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Ambassadors Hotel

Ambassadors Hotel was situated at 19 Manchester Street and opened in 1927.

By 1920, the property at the corner of Manchester Street and Dundas Street was the site of Ivory's Limited (formerly W. Basset and Co), an importer of agricultural machinery and a nursery. On 2 May 1923, Jones, McCrostie Company Limited auctioned the site for sale. In their advertisement, it was noted that the northeast corner of the site already contained a brick building, while offiers and show rooms faced Manchester Street. The property was not sold and in August 1924, Charles Clark advertised the sale once again. By this time, the property was now adjoined to the south by the newly rebuilt Railway Hotel.

On 3 February 1927, a newly built hotel opened on the site (19 Manchester Street) under the proprietorship of Edith and Thomas Joseph Sleeman. The Sleemans had initially resided at 83 Manchester Street, a property which also contained a cafe. Edith had wanted to operate a boarding house and sought to purchase the private hotel run by Jane Guthrie at 335 Moorhouse Avenue. The Sleemans had planned to take possesion of the hotel by 1 February 1925 but the deal fell through.

By January 1926, the Italian Fine Art Gallery had opened in the property at 83 Manchester Street. However, in an article dated to October, the Sleemans were listed as residing in the property when Thomas was sued by Thomas Anthony Moss and Ernest Moss, the proprietors of T. A. Moss plasterers. It is possible that the new hotel at 19 Manchester Street was under construction during this period.

Called Ambassadors Hotel, the hotel billed itself as Christchurch's Private Hotel de Luxe. The main facade was set back from Manchester Street with a garden in front. At the northern end of the property, on the corner of Manchester Street and Dundas Street, was a shop building which adjoined the eastern facade of the hotel building. The front garden featured two shelters, one at the southern end set against the northern facade of the Railway Hotel, and another to the north, set against the southern facade of the corner shop building. 

A portico, topped by a room extending from the first floor, provided the entrance to the hotel. Once through the main doors, guests would find themselves in a foyer and reception area. The foyer opened into the hallway which ran from north to south. At the northern end of the hallway was a staircase which led to the first floor. Norther of the foyer, on the ground floor, was a writing room which looked out onto the garden and Manchester Street. 

The main hallway on the first floor also ran from north to south. On the eastern side of the hallway, opposite rooms 31 and 32, was a waiting area. This led into a lounge which was set above the portico entrance. In total, there were seventy five rooms including smoking rooms, lounges, and sleeping balconies. From the first floor, guests were able to access the rooftop garden set above the corner shop building. When the hotel first opened, it was decorated throughout with statues which Sleeman had possibly purchased from the Italian Fine Art Gallery. 

The first businesses to operate from the corner shop building (21a Manchester Street) were a clothing outfitter, The Ideal, run by Elizabeth Ann Hurley, and that of a real estate agent, Frederick Ashley Neale. 

In 1934, Edith left to manage the Coral Gables at 249 Cambridge Terrace. In her absence, Agnes Young became the proprietor of Ambassadors Hotel. However, by 1936, Edith had returned to manage the hotel.

By 1936, the shop at 21a Manchester Street became the Bungalow Tearooms under the management of Lucy and Charles Cross. By 1942, the tearooms were being operated by 'Mrs C. H. Jeffries'. Despite the change in proprietors, the business remained known as the Bungalow Tearooms. 

In November 1956, the hotel building was advertised for sale. Thomas Sleeman advertised it for sale again in November 1958. 

By 1964, the proprietors of the hotel were Ernest James Charman and Rose Violet Charman. By 1980, the proprietors were Alex Taylor and Yvonne Taylor.

The hotel closed on 26 September 1980 as the Taylors could not afford to convert the hotel from gas to electricity. The hotel was placed on the market, then, on 5 May 1981, it was auctioned. By 2 July 1981, it had reopened as a bed and breakfast. The new owner immediately started to convert the hotel from gas to electricity and planned further restorations. It was also intended to turn the former tea rooms into a fast food restaurant.

The building was for sale again in November 1988. In 1991, it was still providing accommodation. 

References

Auctions, Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17752, 2 May 1923, p.16.

Auctions, Press, Volume LX, Issue 18162, 27 August 1924, p.16.

The Courts, Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18446, 29 July 1925, p.4.

Contract rescinded, Star, Issue 17611, 10 August 1925, p.1.

Magistrate's Court, Star, Issue 17975, 12 October 1926, p.7.

Public notices, Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18914, 1 February 1927, p.1.

F. A. Neale, Star, Issue 18143, 30 April 1927, p.16.

Hotel Ambassadors, Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19319, 25 May 1928, p.31.

Private Hotels, Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21238, 9 August 1934, p.19.

Accommodation at holiday resorts, Otago Daily Times, Issue 22341, 15 August 1934, p.9.

Sale of valuable city property, Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28132, 22 November 1956, p.4.

Gas lose leads hotel to close, Press, 26 September 1980, p.4.

Hotel for auction, Press, 29 April 1981, p.6.

Hotel passed in, Press, 6 May 1981, p.6.

Hotel reopens, Press, 2 July 1981, p.4.