Beautifully preserved, Grade II listed and CAMRA Heritage Victorian pub with dark blue upholstery, a small snug bar and etched glass snob screens in place above the bar.
These frosted screens were popular in the 1890s hiding the customer from drinkers in other rooms, but the hinges still allowed the bar staff to check on them without disturbing their privacy. The glorious history of the pub and area is also commemorated by an original working polyphon (predecessor to the gramophone) which can be played in aid of charity and sepia prints of music hall players.
The upstairs room - the Empire Romm has been converted to a dining room but cn be reserved. Seating available in the small rear garden, enhanced by mirrors. Food served with changing specials. Other than the polyphon, no music.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- CAMDEN LAMB'S CONDUIT STREET (East side) No.94, Lamb Public House 02/08/73 GV II Public house. First mentioned in 1731 but front of building probably mid or late-Georgian or later. Yellow stock brick, slate roof.
Four storeys and cellars. Four windows wide with splayed angle at north end bearing parish boundary marker dated 1831. Upper storeys Georgian, ground-storey in form of pub front basically Victorian but with Edwardian faience tiling added in two shades of green. Painted fascia with the legends 'The Lamb' and 'Wine and Spirit Establishment'. Good hanging iron lamp bracket with lantern attached at first-floor level. Rear much extended. INTERIOR of pub with match-board walls and ceiling. One main area with fixed seating round perimeter and U-shaped bar in centre retaining snob screens with moveable glass panels and engaged with four thin cast-iron columns having palmette capitals. Two similar columns behind front help support upper portions of front. Staircase at rear of building part of 1958 refurbishment of public house, when partitions formerly dividing the front area into two private bars were removed. The lobby partitions were inserted at this time. What remains is an exceptional piece of 'Victoriana', where the real late C19 interior was enhanced by the restoration. Some snob screens are original, others part of this restoration. Partitioned area at rear of right-hand bar with late C19 partitions; this was originally the pub's office.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
The most famous feature at the Lamb is the double range of snob screens set on either side of the counter.
Housed in a Georgian building, this Young’s pub has long been popular with real ale drinkers. Things to note outside are the magnificent, swirly cast-iron lamp bracket and the two-tone green tiling which probably dates from the Edwardian era.
Inside, the pub is now a single space but would once have been divided up into several small compartments. The three-sided bar counter is late-Victorian or Edwardian. On the right is a small snug area with etched glass, some of it clearly re-sited from elsewhere; most obviously the panel stating ‘saloon’ which would originally have been in a door. At the rear left is a sunken area with fielded panelling on the dado and embossed wallpaper above it. Other old fittings are the match-board panelled ceiling and some slender columns with foliage capitals supporting the upper floors. The walls display dozens of small framed old photographs of mainly music hall stars and actors - and don’t miss the Polyphon on the right, the Victorian mechanical equivalent of a jukebox, which unfortunately is no longer in use.
Housed in a Georgian building, this Young’s pub has long been popular with real ale drinkers. Outside, things to note are the magnificent, swirly cast-iron lamp bracket and the two-tone green tiling which probably dates from the Edwardian era. Inside, the pub is now a single space but would once have been divided up into several small compartments. The most famous feature at the Lamb is the double range of snob screens set on either side of the counter.
Other Heritage Pubs with snob screens are Bartons Arms, Aston, Birmingham; Prince Alfred, London W9; Posada, Wolverhampton , West Midlands; Starting Gate, London N22; Bunch of Grapes, London SW3; Crown, London N1; and Crown & Greyhound, London SE21 but these have been moved.
The three-sided bar counter is late-Victorian or Edwardian. On the right is a small snug area with etched glass, some of it clearly reused rather than new – most obviously the panel stating ‘saloon’ – and which would originally have been in a door. At the rear left is a sunken area with some simple wall panelling. Other old fittings are the match-board panelled ceiling and some slender columns with foliage capitals supporting the upper floors. Don’t miss the Polyphon, the Victorian mechanical equivalent of a jukebox in the right-hand part – a donation to the pub’s charity will allow you to hear it play.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 3 regular beers.
Lamb, London
Source: Regional