Howard Arms, Carlisle

Although refurbished by John Smiths in 1979 it still retains some original Victorian fittings and the four room plan is clearly visible.

An early 19th century pub that has an expensive refit in late Victorian times and has a wonderful exterior of late C19 coloured tiles (signed Doulton & Co, Lambeth) beneath the windows divided into 3 parts by paired tile pilasters with leaf capitals. From left to right it reads "INDIA PALE ALES & MILD ALES", "LAGER BEER & STOUT", "WINES SPIRITS & LIQUEURS" (also, under the covering signboard it says "HOWARD ARMS", "SIR RICHARD HODGSON'S OLD BREWERY"). The tiling was covered over when the pub became part of the Carlisle State Management Scheme in 1916 and only revealed again in 1979.

On the front right is a small room with a bar counter from 1979 and the rear wall looks like it is the remains of a Victorian bar back fitting. It forms part of an old wooden partition with mirrors in the central section and late-Victorian glazed panels at the top under a canopy. Part of the partition on the right has been removed to give access to the rear room. The wall panelling in the front room is not old.

The small rear right room has late-Victorian panelling to picture-frame height on most of the walls, but changes in the rear right corner where there is no panelling and it has lost its fireplace. However, two old short baffles have survived and the fixed seating looks more 1979 than older.

The small front left room has a bare wood floor, but the bar counter and fixed seating look to date from 1979; the fireplace could be an original Victorian tiled, cast-iron and wood surround one. The rear left room is a bit opened-up with more fixed seating from 1979. As you enter there are remnants of the off sales above new dado panelling.