out
summer season shows that I have attended. There was an outcry at the
announcement to pull it down, but now we have only the shops, Clinton Cards,
and Pizza Hut, where they advertise Pizzas for one pound sixty‑nine
pence, but on sitting down they are only available at that price at limited
times. Next comes the much despised
Market Gates shopping centre. Here is to be found "Sax" Clothing; The
"Magpie's Nest" ‑ bags and suitcases. Then is "First
Choice" Clothing, and the bus stop beside Temple Road.
Dr Aldred’s House was at the North West corner of Alexandra Road.
inside Dr
Aldred’s lounge
Dr Aldred’s
garden
Crossing the
Temple Road with Alexandra Road junction, continuing the north side of Regent
Road, there is first a vacant empty building site, then no. 10, newly boxed-out
on an original front, is "Verities" Children's clothes and fashions,
no. 10 and 11. On a Sunday, September 20th., Regent Road remains remarkably
crowded. Next is the Alexandra Restaurant. Hot meals are served all day. 12a is
"Shambles", selling tourist goods. Docwra's Rock factory, selling
Yarmouth Rock and other confectionary, manufacture rock on the premises.
(Docwra's first factory was in
Middlegate) This building no. 13, was built in 1880, of red brick and with
sandstone, and some nice detail. Number
14 is "Matches", a white brick-fronted building, now very grubby. At
15 is "Great Yarmouth Gold Centre", which appears closed up, and the
business has moved away to Norwich. Between this and the next building is Gypsy
Harriett Lee, Palmist, and grand‑daughter of the great Nancy Lee. There
are a number of famous Romany palmists and clairvoyants long based at Great
Yarmouth. The white fronted building
next is currently "Up‑front Fashions" at no.16, and also,
upstairs, was previously a branch of the Norwich Hairdressers, John Oliver.
Next is "The Firm", selling fashion items in a single storey shoe‑box
building.
The waxworks
was a doctor's surgery
At no. 18 is
now the house of wax, the long established waxworks, but which once was the
doctor's surgery of Dr. Peers and Dr. Mitchell. Dr. Marwood took over before
the war, and it was he who moved away, the same practice being now represented
at the Lawn Avenue surgery by Drs. Dawson, Mercer, Adams, Betts and Long. (see
also Hopton Hall, re. Dr. Peers.) No.
19 is the "Leather Factory", and 19a. sells videos, C.D.s and tapes.
Then there is a passage to Mayhouse Cottages and Beckett's Buildings. No. 20
sells sunglasses, tourist items and clothing. One of Vettese's shops, an ice‑cream
parlour and coffee house; after which the next premises was Colors leisurewear and Moore sport, both are
closed up. 21a is the flat above the drugstore. No. 22 is the Rainbow
Restaurant. 23 is for sale. On the ground-floor is a jewellers. 24 is the long‑established
Wright's Restaurant. 25 is "Turna Fashions", which most strangely,
includes an off‑ licence.
Richard James, another jewellers is at 26, selling cut‑price
lines. At 27 is Lee Brothers, the gift shop, selling tourist ware. The Chic
shopping arcade also has tourist items. The "Mini‑warehouse" at
no.30 has a "for sale" sign, but is still trading. Princes Restaurant
is at 31, and then there is Vogue shoes, clothing and tourist items. This is on
the corner of Regent Road and South Market Road.
Dr Peers’ House, now the House of Wax
Crossing Regent
Road North, we come to the Prince Regent, a Whitbread tavern. There is a large
hatchway from the back passage into the cellar. Lou Casey is singing here to
taped backing music. This latter practice is currently know as
"Karaoke". "Western
World Klobber" is at no. 35. Baileys at no 36 has been recently rebuilt in
white brick, but with two very ugly dormers above. 
This was Dr
Blake’s House.
The "Silver mine" is selling some
silver, but also trainer shoes, and clothing.
Potters the Rock Makers, no. 39, is divided into two. The western half
sells clothing, and the eastern half is the rock shop. Rock made on the
premises it says. No.40 is a china shop. Record revival is at 41, and Andrews
Restaurant no. 42. T‑bone Steak house is no. 43. Number 44 is the Pipe Specialist, an
original tobacconist's shop, with its old counter, with glass topped displays,
and a nice smell of tobacco. "Fashion
Wheel" is a white brick square fronted fill‑in building, next to no.
46, on the corner of Wellesley Road.
St John’s Motor
Co., Regent Road.
Crossing
Wellesley Road, there is the Bag Company on the south east corner of Wellesley
Road, with, in the eastern half, a jewellers, now empty and for sale. 47b is
above this. 48‑51 is "The Hamburger", which always appears to
do a good summer trade. Then there is "Slippery Dick's Shirt Shak",
and the "Print Place" (both in the same building), Avenida Restaurant, where I can recommend
the steaks as truly exceptional, and then Jeffery's China glassware and books,
a browse around store. At 55, is the drugstore (C. A. Chadwick) and souvenir
shop. Next is Regent Diner, and at 57 a clothing store. 58 is the Britannia
fish bar, another of the Vettese family's shops. Beside this there is
"Fancy Fare", run by Mr. Chinn. No. 59 is The "Black Market
clothing store", which has a closing‑down sale.
Vettese's
cafeteria is next door, a 1960's style, flat‑roofed building. There is a
small road here leading to the back of the aforementioned shops, and leading
round into Wellesley Road. Insight
Corporation, music store is in part of the ground‑floor of the old
Mandarin Hotel, where there is also the waxworks on the south‑east
corner, with the sea‑front. The Mandarin Hotel was formerly another of
the Vettese properties.
South end of
Regent Road, about 1880.
To commence
back up the south side of Regent Road from The Marine Parade, there is first, the
north face of the former Queens Hotel, once the property of the Nightingale
family. (see under Marine Parade) Now this is, on the ground floor, Poet's Bar, and the
Tube Disco, then the New Beach Shopping Arcade, complete with Gypsy Rose Lee,
clairvoyant. Peppino's food bar is
next, in Victoria House, which was built in 1887. Super self service Cafeteria
is at No.66, owned, with the coffee bar by descendants of Joseph Vettese. Maria
runs this at present.
Granville Hotel
–Black Angus. (in its heyday!)
The Black Angus Restaurant is closed and
empty. The Discount centre is simply an advertising front for Pleasurewood
Hills and Kingdom of the sea. In the
ground‑floor of the Black Angus there is the long‑established post‑office,
built out upon the front, together with Amber's Gift Shop. Across Apsley Road, on the corner, is the
former hotel, now Alan J. Bunney and Sandy Kennon, Turf Accountants Licensed
Betting Office, and Luciano's Restaurant, at present shut, no.70, and some
flats above. At 71 is the Regent
Restaurant. 72 is the Arches Restaurant. 73 sells tourist items. 74 is the
fishing tackle specialist, Pownalls. A most interesting shop, even for the non‑fisherman.
75 is Our Price Shoes, and 76 is Evolution, with tourist Items and a closing‑down
sale. "Coat‑Hanger",
sells clothing, and Manolas is beside Roman Place.
St. Mary's
Roman Catholic Church
Crossing Roman
Place we come to the Roman Catholic Church of the Augustinian Fathers. The Roman Catholic Church in Regent Road is
dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was
built in 1850, and cost over 10,000 pounds*4. It is built in flint in a gothic
style, and consists of a nave, clerestoried nave, aisles, two side chapels, and
an embattled tower at the north‑west angle, with pinnacles. It had but one
bell in 1930. The high alter, reredos and pulpit are of carved stone. The
fourteen stations of the cross are represented in bas‑relief on the
walls. In 1900 a side chapel was erected to celebrate the jubilee of the
church. In this chapel in 1921 a shrine to our lady of Yarmouth was erected,
and blessed by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. There are seats for 400
people. 
Savoy Hotel and
staff.
The Savoy
Restaurant is on the corner, at the junction with Nelson Road Central.
Across Nelson
Road, Doughty's Sports Store at no.81 is always most enticing from the outside,
and it is rather disappointing to find that inside, most of the stock is
displayed in the window. The old Regent
Cinema, a most original listed building, is regrettably given over to Bingo,
but there are many original features in the unspoiled theatre constructed at
the turn of the century.
Quicksilver
amusements are below it, and Regent Photographic. Next west of the former cinema is C.(Cecil) Page and sons the
quality jewellers. Then are Alf the Purse King at 91, Regent takeaway
restaurant, airbrush T shirts, Fashion Wheel at 95, shoe-shop; Emma Jane's
Toybox, and the Regent Arcade. Above
the Regent shopping arcade, is the Regent Bowl, a very popular, (but not cheap)
ten‑pin bowling arcade. The Regent Arcade, next west of the entrance to
the bowling rink, has a low, pitched and slated roof. It is of pre‑war
construction. 103 is the clothing and
shoe shop. 104 was the booking office for shows, trips and suchlike, but now
this is a clothing and a fancy goods
shop. Queens Square is a row of houses
running in a southerly row here. Past
that again is the Gift House at 105,
and the Norfolk Leather Centre at 106. 107 is a toy shop. 108 is Fashion Wheel.
109 is A.B.Rice and Co., watches and ornaments and Martins walk-around store,
all in a modern three storey building, with the upper parts used as store
rooms. Coral Bookmakers, Amber's tourist goods, at 110, the Burger House and
ice-cream takeaway at 111, and the rock factory follow. The old established
business of Masterson's fittingly
completes Regent Road on the corner of Alexandra Road. This is the
famous Bloater shop, selling kippers and bloaters, shellfish and fish and
chips. A box of fish may still be sent from here in the time honoured
tradition.
*3 PP vol. 3, p. 26)
*4 ref.
Kelly's Guide, 1930