43 and 43A Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 43 and 43A Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | lI Gusto |
| Present Owner: | |
| Ground Floor: | Italian Restaurant |
| Other Floors: | 1st & 2nd floors: Gwagle moving here 2022 ?date ?feb/mar |
| Date when first used by present occupier: | 3 October 2024 |
About the Building
43A was on the left, 43 on the right separated by an arch which was filled in when occupied by the Co-operative stores in 1967.
In about 1984, the building here was demolished and the present one erected. The front still stands, but the rear was demolished & rebuilt in 1979.
A photograph of the ‘George Hotel’ is in the Abergavenny Museum, showing the proportions of the building have hardly altered. Victorian Neo-Venetian, cast iron framework allows a light & airy building reminiscent of the style of the Crystal Palace. The slender pillars are probably reinforced. (L Hurley)
Advertisement in 1825: To be let….All that Messuage, Tenement and Dwelling House, called the Little George Inn, with suitable offices, Cellars, and 3 excellent stables, eligibly situate on Frogmore Street.
Recent History
2025 Apr: Il Gusto Italian style restaurant. [Streetview]
2024 October 3rd: Il Gusto. New owners [ALHS Survey 1980+]
2022 Approx: Amos Italian/Greek restaurant. Closed by Sept. 2024. [ALHS Survey 1980+]
Also 1st /2nd floors : from approx Feb/Mar 2022: Gwagle “flexible shared workspace”. These floors “empty for decades”
June 2021: Closed ?? 2022 : Panevino Italian Restaurant ; already in Chepstow. [ALHS Survey 1980+]
2018: Prezzo Italian restaurant chain: From 2016 – Closed April 2018 : Company failing, closing many branches throughout UK including Abergavenny which appeared to be unsustainable. ( 3 storey building, to rent £50K pa + £32K business rates; 4448 sq ft ground floor; 798 sq ft 1st fl; 812 sq ft 2nd fl / emanuel-jones.co.uk)
2017 Apr: Prezzo. Italian style restaurant. [Streetview].
2015: Building under refurbishment. Major works ongoing.[Streetview].
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| 2010 | Farmfoods | Food supermarket | Streetview |
| 2009 | Farmfoods | Food supermarket | Streetview |
| 1979 | Kwiksave | Supermarket on ground floor, other floors, offices and stores. | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1972 Aug – Jan 1978 | Watsons Decorators | ALHS Survey 1980+ | |
| 1970 | Co-operative Retail Store | No 43A & filled in arch: Co-operative Retail Store store opened December 1970 | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1970 | Jackson & Daly | Closed down Feb 1970, curtain materials & furnishing fabric. | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1962-1968 | Jackson & Daly | Furniture | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1952 | Jackson & Daly | Furnishings | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1945-1970 | No.43 Jackson & Daly | Furniture Dealers | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1937-1967 | 43A Harrington, Photographer | Photographer | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1937 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1934 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1930 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer Also at 43A: 1927 – 1928: A Lyons, Jeweller |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1923 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1920 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1914 | 43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103) 43A Harrington, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1910 | 43: Charles Downes 43A:1901-1912: Eddie Madge, Photographer |
Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer | Kelly |
| 1906 | Cooke & Davies | Tailors & Drapers | Kelly |
| 1901 | Cooke & Davies | Tailors & Drapers | Kelly |
| 1891 | Mr Reuben Embrey | Shopkeeper | Kelly |
| 1884 | Mr Reuben Embrey | Shopkeeper | Kelly |
| 1879 | Mrs Addiss | Laundress | Thacker |
| 1865 | Prop: William George Martin | George Commercial Hotel | |
| 1862 | Prop: Joseph James Stephens | George Commercial Hotel | Morris & Co |
| 1858 | Prop: Thomas Price | George Commercial Hotel | Slater |
| 1850 | Prop: Henry Sauderson | George Commercial & Agricultural Hotel | Pigot |
| 1835 | Prop: John Holehouse | George Inn & Ball Court | Pigot |
| 1822 | Prop: Evan Saunders | Little George Tavern | Pigot |
| 1791 | Prop: J Phillips | New George Inn | Pigot |
Other Information
1961: Jackson & Daly, family furnishers, 3 Feb page 7 photo Abergavenny Chronicle 43A: The Abergavenny & District Co-operative Society Ltd, dry goods, official opening dry goods store, 28 October. [ALHS Survey 1980+]
1961: Jackson & Daly, family furnishers, 3 Feb page 7 photo Abergavenny Chronicle 43A: The Abergavenny & District Co-operative Society Ltd, dry goods, official opening dry goods store, 28 October. [ALHS Survey 1980+]
Mr Eddie Madge, Photographer, left a great number of photographs of Abergavenny at the turn of the last century. He was winner of two 1st prizes at the Royal National Eisteddfod, Merthyr, in 1901. Also 2nd prize in Thornton-Pickards open competition to the world (first went to New Zealand). He emigrated to USA and his descendants were contacted for the original Street Survey.
1838: The Cymreiggydion Society held dinners here
1839: Rate book shows the premises named the George Inn (owner: Mr John Hobhouse)with a stable and ball court. 1840: Recommended in Cambrian Travellers Guide as one of the principal Inns. 1841: Theatrical performance of ‘The Lady of Lyons’ in Harris’ Ball Court. 1842: A new coach ‘The Prince of Wales’ connected at Bristol with the Londond/Brecon/London coach. 13 hours. daily except Sundays. (South Wales General Advertiser found in Crickhowell 1960)
The inn is not listed after 1895. A/22-71 (Abergavenny Museum) dated to 1875 or before, shows it empty & a poster on the door advertises “The Brooks”, changed to ‘Nevill Court’ in 1875.
If you have any further information about this property please email alhsresearch@email.com