Grand Café, 22-24-26 Princes Buildings, Oxford Street, Manchester

A MANCHESTER INNOVATION - It has repeatedly been a reproach to Manchester that it has been behind hand in modern cafes, and that, in this respect the neighbouring town of Liverpool has been far ahead of us. The last year or two, however, has seen the opening in this city of many fine establishments of this character, but the latest and in some respects the most up-to-date is the Grand Café, Oxford Street, which opened its doors to the public on Thursday last. It has been conceived and carried out on the lines of some of the most famous Continental cafes. The beauty of the exterior is only rivalled by the delicacy with which the interior fittings and decorations have been executed. Both are the work of Mr T Arnold Ashworth, the well-known Liverpool architect who specialises in this class of work, and who is responsible for some of the finest cafes in the Kingdom. The chief feature of the café is its lightness of tone and the skilful manner in which the decorations and fittings are blended so as to form a harmonious whole, both pleasing and restful to the eye. The front of the Café, which has attracted a great deal of attention since completion, is in the “Adam’s” style, and, on account of is oak carvings and brilliantly cut glass, is a centre of great attention in Oxford Street. The fine entrance and oak vestibule are also richly carved and when lighted up at night the Café makes a very brilliant and effective spectacle. The premises consist of a large room on the ground floor and a first-class smoke-room in the basement. The former is fitted with all the comforts and conveniences of a café of this class, but its principal feature is an American Soda Fountain of Mexican onyx, surrounded by a magnificent hand-carved oak buffet. The Fountain, which is claimed to be the finest of its kind in Great Britain, can supply over 100 different varieties of iced fruit and other drinks. It is fitted with a AConsol@ aerator, which is in itself a complete mineral water manufactory. The soda water, which is the basis of most of the drinks, is produced fresh and sparking every time the lever governing the aerator is turned. At the far end of the café is a raised balcony, backed by richly ornamented windows. The balcony is luxuriously carpeted, and will no doubt become the rendezvous of ladies taking afternoon tea and listening to the strains of the excellent band provided by the Company. Although there is a special smoking room in the basement, smoking is permitted on the ground floor, except on the balcony, which is reserved for non-smokers and ladies. In the smoke-room proper all the daily and illustrated papers are provided; also such games as chess, draughts and dominoes. Its agreeably striking feature is its freshness and freedom from tobacco fumes, which, unfortunately, is the general accompaniment of basement rooms in which a number of persons are smoking. To keep the air sweet and wholesome, the Company have installed a powerful electric blower, which carries off the smoke and brings at the same time a constant flow of fresh air into the room. The Café has a much more extensive tariff than others of its kind, and considering its advantages, the moderate charges of the tariff are surprising. If good music, refreshments of the highest quality, smart service and attractive surroundings can command success, the Grand Café should have an excellent future before it. The café is under the capable management of Mr Francis Girelli and is open until 11 pm, a fact which will commend itself to theatre goers as well as those members of the public who find some difficulty in obtaining light suppers and refreshments late in the evening. The Café is situated a few doors from the Prince’s Theatre and has a frontage of 50 feet to Oxford Street. [Manchester Guardian 28 August 1909 page 7]