"The Constitution Hotel" 32 Bedford Street Covent Garden **COMPLETED **

[ShaunJ]

Apparently the Constitution was renowned for its peerless punch (try Googling Constitution 32 Bedford Street).

Here's the story on the 1880's redevelopment:

Nos. 31 and 32 Bedford Street
This building was erected in 1885 under a Bedford building lease for eighty years granted to John Clemence of Duke Street, Adelphi, gentleman (elsewhere described as builder). The first occupants of the upper floors (from 1886) were the Institute of Builders (now the Institute of Building), the Central Association of Master Builders of London (later the London Master Builders' Association, and now the London Region of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers) and the Builders' Accident Insurance Company. The last still occupies part of the premises. The ground floor was occupied by Macmillan and Company, publishers, from 1887. It is not known which architect, if any, was employed. (ref. 67) <The joint architects were Charles Jones of Ebury Street and Frank Clemence of Duke Street; the builder (and owner) was John Clemence.>
The red brick and terra-cotta front of this building is elaborately detailed in a florid Flemish Renaissance style. Four storeys high, it is divided by pilasters into two bays, with a large three-light window to each storey above the ground-floor shop front, and it is finished with two scrollsided and pedimented gables

From: 'Bedford Street and Chandos Place Area: Bedford Street', Survey of London: volume 36: Covent Garden (1970), pp. 253-263. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46128. Date accessed: 25 November 2007.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46128

[ShaunJ]

 Notes and Queries - Page 71
by Martim de Albuquerque - Questions and answers - Published 1974
Oxford University Press

"Until 1879, perhaps later, a popular tavern called the “Constitution” was still
standing at No. 32, Bedford Street, and was renowned for its “peerless punch ... "

[ShaunJ]

You probably have this one already:

Sun Fire Office Records: ref. MS 11936/465/889717

2 February 1814

Insured: James Waddingham, 32 Bedford Street Covent Garden, victualler

[karenlee]

Once again, my grateful thanks for all this wonderful information.  I can now put some worthwhile facts about the SHAW family's hotel in my chapter on them.

Karenlee

[ShaunJ]

One more for you Karen:

In 1841 the proprietor of "The Constitution" was Lancelot St Albin.

HO107/741/3 f 22 p 6