A Royal Hotel Booklet

In about 1960 Tom Laughton (1903-1984) published a booklet about the Royal Hotel entitled Royal Hotel, The Story of a Family Enterprise. The hardback booklet was beautifully produced by the Curwen Press with illustrations by Laurence Scarfe (1914-1993) and photographs by Scarborough photographer Harry Bennett. Presumably the booklet was given to those who stayed at the Royal Hotel.

Front Cover of the Royal Hotel booklet, with an illustration by Laurence Scarfe

Two pages of the booklet with photographs by Harry Bennett

The Curwen Press was based in London and had been one of the best printers between the wars. Laughton favoured them for the production of all of the Royal and Pavilion Hotels menus, wine lists and publicity materials. They employed some of the best illustrators, like Edward Bawden (1903-1989) , Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) and Scarfe. Laughton used the illustrations of both Bawden and Ravilious and collected works by them which have ended up both at Scarborough Art Gallery and in Scarborough Library.

The Kitchens of the Royal Hotel an illustration by Laurence Scarfe

Further Reading:

Bayliss, A. and P., undated, The Laughton Gift, Paintings presented to The Scarborough Borough Council by Tom Laughton C.B.E. 1903-1984. The Friends of Scarborough Art Gallery.

Laughton, T., 1977, Pavilions by the Sea, The Memoirs of an Hotel-Keeper. Chatto and Windus, London.