The Room
The building where the Room is located used to be the Old Council Chambers built in 1912. The small balcony at the front above the main door is where announcements were made in the past. People gathered in the square to hear news of a new King or Queen and election results.
Eventually the council moved to Moorburn house. Later it became McKays Tearoom, then Nicolsons Tearooms in the 1940's, then the Melmore restaurant. during this period a Youth Group was ran from the upstairs room. In 1967 George Shek purchased the Melmore and opened the Marpao Chinese restaurant. Later it became the Sea Dragon Restaurant. In the early 1990 it housed Harpoon Harrys Bar then Flannigans in 1994 ,then the Townhouse and eventually The Room Bar and Restaurant.
The Old Town Council Chambers built in 1912
When Largs had a sit in Chinese Restaurant. Locals used to say you would never see a pigeon near the Sea Dragon Restaurant. Wonder why?
Flannigans Bar prior to it becoming The Room.
The poplular Room Bar and Restuarant Today.
The Queens Hotel
Until recently the bar at the Queens Hotel was popular for a quick refreshment during the interval at a Barrfields production. Also popular for a cold pint in the summer sitting out the front taking in the lovely views. Sadly the hotel is now closed awaiting development into flats.The Queens Hotel building was originally a private residence called South Kirklands and was in fact two semidetached houses. It was built sometime prior to 1855. One house had an entrance facing Greenock Road which is now the hotel entrance. The other house had an entrance on Brisbane Street which can still be seen today. It once had a curling pond.
The Queens Hotel has been based on Largs seafront since the 1940s. The hotel offered 14 rooms, of which 12 were en-suite, and two family rooms with private bathrooms. In the 1970s the Scotland football team would regularly stay at Hotel before matches. During one visit in 1974 Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone went for a row on a boat at Largs seafront and ended up out at sea and had to be rescued by the local lifeboat. This story is well known and is famous in Scottish football folklore.In July 2018 the Hotel was suddenly closed. Plans to demolish the building and build flats appeared to have stalled.
Flannigans Bar prior to it becoming The Room.
The poplular Room Bar and Restuarant Today.
Hi folks we are now at the end of our feature on the pubs of Largs. There are a few bars we have missed out mainly The Marine and Curlinghall Hotel bar and the Lounge on the Main Street.
We have already covered these bars in other articles on our site. Check them out. The Marine and Curlinghall feature is part of our historical walk from Bath Street to the pencil. The lounge is covered in our Main street walk. Enjoy.