The Station Hotel and its almost identical partner, The Randolph in Wangford Road, Reydon, were designed by local architect, Thomas Edward Key for Adnams Brewery in the early 1900s.The Station Hotel was planned specifically to serve passengers of the Southwold-Halesworth Railway but changed its name to the Avenue Hotel shortly after the First World War even though the railway continued until 1929. It has undergone two changes of name since: Pier Avenue Hotel and, more recently, The Blyth Hotel.

Note: Thomas Edward Key (1864-1911) was brought up in Leiston and studied at the Architectural Association in London where he won awards. His practice was mainly focused on the Suffolk coast and he maintained offices in both Southwold (No 1 Market Place) and Aldeburgh. As well as the Station and Randolph Hotels, Key also designed Southwold Hospital. He also accepted some private commissions for large, detached houses in central London. He designed the Constitutional Club in Leiston, elementary schools in Saxmundham and Carlton Colville and oversaw church restorations at Peasenhall and Dennington. His obituary suggests that he also designed several Arts-&-Crafts-inspired houses in North Suffolk but these remain unattributed.

We are grateful to Alan Hatfield of Leiston for supplying details of Thomas Key's career.

1930
Leslie H Moore - Proprietor, Pier Avenue Hotel (SGCH1930, K1933)

Leslie H Moore - Proprietor, Pier Avenue Hotel

Leslie H Moore - Proprietor, Pier Avenue Hotel

1953
Mr & Mrs John Broadbent - Proprietors, Pier Avenue Hotel (CSP1953)

Mr & Mrs F Laurie Wilkins - Proprietors, Pier Avenue Hotel

c 1965
Dick and Ivy Shaw

Note: Richard Shaw served two terms as Town Mayor, the second in the early 1980s. Ivy Shaw came from a family of circus folk. Her parents ran the Scott Circus which toured the East Coast during the summer season in the 1920s and over-wintered in Walberswick. (Source: Katie Sullivan, granddaughter of Dick & Ivy Shaw)

1974
John, Do and Ray Bennett take over the Pier Avenue Hotel from Dick & Ivy Shaw. (Source: Mike Wilkinson )

Note: Richard Shaw goes on to run the tobacconist and confectionery shop at No 1 St James Green, in partnership with Walter Rockall who has retired from trading at No 5 Trinity Street.

1992
Mike Hawtrey-Eastwood and Anna Clifford - with their respective partners run the hotel for approximately two years.(Source: Mike Wilkinson, SST1992)

1995
Denis Watson - Proprietor (Source: Mike Wilkinson)

2000
John and Lynne Mckean - Proprietors. The establishment is now renamed 'The Blyth Hotel' (Source: Mike Wilkinson)

2005
Richard & Charlie Ashwell - Proprietors, The Blyth Hotel.

2015
Richard & Julia Hoban - Proprietors, The Blyth Hotel.