BR hotel scheme for employees, dating back to the 60's

BR hotel scheme for employees, dating back to the 60's

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Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (08:40)
quotequote all
I'm looking to visit a hotel we stayed at in Nice, around 1969/70.
The only aspects my jaded memory can tell me is that it participated in a scheme that gave preferential rates to BR employees, in much the same way I guess the ferry crossings did.
The hotel was quite large, family run; but I only remember him as Charles, nothing else.
I have no family left to ask unfortunately, I've tried the usual Google searches; however I suspect the phrases I'm using don't cut the mustard.
Any help appreciated.

Gareth1974

3,446 posts

153 months

Yesterday (09:31)
quotequote all
The rail industry newspaper Railnews used to be full of ads for accommodation offers for railway staff, pre internet days, for staff able to use their travel facilities on the continent. It still exists though there are far fewer ads than there used to be. If you can find an old copy of that you may find the details.
The facebook group “British Rail Old School” is very active and someone on there may have been to the hotel at some point. Worth a try.

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (10:15)
quotequote all
Thank you, I'll try the FB group...

alangla

5,627 posts

195 months

Yesterday (10:20)
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Or try the history & nostalgia section of the Rail UK forums, they seem to know about the most obscure facets of railway history https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-histor...

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (11:06)
quotequote all
alangla said:
Or try the history & nostalgia section of the Rail UK forums, they seem to know about the most obscure facets of railway history https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-histor...
Thank you.

CanAm

11,099 posts

286 months

Yesterday (11:26)
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Have you tried Google Streetview? It might jog your memory about the area. you might even see the hotel!

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (11:37)
quotequote all
CanAm said:
Have you tried Google Streetview? It might jog your memory about the area. you might even see the hotel!
I did try, but.... it's an old memory; so too many aspects looked familiar..and they can't all be the right hotel.
My thought process is that there can't be many hotels who were hooked into that BR scheme, so that gives me a starting place, and work over time from there.

Simpo Two

88,903 posts

279 months

Yesterday (18:21)
quotequote all
Possibly near a railway station?

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (18:52)
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Possibly near a railway station?
Don't think so; though I wouldn't say it was an absolute.
Ferry crossings were also part of the deal iirc Sealink ferries

Edited by Grey_Area on Thursday 26th June 18:59

LotusOmega375D

8,651 posts

167 months

Yesterday (18:54)
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Possibly near a railway station?
Did they have Ibis hotels back then? biggrin

shirt

24,248 posts

215 months

Yesterday (19:09)
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Grey_Area said:
The hotel was quite large
bear in mind that you were a lot smaller then biggrin

do you recall anything nearby that might help narrow it down?

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (19:16)
quotequote all
shirt said:
Grey_Area said:
The hotel was quite large
bear in mind that you were a lot smaller then biggrin chuckles;

do you recall anything nearby that might help narrow it down?
I remember it had a large staircase inside, going up to another floor and having our dinner there, relevant as I'd not known any other of my childhood friends to be eating Poussin..whole small chickens
Nothing unfortunately relevant... palm trees but I'd guess they were everywhere..

Edited by Grey_Area on Thursday 26th June 19:21

Simpo Two

88,903 posts

279 months

Yesterday (20:03)
quotequote all
Grey_Area said:
Simpo Two said:
Possibly near a railway station?
Don't think so; though I wouldn't say it was an absolute.
Ferry crossings were also part of the deal iirc Sealink ferries
That's a good point - hunt near the ferry terminal too. Of course the hotel may not exist any more.

paddy1970

1,099 posts

123 months

Yesterday (20:06)
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It could be the Hotel Negresco...another option is the Hotel Westminster

Grey_Area

Original Poster:

4,226 posts

267 months

Yesterday (20:32)
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Good choices, I'll have to go explore their history and see if I can get a match.

Thank you