Grants of Croydon is an entertainment complex at 14–32 High Street, Croydon, London. Originally built in 1894, Grants became a Grade II listed building in 1990.[1] In 2000 Grants was re-developed into an entertainment centre. It was bought by Scottish Widows in early 2010.
The two Grant brothers originally had a tailor's shop across the road. Business boomed so the brothers bought out the surrounding shops opposite and opened Grants department store. During the First World War years Grants was considered the Harrods of its generation. Croydon was home to the first UK international airport and the store provided all the uniforms for the Royal Air Force[citation needed]. Grants was visited by swarms of French aristocrats who flew into Croydon simply to buy a suit. It was the first store in the UK to have its own generator supplied electricity.
The Royal Family were also frequent visitors to Grants and on occasion the Queen would also come to the store.[2]
After the Second World War times were hard and the store's clothes were considered over-priced. Business became increasingly difficult, and eventually, by the 1980s, stiff competition forced Grants out of business. The store closed its doors in 1985 and remained empty until 2000.
Reconstructionedit
Developers Richardsons tasked architects Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum with the challenge of redeveloping the listed building to its former glory by restoring the original Queen Anne style façade. The restoration include repair of the stained glass windows, the stonework, the cornices, the window trims and a turret with a flagpole. The windows of the building are etched as they were in Victorian times, with descriptions of the goods that Grants used to sell, such as 'haberdashery' and 'silks'.
Current tenantsedit
Although the exterior has been restored to its former glory, the environment inside is very different. The tenants are:
Reflex, an 80's Bar is now called Luna - Now Closed down
Lloyd's Milan Bar, part of the J D Wetherspoon chain. Opened on 9 December 2002.- Now closed down
Tiger Tiger, a night club. Has several different themed rooms and a restaurant. Closed in 2015 and this is now a branch of the Turtle Bay restaurant chain.
Nuffield Health, a health club and gym.
Vue Cinema, is situated on the top three floors of Grants. It has ten screens, including a RealD Cinema screen.
grants, croydon, entertainment, complex, high, street, croydon, london, originally, built, 1894, grants, became, grade, listed, building, 1990, 2000, grants, developed, into, entertainment, centre, bought, scottish, widows, early, 2010, view, grants, from, par. Grants of Croydon is an entertainment complex at 14 32 High Street Croydon London Originally built in 1894 Grants became a Grade II listed building in 1990 1 In 2000 Grants was re developed into an entertainment centre It was bought by Scottish Widows in early 2010 Grants of CroydonView of Grants from Park StreetHistoryOpened1895Closed1985Re Opened2002InformationOwned byScottish WidowsManaged byJones Lang LaSalleProtected bySecuritasNumber of tenants6 Contents 1 Department store 2 Reconstruction 3 Current tenants 4 References 5 External linksDepartment store editThe two Grant brothers originally had a tailor s shop across the road Business boomed so the brothers bought out the surrounding shops opposite and opened Grants department store During the First World War years Grants was considered the Harrods of its generation Croydon was home to the first UK international airport and the store provided all the uniforms for the Royal Air Force citation needed Grants was visited by swarms of French aristocrats who flew into Croydon simply to buy a suit It was the first store in the UK to have its own generator supplied electricity The Royal Family were also frequent visitors to Grants and on occasion the Queen would also come to the store 2 After the Second World War times were hard and the store s clothes were considered over priced Business became increasingly difficult and eventually by the 1980s stiff competition forced Grants out of business The store closed its doors in 1985 and remained empty until 2000 Reconstruction editDevelopers Richardsons tasked architects Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum with the challenge of redeveloping the listed building to its former glory by restoring the original Queen Anne style facade The restoration include repair of the stained glass windows the stonework the cornices the window trims and a turret with a flagpole The windows of the building are etched as they were in Victorian times with descriptions of the goods that Grants used to sell such as haberdashery and silks Current tenants editAlthough the exterior has been restored to its former glory the environment inside is very different The tenants are Nando s a casual dining restaurant Reflex an 80 s Bar is now called Luna Now Closed down Lloyd s Milan Bar part of the J D Wetherspoon chain Opened on 9 December 2002 Now closed down Tiger Tiger a night club Has several different themed rooms and a restaurant Closed in 2015 and this is now a branch of the Turtle Bay restaurant chain Nuffield Health a health club and gym Vue Cinema is situated on the top three floors of Grants It has ten screens including a RealD Cinema screen References edit Croydon local listed buildings list Photographs of at least one visit are displayed in the complex External links editGrants website Nando s Reflex Milan Bar Tiger Tiger Virgin Active Vue Cinema permanent dead link 51 22 23 N 0 6 2 W 51 37306 N 0 10056 W 51 37306 0 10056 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grants of Croydon amp oldid 1147205613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
