Shabby chic interior but with striking patterned wall tiling plus 2 large tiled 18th century street scene murals which gave this pub Grade II listing. One of the unfortunate victims during the murderous reign of Jack the Ripper was allegedly last seen alive leaving here. Lunchtime food. Toilets downstairs. 3 handpumps on the bar counter. Classic pub snacks which include homemade pork scratching, pork pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and crisps.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- Founded 1666 but present building mid C19. Stucco facade. Eaves cornice with balustraded parapet above. Roof not visible. 4 storeys with angled corner. Facade to Fournier Street of 2 windows, alternate round headed and triangular pediments to 1st and 2nd floor windows, bands between. Pilasters to sides and angles of building. Ground floor has polished granite pilasters with stuccoed capitals and end stops. Corner door behind fluted pillars with composite capitals. Similar facade to Commercial Street has 3 windows. Inside Commercial Street entrance is a fine coloured C19 tiled plaque showing an C18/C19 street scene.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
A four-storey corner pub, right opposite the magnificent Christ Church, Spitalfields and Spitalfields Market. The outside could do with a little sprucing up but at least it retains the insignia of the former owners, the major brewers, Truman, Hanbury and Buxton who operated from Brick Lane nearby. The interior has been gutted to make a smart bar but the pub is included here for its wall tiling of around 1900. On the left, just inside what would have been an entrance corridor, is a tiled mural entitled ‘Spitalfields in ye Olden Time – Visiting a Weaver’s Shop’. Here we have a prosperous-looking lady and gent (complete with young black servant) surrounded by deferential locals, inspecting a piece of cloth. Spitalfields was a centre of the silk-weaving industry established by Huguenots. The mural is signed ‘W B Simpson & Sons. 100. S. Martins Lane. LONDON’. Simpson’s were responsible for a great many tiling schemes in pubs a century or so ago. Otherwise there are large tiled panels with swirling blue and white Arabesque decoration.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 0 regular beers.
Ten Bells, London
Changing beers typically include: Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter , Five Points - Pale