Cheshire Cheese Public House

Cheshire Cheese Public House

An 'improved' public house built in 1928 by architect T H Nowell Parr for the Style & Winch Brewery. The building stands on a corner site in neo-Georgian style, facing Little Essex Street to the north and Milford Lane to the west.

The six-storey structure, including basement and cellar below street level, is constructed of London stock brick laid predominantly in English bond, with a mansard roof covered in slate and timber sash windows.

The broadly symmetrical elevations display three visible storeys with an attic storey within the mansard roof, partially concealed behind a parapet. A curved section forms the corner. The northern elevation has four bays and the western elevation three. Both feature double timber doors with leaded lights above providing access to the saloon and public bar areas respectively.

Ground floor windows are bowed and sash-like with a central top-hinged opening, made up of 21 small leaded panes over three larger plate glass panes, except above rolling in doors where the larger plate glass panes were omitted. One western ground floor window is shorter to accommodate the rolling in doors and internal cellar flaps. The ground floor has a simple architrave supported by plain brick pilasters aligned with the bays. Original stall-board lights are located beneath the ground floor windows, now covered with advertising signs.

The first floor features three bowed sash-like windows on each elevation and one on the curved section, with 12 smaller leaded panes over 12 larger panes. These windows have stone lintels and are top hung under soldier course lintels. A fourth smaller window to the rear of the northern elevation has four over four panes. The second floor has six-over-six timber sash windows with horned frames, rebated with flat arches under soldier course brick lintels. The curved section contains a shallow vertical rectangular niche designed to display the pub name and brewery. Three sets of flat-roofed dormers project from the western elevation and four from the northern. Two brick chimney stacks intersect the roof to north and south. Cast iron brackets, one displaying the pub sign, project from the western elevation at first and second floor level; another bracket is attached to the northern elevation.

The ground floor bar is now a single room, formerly divided into saloon and public bar spaces; the stub of the original dividing screen remains visible. Fielded panelling fronts the bar counter, which runs along the southern wall, and lines the walls to three-quarters height. Timber board floors incorporate some carpeting. The staircase screen is enlivened by leaded glass under segmental arched timber panels. The bar counter has a gantry above, supported on slender timber barley twist columns, with later coloured glazing. The bar back is of carved oak with mirrors, formed of alternating projecting eared architraves supported by pilasters with detailed carved decoration including barley twists. The ceiling is heavily beamed. A hoist cover by the western entrance has fielded panelling and brass fittings. The gents' toilets retain original urinals; other fittings are modern and set in a later enlarged cabin.

A staircase to the cellar and basement lounge/games bar is set into the northern side. The lounge/games room is accessed via fielded panelled staircase with moulded timber rail. It has a shortened bar counter along the southern side with gantry above, and bar back of similar design to the main bar, partly obscured by a later dart board case. Fielded panelling lines walls to three-quarters height, with later glazed obscure lead lights alongside the stair. The ceiling is heavily timbered.

Timber dog-leg stairs with fielded panelled dado and moulded swept rail, set into the eastern wall, provide access to the first floor dining room. On their return are two carved timber niches under round headed arches. The dining room has a timber fireplace surround and fielded panelling on all walls to three-quarters height. The ceiling is heavily beamed. A later corner timber bar counter with plain bar back has been added, and the ladies' toilet has been enlarged and refitted.

The second floor contains the publican's accommodation, accessed by a simple narrow timber staircase. The rooms are plain without decoration, apart from timber or metal fireplace surrounds, and include a small office. A third floor landing with bedroom to the north is reached by continuing stairs; the remaining space below the mansard roof comprises the kitchen, recently expanded northward through removal of a wall and incorporation of a former bedroom.

All floors are connected by a dumb waiter, and the ground floor bar and cellar are linked by a hoist. The current layout accords with the original 1928 design.