The First Class Restaurant

The Restaurant was located at the aft end of 'B' Deck and provided an alternative to the Dining Saloon for First Class Passengers. The panelling was purchased by the Mayoress of Southport at the dispersal auction and installed it in her house in 1936. It was discovered by Eric Sauder and Ken Marschall during a research trip to England in 1989. It remained in the house until the owners decided to sell in 1998. After some wrangling over the sale, the panelling was installed on the Celebrity Cruise Ship, Millenium, lining the walls of the Olympic Restaurant in 2000 and remains there to this day.

The Shipbuilder said "the restaurant... will be considered by many compentent judges as the most enticing apartment in the vessel... The style adopted is that of the Louis XVI period. The is panelled from floor to ceiling in beautifully marked French walnut of a delicate light fawn brown colour, the mouldings and ornaments being richly carved and gilded."

The despersal auction catalogue from 1935 described the beauty of this room more emphatically:
"THE MAGNIFICENT FRENCH WALNUT AND CARVED GILT PANELLING, with leaf and ribbon ornamentation, carved, reeded and ribbon pillar casings with gilt capitals and reeded, panelled and gilt casings to cross members, the panelling includes the transverse partitions with oval openings two of which are glazed, and the walls have numerous arched-top nine-mirror panels..."

It was in the equivalent room on the Titanic that Captain Smith ate his last meal on the night of 14 April 1912.

Below is a tour of the Mayoress's house as it was in 1997. Photos kindly supplied by the late Steve Rigby (1959-2011) and Sotheby's.

                

     

The panelling covered the house's entrance hall, living room and dining room. It was estimated that only a portion of the original room was installed in the house in 1936 and the remaining panels are unaccounted for.

The Buffet Bar

The front end of the Buffet Bar served as a sideboard in the Dining Room.

The Walls and Doors

The double doors in the top row of photos lead from the Reception room on the 'B' Deck landing of the Aft Grand Staircase, note the difference in style of the arches on each side. The 'bootlace' ribbons seen in the middle of each panel were added on after they were installed in the house. 

The Windows

The Windows in the bottom right photo covered the portholes on the port side and date from when the Restaurant was modified in 1913 to match the size and shape of the one on Titanic. The pattern of the beautiful stained glass is reminiscent of the style of Charles Rennie Macintosh, the famous Scottish architect. The pattern is similar to windows seen in a hotel, now demolished, that contained a large quantity of Olympic fittings. Click Here to see it.

The Pillars

The pillars with the distinctive criss-cross ribbon pattern were once free standing. The greater ceiling height in the house meant they could only be lined up against the wall.

Close Ups

     The fine woodwork is typical of the Olympic. The door handles on the left are identical to a pair on a set of doors that lead off the Grand Staircase. Click here to see them.

Way Out

The entrance hall looking towards the front door. 
The light in the ceiling is from the First Class Dining Saloon. 

Hope you enjoyed your tour!

The Chairs

In 2010, Henry Aldridge and Son auctioned eight chairs from the Restaurant.
The provenance of them was unknown beyond that they had previously been in the Liverpool area.

      
The Chandeliers

The Majestic Hotel on the Isle of Man was for 65 years the home of this beautiful ceiling light from the Restaurant. 
It formerly hung in the hotel's vestibule. If you know the fate of this rare item, please get in touch!

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