Notable Buildings

The former Royal Hotel, 5 High Street, Long Eaton

This story starts in 1829 when a dwelling house which was divided into three tenements then in the occupation of John Biddies, Charlotte Austin and John Jowitt, along with the adjoining croft was sold to John Howitt who lived at The Hall, Long Eaton with his brother Henry. The Hall was built by their father, Henry Howitt.

John Howitt demolished the tenement house in 1830 and built a new town house for himself which now forms the basis of the former Royal Hotel. The house had outbuildings, stables and extensive gardens which comprised the land now bounded by West Gate, High Street and by the properties on the north side of Howitt Street. The garden was enclosed by a high brick wall along High Street.

 In 1836 John Howitt emigrated to Canada. His affairs were wound up very quickly and the house was sold to Thomas Clifford, a local farmer for £750. Clifford lived in the house until he died in 1864 after which his executors divided the property, selling the house, outbuildings and part of the garden to William Crane, a Long Eaton tailor, for £512. The rest of the land was sold for the development of Clifford and Howitt Streets. The frontage to High Street was also developed from Clifford Street to just past Howitt Street.

 William Crane sub-divided the property and about 1881 part of the house was occupied by the Long Eaton Coffee House Co Ltd where it opened the St Laurence Coffee House. The Midland Brewery Company then acquired the building about 1888 and had it re-built as the Royal Hotel to the plans of John Sheldon, a Long Eaton architect. The plans incorporated much of the original house of 1830 and part of this can still be seen on the Clifford Street elevation.

 In more recent times the Royal Hotel has undergone many changes of name and fortune. Many will remember it as the Bernie Inn steak house. In 2013 the building was completely renovated and converted to flats called Westgate Apartments. The frontage of the ground floor to High Street was converted to commercial use and at the time of writing (2021), the shops are operated as beauty salons.