Boleyn Tavern, East Ham (Boleyn)

A tour de force of Victorian craftsmanship, including superb colourful glazed skylights, some original screenwork, bar-backs and counters. The 2021 refurbishment won the Joe Goodwin pub design award for outstanding refurbished street-corner locals.

The Boleyn is a prominent landmark at a crossroads near to the former West Ham football ground. It is a thoroughly exuberant piece of French-style Renaissance architecture built in 1899-1900 by Cannon Brewery, the architects being Shoebridge & Rising who were responsible for many fine pubs in London.

Reopened in June 2021 after a spectacular £1.5 million restoration by Remarkable Pubs with the aim of making the interior look like it was when it first opened. New hand-crafted wooden screens have been created, complete with acid-etched and brilliant cut glass, replicating one of the original wood and glass panels in the old saloon bar. This means the original seven bar layout has been restored. Two new screens have effectively reinstated two small rooms on the right; the Ladies Bar and the Private Bar (now renamed the Carriage Bar.)

The highlight is the truly spectacular glazed skylight that spans what once would have been a billiards room, but is now an open kitchen, servery and dining area. Other quality Victorian fittings include the bar counters and bar-backs (some have modern replacements); the big arch straddling the servery and a tiled lobby on the east side; cast-iron columns; a good deal of etched and cut glass; and in the former saloon bar on the right an attractive skylight and a marble surround fireplace surmounted by a gilt edged mirror.