Royal Arcade, London

Entrance at Albemarle Street
Entrance at Old Bond Street
Interior

The Royal Arcade in London is an indoor covered shopping arcade that runs from 12 Albemarle Street to 28 Old Bond Street, with entrances at either end. It is Grade II listed.[1]

History

The Arcade was constructed in 1879, connects Old Bond Street with Albemarle Street in London's Mayfair, and is the city’s oldest purpose-built shopping arcade.

Development of an arcade in the area was originally proposed in 1864 as a longer link between Old Bond Street and Regent Street, but was rejected due to the scale of proposed demolition and restriction of access to existing properties. A subsequent redesigned proposal was submitted to its current layout, with the arcade as it appears today opening in 1879 and replacing the Clarendon Hotel, which had been demolished in 1870.

With its saddled glass roof, richly decorated stucco arches, curved glass window bays and Ionic columns, the arcade has changed little in the intervening 138 years and retains all its original features, making it a rare original Victorian arcade.

As is evident from the highly decorative stucco facades at either end, it was originally called The Arcade. It acquired its royal prefix when shirtmaker H. W. Brettell was patronised by Queen Victoria in the early 1880s. William Hodgson Brettell opened his shirtmakers in The Arcade in 1880 (aged 24) and occupied number 12, where Ormonde Jayne Perfumers are based today.

Edward Goodyear, another original Royal Warrant holder and still in business today, was forced to relocate after being bombed out during The Blitz in 1940.

The Royal Arcade continues its reputation for luxury retail, with the current tenants providing a mix of world-renowned brands and one-off independents. The royal connection is also still in place, as Charbonnel Et Walker, located at Nos 1 & 2, hold the Royal Warrant as chocolatiers to Her Majesty The Queen.

The Royal Arcade has been used as a location for TV and film, including The Parent Trap (1998), Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008), Balletboyz (2013) for Channel 4 and in 2016 Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. Parts of Agatha Christie’s Poirot episode The Theft of the Royal Ruby were also filmed there.

Royal Arcade during night

Shops in 2017

  • Charbonnel et Walker, 1&2
  • Simon Griffen Antiques, 3
  • Watch Club, 4&5
  • EB Meyrowitz Optician, 6
  • Calleija Jewellery, 7
  • Camper, 8-10
  • Cartujano, 11
  • Ormonde Jayne, 12
  • George Cleverley, 13
  • Beards Jewellers, 14
  • Erskine, Hall & Coe, 15

References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Royal Arcade (1266365)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2016.

Coordinates: 51°30′32″N 0°08′29″W / 51.5090°N 0.1415°W / 51.5090; -0.1415

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