All White

Its hard not to show Cheltenham's Regency buildings every day. There are so many and they are a big part of the town. This one is quite typical in design and style - four floors, a wrought iron balcony, stones stairs leading to the imposing front door, simple architectural details, crisp white paint. This one also has the benefit of facing onto Imperial Gardens, behind the Town Hall, and is in one of Cheltenham's best locations.

Looking Down

A view from the balcony of Pitville Pump looking down onto the dance floor.

New Discovery

Having lived in Cheltenham all my life (exciting, I know!) and having featured the Pitville Pump Room here several times before, I realised I'd never actually been inside! So yesterday I took a little photo trip. Its fantastic inside, though a little eerie as there were no staff to be seen (I think they were all having their lunch!) The primary purpose of the Pump Room is as a venue for music performances, parties, conferences and weddings. The main room is surrounded by a balcony and topped by a fantastic dome. There are so many wonderful features to photograph and the afternoon light showed the place at its best. It was a real treat. Here are two of my favourite photos, but there will be more to come.

Ornate Echoings

So there I was on Saturday, sitting in the hairdressers having my hair cut, while nursing a hangover from hell, and through bleary eyes I spotted this view out of the window. Divine inspiration struck. A photo opportunity and I had my camera with me! Here is the result. The ornate iron work that surrounds the window balcony echoing the ornate roof of Costa Coffee. I love it when a plan comes together.

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Chemistry

Forget the green cross that indicates a chemist or pharmacy, this is how it was done in the past. This pestle and mortar on Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, show you where to find The Spa Pharmacy. The chemist was established in 1838 so I presume that this must be quite an old symbol. I don't think I've ever seen one like this before, how about you?

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Black And White

Late post today due to a late night and hangover! Its bank holiday Monday in the UK today so last night we had some friends over for a few drinks, which turned into a lot of drinks! I was planning to show Tewkesbury Food Festival but couldn't stomach it, it'll have to wait until tomorrow! Instead here is a nice simple building.
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Now And Then

Cheltenham is a town with lots of heritage, and lots of old buildings. Luckily for us most of them are protected, they have been enjoyed for hundreds of years and will be enjoyed for hundreds more. The old buildings in the heart of town are used as shops, bars and restaurants and their present occupiers have to work around the historic features. This Cult Clothing shop, on Clarence Street, is at the cutting edge of fashion and has a sign to match, but it fits in well with the iron railings of the balcony on the 18th century building. I really like the contrast.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment about my Sky Watch Friday photo, its greatly appreciated. I had a good few days in 'The North' but its cold up there!

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A Pizza Church

Last night Phoebe and I went to one of our favourite restaurants for something to eat, to celebrate the start of our week off of work (Yay!) This is Zizzi's, an Italian restaurant now taking up residence in a former church, which the new owners restored the interior of, keeping nearly all of the original features of this fantastic Gothic Revival style building. The top photo shows the open kitchen, with pizza oven, in the area that was once the altar. As you can see, the place is beautifully lit at night which enhances all of the stone work. The photo below shows the balcony, which is where you'll find the bar. Last night there was someone playing the piano, you can see the lid of the grand piano in the bottom of the photo. Hopefully you'll be able to make out the wooden ceiling with its carved features. If you want to see the outside of the building then check out a previous post here.

Both of these photos were taken with my camera phone, hence the quality.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Master Baker

This baker stands on the balcony above the entrance to Maison Chaplais. The shop calls itself a Fine Food and Lifestyle shop, selling breads, chutneys, coffee and other...well...fine foods! It also has a cafe inside, serving homemade food. I've not been inside (it all looks a bit expensive) but it seemed to be doing a roaring trade, which is not surprising as it's in a prime location, on Andover Road, just out of the town centre, in the Tivoli shopping area. This large baker certainly beats the Little Chef!

More Like It

This is more like it! This is the kind of building that Cheltenham is known for, unlike the apartments in yesterdays post. This Regency terrace is on the upmarket Suffolk Square, just on the edge of the town centre. When they were first built in the 1800's this terrace would have been individual grand houses, but now the majority are divided into flats. I wouldn't mind one with a wrought iron balcony.

Have a good weekend one and all!

Millennium Plaza

These rather funky, urban looking apartments have just been built on the corner of Portland Street and Albion Street, right on the Inner Ring Road. To my mind its not the best place to live in Cheltenham but I bet there are good views from the balconies and more so the Penthouse. One of the apartments in this development is rented out as an hotel room, which is very odd in a residential building. Well it is round here. This new build sits on the sit of a former restaurant that was doomed from the start. The Millennium Restaurant was a space-age themed diner, and the building stood out like a sore thumb. It was built at the end of the 90's and it had a huge roof that was pitched like a birds wings in mid flight. I wish I had a picture to show you! The place only lasted a couple of years and sat empty for much of the start of the new millennium before being demolished last year. I don't think Regency Cheltenham was quite ready for the New Millennium!