201, Western Road, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 28 Mar 2016

Located on the western side of the entrance to Image it was rebuilt in 1936 one of the last along with neighbouring 200, see Image, as part of the Western Road road widening scheme. Originally an office for Smithers & Sons North Street Brewery which was originally located between Western Road and what was then North Street but is now Dyke road. The brewery was demolished in 1923 and Imperial Arcade constructed on its former site. The former office was also converted into a shop occupied by men’s outfitters Meakers who would move to 202, see Image, when it was demolished. After the rebuild the store became a branch of Timothy Whites who had merged with Taylors in 1935 who had previously occupied number 200. Timothy Whites would be acquired by Boots in 1968 who converted the shop into a branch the following year then move out when their new store was completed at Image at the end of the 1970s. Another national chain took over, Ravel, who operated here until they moved to the newly refurbished Churchill Square at the end of the 1990s. Since 1999 it has been a branch of Starbucks. Old images Brewery office, c.1890 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_104.html Shop, 1934 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_109.html 1850-1923 - BREWERS (Smithers & Sons) 1926-1936 - OUTFITTERS (Meakers) REBUILT 1936-1979 - CHEMISTS (Timothy Whites 1936-69, Boots 1970-79) 1981-1998 - SHOE SHOP (Ravel) 1999-2016 - CAFE (Starbucks)

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