Hi Geoff,
I found the Montpellier Tavern listed in the 1857 Harper’s Directory in Montpellier Villas, and it is also marked on the 1855-7 Old Town Survey map. I haven’t found it listed anywhere else though. The landlord in 1857 was John W. Cummings. There is also a J.W. Cummings listed as a “fly proprietor” in Lansdown mews listed under “Resident Tradespeople” and also under “Horse Dealers, Fly Proprietors, and Livery Stable Keepers” in the 1857 Annuaire (he is also listed as a fly proprietor in the 1856 Annuaire).
It seems strange to me that I couldn’t find the Montpellier Tavern listed anywhere else, because on the map, although the tavern itself doesn’t look large (it is on the opposite side to the Beehive and just a little further along – 5th building – and it is set back on Retreat Place/Montpellier Retreat (equating to no. 6) with garden in front where most of the Montpellier Villas houses are; however adjoining it is a skittle alley which runs right the way through from Montpellier Villas to Retreat Place/Montpellier Retreat.
I cannot help wondering if the building is the same as the Allsopp Arms you have listed later in 1870 in Retreat Place (now Montpellier Retreat).
I did find listed under “Beer Retailers” in the 1850 – 1852 Edwards Directories a G.Holder with a “Montpellier retreat” address (no number) – maybe it used to be called Montpellier Retreat, changed to Retreat Place, then later changed back to Montpellier Retreat again! Intriguingly, there was also a G. Holder listed under “Retail Coal and Wood Dealers” with a Montpellier Villas address (no number given) in all three directories.
In the 1848 Edwards, R. Pursey is recorded under “Coal Merchants and Dealers” in Montpellier Villas. In 1847 Richard Pursey Coal Merchant was in Corpus Street.And in 1853 & 1854 Annuaires R. Pursey is listed as the landlord of the Norwood Arms Inn in Bath Road (no Name listed in 1855) – maybe there was also a link to beer selling!
Regards
Alan Jones