08/10/22 - now open again! Any info on such as opening hours welcome - those listed have been taken from Google. 18/10/22 - Real Ale reinstated on visit today - we understood as of Dec2022 that Draught Bass is now permanent beer, but it was not available in a Jan 2023 visit. Food is coming soon.
28/01/22 The Council has just granted a licence for The Winchester pub in Highgate! From Ham & High, "The application was submitted by the Northern Union Pub Company, which has recently revived the fortunes of north London pubs The Albert in Primrose Hill, the Haverstock Tavern in Haverstock Hill, and Hampstead’s Old White Bear."
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/highgate-pub-winchester-licence-approved-8628678?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
5th Oct 2019 - Site visit and photos taken. Closed with windows on ground floor frosted over. Original etched glass and metal signage visible on both entrances. Aug 2019 - Planning application refused for change of use of the rear ground floor pub space (Class A4) into a 1 bed dwelling (Class C3); with the associated internal reconfiguration of the remaining ground and basement level pub floorspace, with additional access and external rear flue. External fenestration alterations. 98 objections were received, with none is support.
Nov 2018 - This pub is closed and appears on Google Streetview as Winchester Apartments. The latest planning application to change of use of the rear ground floor pub space (Class A4) into a 1 bed dwelling (Class C3); with the associated internal reconfiguration of the remaining ground and basement level pub floorspace, with additional access and external rear flue. External fenestration alterations. Was refused.
However, The leasehold is still listed as available - https://www.dcl.co.uk/property/winchester-hall-206-archway-road-london-n6-5ba/
The handwritten sign that went up in November announcing a couple of weeks' closure for refurbishment has long gone. It appears the etched glass screens etc remain but otherwise the pub seems to be a storeroom for the building works going upstairs. We gather the developer is the same one that recently lost his effort to convert the Alexandra in Fortis Green into flats.
The most striking feature of this pub is the very large glazed office occupying much of the area behind the bar. The main room is split by the vestigial remnant of a former wooden division. A smaller room at the rear, featuring a piano, leads via a door to the attractive, shrub-lined, heated outdoor drinking area in the former stable yard. Listed on CAMRA's London Regional Inventory of historic pub interiors
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
The outstanding heritage feature here is the massive glazed-in publican's office.
Built in 1881 as part of a very distinctive parade of shops with housing above, originally the Winchester Tavern, then the Winchester Hall Hotel, the name coming from Winchester Hall, a late 17th-century mansion nearby. Inside, the glazed-in publican's office is behind the servery and formed by floor to ceiling glazed partitions with curved glass on the front corners. Its windows have remarkably lovely, delicate etched glass with the Victorians' favourite depictions of trails of foliage, flowers and birds. Decorative etched original glass remains on the door to the office - which has 'Private' on it, although it is no longer private as it is used for customer seating. In the rear right of the main room is an original wood surround fireplace where the glazed brick interior has been painted black.
Impressive vestibules around the corner and right hand side doors have two doors each so originally there were four partitioned rooms around the island bar counter. Most of these have been swept away but one screen survives (just at high level) with yet more lovely glazing. The high ceiling is held up by marble pillars. At the rear right, through an arch from the main bar, there is a room with original panelling and an original wood surround fireplace. Don’t miss the wonderful ironwork over the two entrance porches with the wording 'Winchester Hall Hotel'.
Built in 1881 as part of a very distinctive parade of shops with housing above, it was then the Winchester Tavern and later became the Winchester Hall Hotel, The name comes from Winchester Hall, a late 17th-century mansion nearby. This and its estate were sold as the relentless tide of bricks and mortar engulfed the area following on from the arrival of the railway in 1867. Inside, the great feature is a massive, glazed-in office surrounded on three sides by the servery. It is formed by floor to ceiling glazed partition with curved glass on the front corners and its windows have remarkably lovely, delicate etched glass with trails of foliage and depictions of flowers and birds. Decorative etched original glass remains on the doors on the left (which has 'Private' on it) and right. Note the lower bar back shelves around the office held up by slender pillars. There are more pillars all the way up to the top section of the office.
The large bar counter is original but now painted brown and has a number of doors for servicing beer engines in former times. About 40 years ago the counter was shortened to create more room for the customers. Look for the platform on the left hand side and that some of the lower shelving attached to the office screenwork on the left hand side is now exposed. One piece of counter front on the right hand side of the partition at the front is different to the rest of the counter - it looks more like 1930s fielded panelling? There is a good dado panelling also painted brown and on the rear right is an original wood surround fireplace where the glazed brick interior has been painted black.
Impressive vestibules around the corner and right hand side doors have two doors each so originally there were four partitioned rooms around the island bar counter. Most of these have been swept away but one screen survives (just at high level) with yet more lovely glazing. The high ceiling is held up by marble pillars. At the rear right, through an arch from the main bar, there is a room with a bare wood floor, an original dado panelling, an original wood surround fireplace covered by a piano and a diagonally boarded ceiling. Former function room upstairs has been converted into B & B rooms. Don’t miss the wonderful ironwork over the two entrance porches with the wording 'Winchester Hall Hotel'.
This Pub serves no changing beers and 3 regular beers.
Winchester, London