Bristol Hotel

• 1909
• 127-129 Cuba Street, two shops, showroom and storeroom (00053:149:8293) Hotel Bristol and 127-190 shops: 8293 - construction
• 1926
• 127-129 Cuba Street, shop front alterations (00056:15:B1447)
• 1928
• 127-129 Cuba Street, shop front alterations (00056:63:B6091)
• 1931
• B10873 - new verandah
• 1931
• B11303 - dangerous goods store
• 1932
• 127-129 Cuba Street, building alterations (00056:130:B11825)
• 1933
• B12321 - alterations and renovations
• 1933
• B12780- reinstate fire damage
• 1949
• B28734 - fire escapes
• 1953
• 127-129 Cuba Street, shop front alterations (00056:469:B35496)
• 1954
• 127-129 Cuba Street, Verandah (00056:477:B35977)
• 1954
• B35977 - new verandah 1954
• 1956
• 127-129 Cuba Street, shop front (00056:549:B40363)
• 1958
• 127-129 Cuba Street, building alterations (00058:73:C3632)
• 1964
• C14811 - internal alterations
• 1966
• 127-129 Cuba Street, building alterations – shop (00058:437:C18728)
• 1967
• 127-129 Cuba Street, building alterations – shop (00058:511:C22049)
• 1967
• 127-129 Cuba Street, building alterations – shop (00058:515:C22195)
• 1980
• 127-129 Cuba Street, alter kitchen 2nd floor (00058:1256:C53344)
• 1995
• SR12467 - seismic strengthening
• 1995
• SR14006 - convert to bar

• 1910 - 1962
• Hotel Bristol (Stones1910-11, 1915-16, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises1950-51, 1955.). Called London Chambers in Wises1961-62 and tenanted by various small businesses (same for shops on Cuba St).
• 1961 - 1972
• Gurney Electrical Company Ltd (Wises1961-62, 1967-68, 1971-72),
• 1971 - 1975
• He & She Fashions Ltd (Wises1971-2, 1975),
• 1971 - 1980
• Catts-Patterson, photographic studio (Wises1971-72, 1980),
• 1980 - 1990
• Anna Louise Fashions Ltd (Wises1980, not listed 1985 or 1990.
• unknown
• Shops on Cuba St St (127-131):
• 1910 - 1920
• 127 John Farquhar, boot importer (Stones1910-11, 1915-16, 1920)
• 1935 - 1940
• The Hat Box, milliners (Stones1935,1940)
• 1945 - 1962
• Joyce Frocks & Graceline Lingerie (Stones1945, Wises1950-51, 1955, 1961-62)
• 1910 - 1925
• 129: Joseph Shand, bookseller (Stones1910-11, 1915-16, 1920, 1925)
• 1935 - 1962
• Halse Home Furnishing (Stones1935, 1940, 1945, Wises1950-51, 1955, 1961-62)
• 1910 - 1916
• 131: Gardiner & Hardie, herbalists (Stones1910-11, 1915-16)
• 1920 - 1925
• Marble Bar Ltd, refreshment caterers (Stones1920, 1925)
• 1930
• Bruce Adams, cake specialist (Stones1930)
• 1935
• Burlington Ltd, tea rooms (Stones1935)
• 1940 - 1962
• Sims Hardware (Stones1940, 1945, Wises1950-51, 1955, 1961-62)
• 1982
• 133: this was demolished in 1982.
• unknown
• The hotel was also tenanted by an number of small businesses on the Cuba Street from c.1961-62. Tenants include:
• 1961 - 1962
• Ninon Modes Ltd, women's fashion (Wises1961-62),
• 1961 - 1962
• Winkler & Eisenhofer, architects (Wises1961-62),
• 1967 - 1968
• Slumber Centre, bedding specialists (Wises1967-68)
• 1961 - 1975
• Mayfair Salon, frock specialists ( (Wises1961-62, 1967-68, 1971-72, 1975),
• 1975 - 1990
• New Zealand Theatre Federation (Wises1975, 1980, 1985, 1990),
• 1980 - 1990
• Chicago Man Shop (Wises1980, 1985, 1990)

Not assessed

The building known as the Hotel Bristol is an Edwardian Classical commercial building. It is a three storey building with shops at the ground floor and small offices above. The façade is symmetrical and strongly moulded, but not overly elaborate, particularly in comparison to neighbouring buildings. Wide window bays on the first floor allow plenty of daylight into the (former) dining room and sitting room beyond. On the second floor, six double hung flat headed windows are recessed into slender aedicules, with a prominent keystone above. A central balcony on the second floor is supported on heavy consoles. A segmented pediment caps the building; the name “Hotel Bristol” and a crest have been moulded into the centre. The sound, unpretentious façade contributes to the character of the middle Cuba Street precinct.

The construction is in load bearing brick masonry on concrete foundations, with concrete floors supported by iron columns and steel joists, and timber roof trusses and a malthoid roof.

The modern timber balustrade to the third floor balcony is a disparate modern intervention that is out of keeping with the formal pretensions of this grand Classical building.

Load Bearing Brick Masonry

Concrete foundations

Concrete floors

Iron Columns

Steel joists

Timber roof trusses

Malthoid roof

This building forms a coherent visual link to its more flamboyant immediate neighbour, the Barber’s Building. The façade and scale of the building contribute positively to the streetscape of Cuba Street. This building is sited in the Cuba Street Heritage Area and makes a positive contribution to the significant collection of heritage buildings that form the Cuba Street Heritage Area. The scale, materials and style of this building contribute to the townscape of Cuba Street.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  This building, now known as the Hotel Bristol, is of architectural value as a good representative example of Edwardian Classicism. It is notable for its well-proportioned and carefully composed Classical street facade.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  This building is sited in the Cuba Street Heritage Area and makes a positive contribution to the significant collection of heritage buildings that form the Cuba Street Heritage Area. It can be read as one of a pair of buildings that have common cornice lines, floor levels, and deeply modelled facades with the Barber’s Building.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  This building has significant townscape value for the visual interest that it adds to the Cuba Streetscape and as a part of the Cuba Street Heritage Area. It is a good example of an Edwardian commercial building and contributes to the scale and ambience of the area.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

  The building has historic value for its association with the strong growth and development of Cuba Street during the Edwardian period, which resulted in the building of many fine commercial buildings.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  This building is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R2/270, is in an area known to have had pre 1900 human activity, and known to have sites of significance to Maori. The likelihood of archaeological materials being present is likely.

• Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  This building is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  The exterior of this building retains significant amounts of original material and has had few modifications that impact upon it negatively, the interiors have been modified several times do are of less value. This building has authenticity and integrity, of materials, design, workmanship, and setting.

• Local Regonal National International

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  This building is of local importance for its contribution to the Cuba Street Heritage Area. It is a representative building that retains economic and functional uses as well as retaining a significant amount of original material and authenticity.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  This building is a good representative example of an Edwardian Classical commercial building

Not assessed

• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray. Cuba Street Heritage Area Report. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Wellington City Council. Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (blocks 1-3). Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.

• Inventory Record
• 1908 plans
• 1932 plans
• 1958 plans
• 1967 plans
• 1979 plans
• 1995 plans

Not available