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LONDON, GREATER - London EC1, Smithfield, Viaduct Tavern National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part Two 126 Newgate Street, London EC1, EC1A 7AA Tel: 0207 600 1863 Opening Hours: Closed weekends Draught Beer & Cider: Real ale Public Transport: Underground: St Paul’s. Railway station: City Thameslink Listed Status: Grade II View this pub on a local map
This popular Fuller’s pub sweeps majestically round the corner of Newgate Street and Giltspur Street. It was built in 1874 but the wonderful fittings we see today are due to a remodelling by Arthur Dixon in 1898-1900 at the height of the fin de siècle pub building boom. The separate drinking areas (as indicated by the multiple outside doors) have gone but there is an amazing amount of excellent decoration. The etched, gilded and cut glass panels at the rear are truly spectacular and are the equal of the work at the Princess Louise, Holborn WC1.
Another highlight is the small, glazed-in office in the rear of the serving area that was used for conducting the administration of the pub. It has fine etched glass and delicate woodwork. CAMRA is only aware of 11 (8 in London) glazed-in Publican’s Office pubs left in the whole of the UK including fine examples in other of Britain's Real Heritage Pubs the Argyll Arms, Soho, London W1; Falcon, Battersea, London SW11; Beehive, Tottenham, London N17; Kings Arms, Hanwell, London W7; and Feuars Arms, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. Also; other examples can be found at Joiners Arms, Camberwell, London SE5; Winchester, Highgate, London N6; Cauliflower, Ilford, East London; Old Castle, Doncaster, South Yorkshire; and Athlectic Arms, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Delicate is also the word to describe the small stillion in the middle of the servery with its arched woodwork and ornamented glass. The ceiling too (which probably dates from the original build in 1874), with its swirling relief panels, is a also a fine sight. Less attractive are the three paintings of languid ladies, signed ‘Hal’, on the right-hand wall, who, apparently, represent agriculture, commerce, industry and art. They are set in an arcade with extensive marble work. Don’t miss the bar counter itself which has unusual, bold, arched decoration. A final curiosity is the heavily carved, sliding door at the rear to the private quarters above.
Visit at a quiet time (avoid lunchtimes and after 6) and you can ask for a trip down to the cellars which were the cells of the Gaol of the original Debtors Prison - there are 5 cells of which three can be inspected.
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