Large red brick old pub with historic features which has been up-dated with modern furnishings. The bright well-lit main bar is dominated by a grand wooden staircase.
Historic Interest
Regional Inventory
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
Rebuilt in 1900 with an imposing brick and terracotta exterior (like many contemporary pubs in Birmingham). The interior sadly suffers from opening-out and poor alterations. The main entrance leads into a wide tiled corridor. The most intact rooms are on the right where there is fixed seating with bell-pushes and original fireplaces. Left of the corridor is a bar-hall area with a green tiled dado extending up the fine staircase and down the passage to the rear. The servery counter dates from just 2015.but there is a small, original bar-back. The former stables at the rear have been converted into a timber treatment business.
Rebuilt in 1900 ('Rebuilt 1900 AD' on decorative cartouche on the right) in eclectic Baroque by the local Bedford Brewery - see the 'BB' (monograms in terracotta above door). It originally housed the brewery head office. Fine brick and terracotta exterior with arched windows and corner cupola. The interior was clearly previously very grand, but suffers from opening-out and poor alterations. Main entrance on Church Street leads into a wide corridor with a tiled dado of cream and brown at the front, shades of green at the rear, two rows of claret Art Nouveau tiles, some in relief. The most intact rooms are on the right.
Wide gap / arch to front right room with original fixed seating with carved arms in two bays with bell-pushes in the panel above. Original carved wood surround fireplace (with a new tiled and cast-iron interior) with a bevelled mirror in the mantelpiece above. There are two gaps to the rear right room also a doorway / arch from the lobby. This room also has more original fixed seating with bell pushes in the panel above, a good decorative carved wood surround fireplace (with a new tiled and cast-iron interior) or the whole fireplace is a reproduction one? Only one remaining decorative and etched 'Boars Head Hotel' window.
Left of the corridor is a bar-hall area with a green tiled dado of the lobby bar, up the superb staircase, and down the passage to the rear. The bar counter and bar back are modern - the counter only dates from 2014. The front left room has fixed seating that looks more inter-war than Victorian with good draught screen as you enter having a decorative etched and frosted panel. On the rear left a wide gap to the room with no old fitting.
The former stables (separately Grade II listed) at the rear have been converted into a timber treatment business.
Boars Head, Leigh