The Metropole Hotel
The Musgrave brothers established their family business as provision merchants in 1876, at first selling only tea but quickly moving into other foodstuffs. In 1897 they established the Metropole Hotel, which was designed to the highest standards of modernity by architect Arthur Hill … it even had the first electric lift in Cork city! The hotel occupied the upper floors while four retail premises stood at each side of the main entrance.
Old photographs show a number of businesses occupying these retail units. The Musgraves had a shop to the left of the main door. To their left early shops included Correll’s Ladies’ Outfitters and David Breton Jeweller. In 1903, the Esther and Harutun Batmazian established Hadji Bey et Cie in the shop to the left of the Musgraves. They introduced Turkish Delight to Cork city, and sold their beautifully packaged products at Harrod’s in London and Bloomingdales in New York. The name of one of the original shops, Lawson and Co. Outfitters, can still be seen on the front of the building today. They supplied the uniforms for both Christian and Presentation Brothers’ schools and the rugby kit for the Irish team. At the turn of the 19th century, the shop to the right of Lawson’s was occupied by The Newmarket Dairy.
At first the hotel was somewhat smaller, and a one storey provision merchant shop, Scott, Harley & Co. Stores, stood on the corner of Harley Street. In 1910 an extensive fire destroyed much of the hotel and at this time it was extended to Harley Street and the picturesque turret was added, which includes the monogram TM & SM for Thomas and Stuart Musgrave.
The hotel was Ireland’s first ‘non-licensed’ premises, meaning it did not serve alcohol. It was frequented mainly by travelling salesmen, many of whom worked for the Musgrave family, who were keen that their salesmen were clear headed and sober. The hotel remained unlicensed until 1956, and before this time, those who were holding functions in the hotel had to arrange to have the alcohol supplied by a local publican. In 1956 the general manager of the hotel, Douglas Vance, persuaded the reluctant Musgrave family to allow the hotel to obtain a license to serve alcohol.
As home to Cork Jazz Festival, founded in 1978, The Metropole has hosted a glittering line up of musicians, and thanks to the Cork International Film Festival, an equally amazing line up of stars. ‘The Met’, as it is locally known, has been an important part of the social life of the street for 127 years.
