These sea-front premises comprise several parts. The front was converted from a Regency villa and a later Victorian house. The property also extends back into Royal Terrace, erected in c1860. In 1928, it all became the Cabot Hotel, named after John Cabot, the Italian-born navigator who settled in Bristol in the late 15th century. In May 1547, he sailed west. In June, he sighted land and named it ‘Newfoundland’, making him ‘the discoverer of America’.
Text about John Cabot.
The text reads: John Cabot, known in Italian as Giovanni Caboto was a navigator and explorer of the 15th century and most famously known for his discovery of Newfoundland. His preparations for the voyage took place in Bristol from which he set said on his ship, The Matthew, in 1497.
An illustration of John Cabot landing on the shores of Labrador.
Text about John Cabot on a wall within the pub.
The text reads: John Cabot (c1450-99) was a navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with that continent. He landed on the island now known as Newfoundland.
Text about John Cleese.
The text reads: John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer and film producer best known for his role as Basil in Fawlty Towers and his array of characters in comedy series Monty Python. Cleese was born in Weston-Super-Mare on 27 October 1939, the only child to acrobat Muriel and father Reginald who worked in insurance sales. Interestingly the family name used to be Cheese, before it was changed to Cleese in 1915 by his father when he joined the army.
External photograph of the building – main entrance.
If you have information on the history of this pub, then we’d like you to share it with us. Please e-mail all information to: pubhistories@jdwetherspoon.co.uk