Gin palace
Encyclopedia
A gin palace is an English
name originally for a lavish bar selling gin
, later transferred by association to late Victorian
pubs designed in a similar style.
In the 18th century, gin shops or 'dram shops' were just small shops (often originally chemist's shops
as gin originally had medicinal associations) that sold gin mostly to take away, or to drink standing up. As the legislation changed establishments generally became larger; they also had to be licensed and sell ale
or wine
. In the late 1820s the first 'Gin Palaces' were built, Thompson and Fearon's in Holborn
and Weller's in Old Street
, London
. They were based on the new fashionable shops being built at the time, fitted out at great expense and lit by gas lights. They were thought to be vulgar at the time, although hugely popular. Charles Dickens
described them as "perfectly dazzling when contrasted with the darkness and dirt we have just left…" in his Sketches by Boz
.
The design hugely influenced all aspects of the design of later Victorian pubs
, even after gin had declined in importance as a drink; the bar in pubs is based on the shop counter of the gin palace, designed for swift service and ideal for attaching beer pumps; the ornate mirrors and etched glass of the late 19th century. The term has survived for any pub in the late 19th century style; as this was the peak of pub building in Britain the style has become associated with the pub, even though none of the original gin palaces survive.
Well preserved examples of the late 19th century style include the Princess Louise
in Holborn and the Philharmonic Dining Rooms
in Liverpool
.
, such as a motor yacht or luxury yacht
, typically moored in a marina
and fitted with a sun deck used for outdoor entertaining and leisure, normally involving alcoholic drinks http://www.pensions-management.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2234/Is_a_gin_palace_ideal_for_Sipping_.html http://www.thisisbournemouth.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1161823.0.yachts_going_on.php?s=s.
was referred to as the "Gin Palace" in the Royal Navy
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
name originally for a lavish bar selling gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
, later transferred by association to late Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
pubs designed in a similar style.
In the 18th century, gin shops or 'dram shops' were just small shops (often originally chemist's shops
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
as gin originally had medicinal associations) that sold gin mostly to take away, or to drink standing up. As the legislation changed establishments generally became larger; they also had to be licensed and sell ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
or wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. In the late 1820s the first 'Gin Palaces' were built, Thompson and Fearon's in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
and Weller's in Old Street
Old Street
Old Street is a street in east London that runs west to east from Goswell Road in Clerkenwell, in the London Borough of Islington, to the crossroads where it intersects with Shoreditch High Street , Kingsland Road and Hackney Road in Shoreditch in the London Borough of Hackney.The nearest...
, 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...
. They were based on the new fashionable shops being built at the time, fitted out at great expense and lit by gas lights. They were thought to be vulgar at the time, although hugely popular. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
described them as "perfectly dazzling when contrasted with the darkness and dirt we have just left…" in his Sketches by Boz
Sketches by Boz
Sketches by "Boz," Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People is a collection of short pieces published by Charles Dickens in 1836 accompanied by illustrations by George Cruikshank. The 56 sketches concern London scenes and people and are divided into four sections: "Our Parish",...
.
The design hugely influenced all aspects of the design of later Victorian pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, even after gin had declined in importance as a drink; the bar in pubs is based on the shop counter of the gin palace, designed for swift service and ideal for attaching beer pumps; the ornate mirrors and etched glass of the late 19th century. The term has survived for any pub in the late 19th century style; as this was the peak of pub building in Britain the style has become associated with the pub, even though none of the original gin palaces survive.
Well preserved examples of the late 19th century style include the Princess Louise
Princess Louise (pub)
The Princess Louise is a historic public house on High Holborn in London which is famous for its remarkable interior, with its wood panelling and series of 'booths' around an island bar. It is a tied house, being owned by the Samuel Smith Brewery of Tadcaster in Yorkshire. The building is protected...
in Holborn and the Philharmonic Dining Rooms
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms is the name of a public house at the corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, and stands diagonally opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. It is commonly known as The Phil...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
Pleasure boats
In the 20th century, the term "gin palace" came to be used for large ostentatious pleasure craftPleasure craft
A pleasure craft is a boat used for personal, family, and sometimes sportsmanlike recreation. Typically such watercraft are motorized and are used for holidays, for example on a river, lake, canal or waterway. Pleasure craft are normally kept at a marina...
, such as a motor yacht or luxury yacht
Luxury yacht
The term luxury yacht, “Superyacht” and "Large Yacht" refers to very expensive, privately owned yachts which are professionally crewed. Also known as a Super Yacht, a luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht.-History:...
, typically moored in a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
and fitted with a sun deck used for outdoor entertaining and leisure, normally involving alcoholic drinks http://www.pensions-management.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2234/Is_a_gin_palace_ideal_for_Sipping_.html http://www.thisisbournemouth.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1161823.0.yachts_going_on.php?s=s.
Warships
Because of her luxurious fittings and a corruption of her name ("A Gin Court"), the 1913 battleship HMS AgincourtHMS Agincourt (1913)
HMS Agincourt was a dreadnought built in the early 1910s. The ship was originally ordered by Brazil, but the collapse of the rubber boom plus a lessening of the rivalry with Argentina led to her resale while still under construction to the Ottoman Empire who renamed her as Sultan Osman I...
was referred to as the "Gin Palace" in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.