The pub history dates back to the early eighteenth century, when it was a coffee house, and then a tea garden and resort. It appears to have been rebuilt in the 1920s, when the adjacent block of council flats was put up. Internally, there seem to have been a number of refits, with 1920s fireplaces and more modern features visible. The large single room has a central bar with mosaic work on the bar back. Lots off wood panelling and large mirrors enhance the atmosphere. There are four handpumps plus a selection of craft keg beer.
The floor is polished wood, with tiles round the bar. The main drinking area, with a 1970s electrolier, extends to a small, heated and partly covered beer garden at the rear: there are also tables along the front terrace. There is piped music but no TV.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner served - go to the pub's website for more details - operating an all day menu updated with new dishes every three weeks. Sunday roasts until they have sold out.
The pub is about 350m from Euston main line, tube and bus stations, through a passage from Doric Way. There is a speakeasy cocktail bar, the Cosy Kettle, in the basement that is open after the pub has closed.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing (inc 16a to 76a Chalton St:- : the Somers Town Coffee House on Chalton Street forms the southern part of the entrance to the northern courtyard. 1927-8, believed to be by Halsey Ricardo. Rendered and painted brickwork. Pantiled hipped roof with tall chimney-stacks, dormers and coved cornice to projecting eaves. Two storeys, attic and cellars. Five windows and four window left hand return. Public house frontage of central transom and mullion window with small panes flanked by similar windows with central part-glazed doors. First floor slightly recessed sashes with exposed boxing.
Purpose built pub as part of the Ossulston Estate housing development between 1927 and 1931 that replaced an older pub (formerly a Coffee House) from the 19c. It is grade II listed as part of Levita House, the southern part of the Estate. It is two storeys of rough cast walls with an attic. There are two vestibule entrances at the front with wooden glazed screens which seem to a result of a 2011 refurbishment.
The interior is now one large room with a L-shaped bar counter off-set to the left and a room to the left rear separated by a folding door which is modern, replacing what seems to have originally been a sliding door. The 2011 refurbishment resulted in the modern bar back with small coloured tiles which is at odds with the 1930’s three quarter height wood panelling that runs throughout the interior. The bar counter is formed of large wooden panels divided by plain carved columns topped with decorative brackets.
There is a passage behind the bar leading to the toilets and stairs to the upstairs (private). At the back of the left hand room is a large fireplace. The white painted ceiling is divided up into oblong sections with moulded cornices. There was a fireplace on the left hand wall in the front bar but this is now covered up by the wood panelling. On the opposite right hand wall is another fireplace. Bare polished wooden floor boards (modern) with new quarry tiles at the front of the bar counter. Note the thin band of coloured terrazzo along the bottom of the bar counter which may have been part of a trough but now gone or covered over by the new quarry tiles. The large right hand vestibule has stairs leading down to the Cosy Kettle Cocktail bar. Look for the tubular steel and leather backed chairs which look to be of 1930s vintage
.
Purpose built pub as part of the Ossulston Estate housing development between 1927 and 1931 that replaced an older pub (formerly a Coffee House) from the 19c. It is grade II listed as part of Levita House, the southern part of the Estate. It is two storeys of rough cast walls with an attic. There are two vestibule entrances at the front with wooden glazed screens which seem to a result of a 2011 refurbishment.
The interior is now one large room with a L-shaped bar counter off-set to the left and a room to the left rear separated by a folding door which is modern, replacing what seems to have originally been a sliding door. The 2011 refurbishment resulted in the modern bar back with small coloured tiles which is at odds with the 1930’s three quarter height wood panelling that runs throughout the interior. The bar counter is formed of large wooden panels divided by plain carved columns topped with decorative brackets.
There is a passage behind the bar leading to the toilets and stairs to the upstairs (private). At the back of the left hand room is a large fireplace. The white painted ceiling is divided up into oblong sections with moulded cornices. There was a fireplace on the left hand wall in the front bar but this is now covered up by the wood panelling. On the opposite right hand wall is another fireplace. Bare polished wooden floor boards (modern) with new quarry tiles at the front of the bar counter. Note the thin band of coloured terrazzo along the bottom of the bar counter which may have been part of a trough but now gone or covered over by the new quarry tiles. The large right hand vestibule has stairs leading down to the Cosy Kettle Cocktail bar. Look for the tubular steel and leather backed chairs which look to be of 1930s vintage
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This Pub serves no changing beers and 3 regular beers.
Somers Town Coffee House, London