Hidden Paragon

Take a tour through the less well-known sights of the Paragon Café.

Starting in the main café area we find some original table numbers still in place:

Remaining Table Number (on Table 13)

Remaining Table Number (on Table 13)

Remaining Table marker (on table 12)

Remaining Table marker (on table 12)

Paragon Logo above Coffee bar

Carved Paragon Logo above Coffee bar. (The PL stands for Paragon Lounge.)

Old Light & Dimming Switch - Or is it

2 button light switch (top = ON bottom = OFF)

Marble Bar

Marble Bar

Drinking Straw Dispenser

Drinking Straw Dispenser

Centaur and the Window to Nowhere

Centaur and the Window to Nowhere

This window can be seen in the rear left-hand corner of the room behind the bar. Behind it is a blank brick wall. Did this window ever see the light of day?

Moving on now into the Foyer, where a few old cash registers reside, along with some magnificent doorways…

Cash Register 3 Cash Register 2 Cash Register 1

Doors to the Blue Room

Doors to the Blue Room

Doors to the Banquet Hall

Doors to the Banquet Hall

 

From here we move on into the two magnificent back rooms. Outside of business hours, their mystery deepens:

Blue Room, Natural Lighting

The Blue Room, Natural Lighting

The windows we see are at ground level in the back lane outside. As for the Banquet Hall, it is almost completely below ground level.

Banquet Hall, Natural Lighting

The Banquet Hall, Natural Lighting

 

Taking a closer look around the Banquet Hall, the details reveal themselves.

Detail, Outside Banquet hall

Detail, Outside Banquet hall

Old Tiles, Men's Toilet

Original tile works, men’s bathroom

Detail, Banquet Hall

Detail, Banquet Hall Entrance

Detail, Banquet Hall 2

Shell motifs, Banquet Hall

Original Ashtray, Banquet Hall

Original Ashtray, Banquet Hall

These ashtrays can be seen in this photo from 1938.

 

Wall Detail, Banquet Hall Stage

Musical motif, Banquet Hall Stage

Last of the Old Floor

A remnant of the original floor, stage left.

The original floor can also be seen in this photo from 1938.

A closer inspection of the stage reveals some interesting details:

Old Power Points, Banquet Hall Stage

Old Power Points, Banquet Hall Stage

Ceiling Detail, hidden behind Banquet Hall Stage

Ceiling Detail, Banquet Hall Stage

This ceiling detail is usually hidden behind the arch. Meanwhile, immediately below, lurks a rusted relic: one of the original leaf springs from the old dance floor.

Remaining Floor Spring Hidden Under Banquet Hall Stage

Remaining Floor Spring Under Banquet Hall Stage

Elsewhere in the building, beyond the areas seen by the public, are stranger and more ancient places…

The Lost Alleyway and the Stairway to the Upper Rooms

The Lost Alleyway Chocolate Factory

On the roof of the Paragon (apart from the occasional Strange Hovering Visitor) we find a small flat, unchanged since the 1920’s

The Roof of the Paragon Top Flat 00 Top Flat 01 Top Flat 02 Top Flat 03 Top Flat 04

Top Flat 05 Top Flat 06

Note the 2-button light switch again.

More to come soon.

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