[2] On Boxing Day in 1879, Orangemen who paraded along Manchester Street on their way to the railway station were attacked by Irish Catholics outside Barrett's Hotel, resulting in several men being taken to hospital.

[5] Barrett lost his liquor licence over the affair and, in order to restore his reputation, had the old building pulled down.

[9] The Christchurch Heritage Trust sold the site to developers Miles Yeoman and Craig Newbury as they needed the money to concentrate on the renovations of the Trinity Congregational Church and Shand's Emporium.

The new owners had the remaining façade demolished on 10 April 2016 and plan to build a replica of the Excelsior Hotel.

Those on the first floor facing north were a three-window grouping that features a centralized segmental pediment.