Christopher Pond
Encyclopedia
Christopher Pond was a British caterer and hotelier.
Christopher Pond was born in Essex
in 1826. While looking to seek his fortune in Australia he met Felix William Spiers
, and the pair rented a room at the Melbourne
National Hotel in which they created their first restaurant called "The Shakespeare Grill Room", catering for gold miners
. They then created the Café de Paris
in Melbourne
, before moving into railway catering for the gold miners' Melbourne-Ballarat Railway during the 1850s.
Spiers & Pond organised the first tour of a national English cricket team
to Australia during 1861/2,and were involved with the first balloon flight in Australia.
Returning to England, they pioneered railway catering to the UK, introducing it on the Metropolitan Railway
and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
. They also created the Criterion restaurant and theatre
in Piccadilly
, London
.
Although he lived at Herne Hill
, Pond died in Margate on 30 July 1881. He is buried in West Norwood Cemetery
where his elaborate mausoleum is listed as Grade II.
Spiers and Pond's business continued successfully until 1957, owning a dozen restaurants including the Gaiety Theatre
Restaurant in The Strand
, the Grand Hotel, Brighton, catering at the Regents Park Zoo and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
and a monthly mail order catering catalogue.
Christopher Pond was born in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1826. While looking to seek his fortune in Australia he met Felix William Spiers
Felix William Spiers
Felix William Spiers was a British restaurateur and hotelier.Spiers' family originated in Glasgow, Scotland in the very early 18th century. One of the family moved to France, where he dealt in tobacco. Later family members were born in Calais, Dunkerque, Boulogne, France and in England...
, and the pair rented a room at the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
National Hotel in which they created their first restaurant called "The Shakespeare Grill Room", catering for gold miners
Australian gold rushes
The Australian gold rush started in 1851 when prospector Edward Hammond Hargraves claimed the discovery of payable gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, at a site Edward Hargraves called Ophir.Eight months later, gold was found in Victoria...
. They then created the Café de Paris
Café de Paris
-Establishments:*Café de Paris , West End-Leicester Square-Piccadilly nightclub which, since opening in 1924, has featured Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Gold, Maxine Cooper Gomberg, Ambrose, Harry Roy, Ken "Snakeships" Johnson and many others...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, before moving into railway catering for the gold miners' Melbourne-Ballarat Railway during the 1850s.
Spiers & Pond organised the first tour of a national English cricket team
English cricket team in Australia in 1861-62
An England cricket team toured Australia in 1861–62. This was the first-ever tour of Australia by any overseas team and the second tour abroad by an English team, following the one to North America in 1859.-Organisers:...
to Australia during 1861/2,and were involved with the first balloon flight in Australia.
Returning to England, they pioneered railway catering to the UK, introducing it on the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
. They also created the Criterion restaurant and theatre
Criterion Theatre
The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has an official capacity of 588.-Building the theatre:...
in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Although he lived at Herne Hill
Herne Hill
Herne Hill is located in the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Southwark in Greater London. There is a road of the same name which continues the A215 north of Norwood Road and was called Herne Hill Road.-History:...
, Pond died in Margate on 30 July 1881. He is buried in West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
where his elaborate mausoleum is listed as Grade II.
Spiers and Pond's business continued successfully until 1957, owning a dozen restaurants including the Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre
The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre on South King Street in Dublin, Ireland, off Grafton Street and close to St. Stephen's Green. It specialises in operatic and musical productions, with occasional dramatic shows.-History:Designed by architect C.J...
Restaurant in The Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, the Grand Hotel, Brighton, catering at the Regents Park Zoo and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
and a monthly mail order catering catalogue.