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Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
Unit 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, Beddington, CR0 4WP
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116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
Virtually at the summit of Shooters Hill, a reputedly haunted pub dating from 1749 (though it was rebuilt in 1881). Recently given a significant makeover with loss of some of the old internal fittings and the décor is quite different in the public and saloon bars. It consists of 2 quite separate bars (unusual these days) being a public and a saloon with separate street entrance doors and toilets in the saloon bar only. A circular bar counter provides a central servery to both bars. Three handpumps are all on the saloon bar counter. Well patronised electronic jukebox in public bar. The public bar is more spartanly furnished with the saloon having Chesterfields and leather armchairs as seating but both bars have bare-boarded flooring.
Re-opened in May 2024 under new ownership.
May close early when business is light.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
The Bull's important features include two completely separate rooms as well as old bar-backs and counters.
This is a two-storey pub rebuilt in 1881 of red brick with a panel of a sunflower in relief on the Shrewsbury Road exterior. There are frosted panels in the surviving doors.
The lounge bar to the left of the pub is entered through an exterior lobby on the Shrewsbury Road side with a black and white tiled floor. Unfortunately the semi-circular bar counter was altered at some point since 2018 and a protruding extension added to the right accommodating modern shelving and fridges. The part of the counter that survived this alteration is old - possibly even Victorian - as is the bar back which has a number of narrow mirrored panels. In this room there is a 1930s brick fireplace, and an old baffle by the door.
The public bar on the right of the pub can be entered either through the vestibule on the Shrewsbury road side, or the separate vestibule on the Shooters Hill side. Additionally, a corner door is now bricked up which locals claim led to a snug, and all this indicates that two rooms have been combined into one. The counter - from the appearance of the hatch - seems old, but has been refronted and a new top added in the 1960s. Parts of the bar back (wooden arch, pillars) are original, but the illuminated panels on the top of the bar back with ‘The Bull’ and a Courage Cockerel; and shelving look to be addition from c.1960. There is good cornice painted grey.
Unfortunately the bar counters and bar-backs in both rooms have been painted black, and grey and off-white paint has been applied liberally in both rooms.
Two-storey pub rebuilt 1881 of red brick with a panel of a sunflower in relief and retains two (of originally three) rooms and even the off sales shop on the right remains but long disused.
Large surviving off sales shop on the right survives, together with most of the counter, although one corner has been removed for ease of access. It retains the original shelving and is currently used for storage, but is likely to be lost soon, to be converted into a tea room by the pub's Pizza franchise.
Lounge bar at rear of the pub is entered through an exterior lobby on Shrewsbury Road side with a black and white tiled floor. The semi circular bar counter looks old, and the bar backs are also old (1930s or earlier) with a number of narrow mirrored panels. The pot shelf above the bar is modern. There is a 1930s brick fireplace, and an old baffle by the door. The ladies has inter-war white dado tiling with a green border throughout; gents toilets have no old fittings.
Public bar on Shooters Hill side of the pub is entered through a vestibule with a tiled floor and two doors (only the right one in use). This indicates two rooms have been knocked together. Additionally, a corner door is now bricked up (many years ago?) which locals claim led to a snug. Frosted panels in the surviving doors. The counter - from the appearance of the hatch - seems old, but has been refronted and a new top added in the 1960s. Parts of the bar back (wooden arch, pillars) are original, but mosaic mirrors, illuminated panels on the top of the bar back with ‘The Bull’ and a Courage Cockerel; and shelving look to be addition from c.1960. Lower shelving lost to fridges. There is good cornice painted dark red.
This Pub serves no changing beers and 2 regular beers.
Bull, Woolwich
Sports TV
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Live Music
Garden
Family Friendly
Dog Friendly
Games
Separate Bar
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
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.jpg "Exterior. by Michael Schouten. Published on")