BR hotel scheme for employees, dating back to the 60's

[Grey_Area]

I'm looking to visit a hotel we stayed at in Nice, around 1969/70.
The only aspects my jaded memory can tell me is that it participated in a scheme that gave preferential rates to BR employees, in much the same way I guess the ferry crossings did.
The hotel was quite large, family run; but I only remember him as Charles, nothing else.
I have no family left to ask unfortunately, I've tried the usual Google searches; however I suspect the phrases I'm using don't cut the mustard.
Any help appreciated.

[Gareth1974]

The rail industry newspaper Railnews used to be full of ads for accommodation offers for railway staff, pre internet days, for staff able to use their travel facilities on the continent. It still exists though there are far fewer ads than there used to be. If you can find an old copy of that you may find the details.
The facebook group “British Rail Old School” is very active and someone on there may have been to the hotel at some point. Worth a try.

[Grey_Area]

Thank you, I'll try the FB group...

[alangla]

Or try the history & nostalgia section of the Rail UK forums, they seem to know about the most obscure facets of railway history https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-histor...

[Grey_Area]

alangla said:

Or try the history & nostalgia section of the Rail UK forums, they seem to know about the most obscure facets of railway history https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-histor...

Thank you.

[CanAm]

Have you tried Google Streetview? It might jog your memory about the area. you might even see the hotel!

[Grey_Area]

CanAm said:

Have you tried Google Streetview? It might jog your memory about the area. you might even see the hotel!

I did try, but.... it's an old memory; so too many aspects looked familiar..and they can't all be the right hotel.
My thought process is that there can't be many hotels who were hooked into that BR scheme, so that gives me a starting place, and work over time from there.

[Simpo Two]

Possibly near a railway station?

[Grey_Area]

Simpo Two said:

Possibly near a railway station?

Don't think so; though I wouldn't say it was an absolute.
Ferry crossings were also part of the deal iirc Sealink ferries

Edited by Grey_Area on Thursday 26th June 18:59

[LotusOmega375D]

Simpo Two said:

Possibly near a railway station?

Did they have Ibis hotels back then?

[shirt]

Grey_Area said:

The hotel was quite large

bear in mind that you were a lot smaller then

do you recall anything nearby that might help narrow it down?

[Grey_Area]

shirt said:

Grey_Area said:

The hotel was quite large

bear in mind that you were a lot smaller then chuckles;

do you recall anything nearby that might help narrow it down?

I remember it had a large staircase inside, going up to another floor and having our dinner there, relevant as I'd not known any other of my childhood friends to be eating Poussin..whole small chickens
Nothing unfortunately relevant... palm trees but I'd guess they were everywhere..

Edited by Grey_Area on Thursday 26th June 19:21

[Simpo Two]

Grey_Area said:

Simpo Two said:

Possibly near a railway station?

Don't think so; though I wouldn't say it was an absolute.
Ferry crossings were also part of the deal iirc Sealink ferries

That's a good point - hunt near the ferry terminal too. Of course the hotel may not exist any more.

[paddy1970]

It could be the Hotel Negresco...another option is the Hotel Westminster

[Grey_Area]

Good choices, I'll have to go explore their history and see if I can get a match.

Thank you

[Grey_Area]

alangla said:

Or try the history & nostalgia section of the Rail UK forums, they seem to know about the most obscure facets of railway history https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-histor...

Went there, crikey that's a bit of a slippery slope....
But doing a number of searches has shown it could be the British Transport Hotel scheme, or BTH.

So that's what I'm trying to tie into with the other suggestions above.

Thanks all.

[Autolycus]

Not quite as the OP described, but...

In the 60-70s there were two holiday companies that specialised in holidays for railwaymen: they each published brochures and provided a local courier, but their prices excluded train fares and bookings. One was Martin Rook (or Rookes?), the other Panorama. We went to Jenbach, in Austria, and somewhere on Lake Como, but they had a range of destinations.

I think, bicbw, that one was run by a railwayman from Crewe, and that eventually they merged.

Hope this may jog a few more memories.

Kevin

[Grey_Area]

Thank you.