Clachan, London

A striking, loosely French Renaissance-style pub built of 1898. Two of the three entrances have mosaic flooring bearing the name of the pub. That on the Kingly Street side (with ornamental tiles on the wall) leads to a mosaic corridor which originally led to a door to the rear parts of the pub. Nowadays all the internal divisions have gone and one can circumnavigate the very impressive servery with its mahogany fittings. Much of the timber and etched and cut glass screenwork between the front and back parts of the pub is still in situ. The rear of the servery has a pleasing curved shaped counter. The ceiling is richly treated with Lincrusta panels. A notable and unusual feature is the raised snug at the rear with its iron rails and skylight. The Liberty Dining Room upstairs has a good fireplace (but modern bar fittings). ). The pub was once owned by the family-run Liberty department store which had plans to use it as a storehouse but then sold it off in 1993. Clachan is a Scottish word for hamlet but it is unknown what the connection was.