Wheatsheaf, Romford

A delightful and historic local minutes away from Romford’s bustling centre.

This pub dates from the 1860s, and was replaced in the 1920s in order  to cater for a much expanded population; the new pub was built some way back from the main road. The exterior, with twin gables at the front, has imitation half-timbering on the upper floors to create the popular Tudor effect; adding to this is the pretty timber verandah at the front. There are still two totally separate rooms: the former public bar, entered from the side, and a small saloon at the front. A disused door at the front beneath the verandah once led to a Jug and Bottle department. Note the attractive embossed signage in the glazed doorways to each bar, accompanied by the image of a wheat sheaf.

The public bar has not only incorporated the former Jug and Bottle but also another room to the left and is now a large U-shaped space. The elegant fielded panelling here still retains its light oak stain, thankfully. The original bar counter and mirrored bar-back fitting are extant, and match the panelling. There is a dumb waiter on the left-hand side of the servery, and a distinctive feature to note is the wooden strips applied to the ceiling to imitate beams.                                   

It is surprising that the entrance to the saloon bar actually leads one to an attractive verandah at the side of the pub, which is open to the small garden. A further entrance to the left leads to the bar itself. The fittings here are similar in style to those in the adjoining bar and help to create what is a most attractive, intimate room. Note that the bar-back retains all its lower shelving, an unusual feature nowadays. The fire surround is original, the tiled insert more recent.