one of ... Britain's Real Heritage Pubs
This pub is taken from the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors, CAMRA's pioneering effort to identify and help protect the most important historic pub interiors in the country. | ||||||||
WEST MIDLANDS - Birmingham, Nechells, Villa Tavern National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One 307 Nechells Park Road, Nechells, Birmingham, B7 5PD (Junction with Holborn Hill) Tel: 0121 326 7466 Opening Hours: 12 to 11 (1 Fri, Sat); 12 to 12 Sun Draught Beer & Cider: One real ale is usually on sale when Aston Villa are playing at home Public Transport: Railway Station: Aston Pub Food: Pies sold Thu and Fri Listed Status: Grade II A red brick and terracotta corner pub built in 1924-5 for Ansells Brewery by the Birmingham architect, Matthew J. Butcher. He had been responsible before the First World War for alterations to the previous pub on the site, which suffered a fire. The replacement is relatively plain outside and now stands alone; the terraced housing around it having been demolished. The interior retains much of the original work in three rooms; the off sales is now a kitchen. The public bar occupies the angle of the site and retains its counter and bar-back with round arches and mirror glass, good vestibule entrance; also good ceiling decoration. The lobby area between the bar and club room has very typical 1920s tiling. Behind the servery lies a small smoke room complete with fixed seating, bell-pushes, fireplace and ceiling decoration; the counter, however, is modern. The third 'Club Room' is accessed via a passage with inter-war tiled dado and retains some original seating. The original outside toilets remain, now accessed via a covered walkway. Unusually, there are letters on the door, rather than numbers which are a requirement of the licensing magistrates. Beware the sign outside saying 'Built 1897' - simply not true! |
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