Lamb & Flag, London

This pub retains a lot of Victorian woodwork, and some even earlier, plus a partition that creates two separate rooms downstairs, as well as a separate dining room upstairs.

A pub of late 17th-century origin but re-fronted in 1958, it retains a fair amount of Victorian woodwork, and some earlier – see the closed in staircase. It still retains one partition that forms two bars but, sadly, another at the front left was removed in the early 1990s. Note the disembodied hand over the left-hand entrance pointing right to the public bar, thus confirming the front area would have been partitioned. The front bar retains an old panelled counter curved at the front with decorative brackets, and also cupboards said to allow access to the beer engines. The original bar back fitting features two large mirrors with decorative borders, old dado panelling on the walls, and leaded front windows.

The rear bar is partitioned off by a (now doorless) screen and contains some old half-height wall panelling. It has an old curving bar counter but plainer in style to the front bar one and looks inter-war. It has a fielded panelled fireplace, a good H & G Simonds Ltd mirror and settle pew seating in keeping with a traditional interior. Upstairs the Dryden Room also has old dado panelling at the rear, which was a separate room in the past. The bar counter with its decorative carved front looks like it could be an import but parts to the left and right are modern. The very good bar back with cut glass mirrors is modern. Opposite the counter is a fine three part mirrored mantelpiece (but no fireplace below) and there is a good settle at the front.