The Royal Arcade
Built in 1879, this Arcade is smaller than the Burlington Arcade and connects 28 Old Bond Street with 12 Albemarle Street. This elegant, Victorian space houses retail outlets selling fine silverware, art, bespoke shoes and chocolate.
As can be seen from the original signage below, the arcade was originally titled “The Arcade”, but after the shirtmaker H.W. Brettell was patronised by Queen Victoria, the arcade was renamed as the Royal Arcade. William Hodgson Brettell opened his Shirtmakers in the Arcade in 1880 (aged 24) and occupied number 12, which is now in use by Ormonde Jayne.
What shops were in the Arcade in the 1880s?
Looking at business directories[1] from the time, we can see that the following businesses occupied the Arcade:
- 1 The Arcade – Hill & Co (Hairdressers)
- 2 The Arcade – Duclos Alfred (Confectioner)
- 3 The Arcade – Mrs Ellen Turner (Artificial Florist)
- 4-7 The Arcade – Sleight Chas – (Oriental Dealer)
- 8 The Arcade – Durrent Frederick (Heraldic Stationer)
- 10 The Arcade – John Latha, (Boot maker)
- 12 The Arcade – May & Brettell (Shirtmakers)
- 13-14 The Arcade – Pitman & Son (glass stainer/decorator)
- 15 The Arcade – Smith & Sons (Umbrella makers)
- 16 The Arcade – Edward Goodyear (Court Florist)
What shops are in the Royal Arcade now?
- 1-2 Royal Arcade – Charbonnel et Walker – Buy Charbonnel Et Walker Products Online
- 3 Royal Arcade – Simon Griffin Antiques
- 4 Royal Arcade – Royal Arcade Watches
- 5 Royal Arcade – Angela Hale
- 6 Royal Arcade – BM Meyrowits
- 7 Royal Arcade – William Weston
- 8-11 Royal Arcade – Camper Shoes
- 12 Royal Arcade – Ormonde Jayne
- 13 Royal Arcade – George Cleverly Bespoke Shoemakers
- 14 Royal Arcade – Shah Newsagents
- 15 Royal Arcade – Galerie Besson
- 16 Royal Arcade – Petley Fine Art
Who owns the Royal Arcade?
Land Registry documents show that the Royal Arcade’s Freehold is owned by a Natwest-run charitable trust in the name of Reginald M Phillips, who was a Brighton based property developer and philanthropist. He was an award winning stamp collector who donated his collection to the nation. The leasehold for the Arcade is currently owned by Bluston Securities Limited.
