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Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
One of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world.
Units 3-5, Heathfield Industrial Estate, Heathfield Street, Elland, HX5 9AE
Westgate Brewery, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QT
Well worth visiting for the magnificent Victorian architecture alone, the pub is both Grade II* Listed and included on CAMRA's National inventory of Pub Interiors of special historic interest with its French Renaissance exteriors and Art Nouveau motifs. At night, its shining dome can be seen from some way away. A selection of good food is served and there is a separate dining room. Later at night that room can feature DJs or occasional live music. Quiz Monday evenings. Poker Night Wednesday.
In a visit March 2023 there were 3 cask beers on - Sambrook's Junction, Courage Directors and Shepherd Neame Master Brew. There is a very large range of keg beers and an interesting bottled selection such as Duvel. The draught beer offering is kept up to date on a very large chalk board.
Historic Interest
Grade II* listed:- Large pub-hotel, 1898-9, by John Cathles Rill. Prominent corner site, curving round into St Ann's Road. French Renaissance style with shaped gables, ogee domed cupolas and large pedimented dormers. 3 storeys and attic, 9 windows and a chimney bay to far left. Red brick with stone bands and dressings. Slated mansard roof has higher central tower with wrought-iron crown. Ground floor of Portland stone with high plinth of grey granite. Polished black granite Corinthian pilasters support fascia. 2 enormous polished granite columns support ha1f-octagonal turrets. Moulded architraves to semi-circular arched openings. Engraved glass to ground floor windows. Entrances have ornate wrought-iron screens above imposts, with elaborately tiled lobbies and mosaic floors. INTERIOR: T op floor: many small bedrooms, each with distinctive fire-surrounds and overmantels of various patterns; kitchen with shelves and large niche for range. Railways: original radiators, black and white tiled floor, panelling, pedimented door surrounds, wrought-iron gas light fittings, tiled former toilet area. Second floor, not inspected. First floor: large room at the front, formerly a restaurant and concert room. Elaborate, compartmented ceiling with ornate fibrous plasterwork, all by the Mural Decoration Company. Engraved glass by Cakebread & Robey, inserted into doors separating off the residential part of the building. Two staircases, one wooden, one with cast-iron balusters. Ground floor, bar area: compartmented ceiling with cast-iron columns, open plan. Curved bar with stone trough at base. Large billiard room with top-lit roof glass painted with creeping vine motif Many elaborate engraved mirrors and fire surrounds. Saloon divided off by arched screen containing glass engraved with Art Nouveau motifs. A magnificently elaborate and complete interior. HISTORICAL NOTE. The Salisbury Hotel was built by Mr John Cathles Hill as one of a pair of pub-hotels in Hornsey. Mr Hill was a successful developer in this part of North London and had his own workshops, where many of the fixtures and fittings for the pubs were made. The glass is notable for the incorporation of Art Nouveau motifs, a short-lived vogue at the turn-of-the-century. SOURCE: 'Victorian Pubs' by Mark Girouard, Yale 1984
Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance
Listed status: II*
This glorious landmark pub was built in 1898–9 by John Cathles Hill, who laid out much of the surrounding area and designed this pub and the nearby Queens. Both have very similar plans. Rich ironwork, tiling and mosaics in the generous porches give a foretaste of what to expect inside. The most lavish room is the richly appointed saloon (left) with its attractive alcoves. Behind is the former billiard room (now a restaurant) with its lovely skylight with vine decoration. The rest of the pub is taken up with two bars surrounding an island servery of epic proportions. Originally there would have been more drinking areas within the large L-shaped bar on the corner. The servery has a large, original back fitting with delicate Art Nouveau details. A spittoon trough is to be found in all but one of the former bars. In 2003 the black and white marble floor was added as part of an excellent refurbishment and the magnificent etched and gilded mirror by the right-hand entrance (by Cakebread, Robey & Co), which had been stolen, was replaced with a modern copy.
One of the grandest of all pubs built during the great pub boom in the closing years of the 19th century. After years as a run-down pub it was given a careful refurbishment in 2002-3 which has returned it to its former glory. The Salisbury went up in 1898-9, the promoter being John Cathles Hill, a self-made builder and developer who is said to have made the designs himself. He was also responsible for developing large swathes of housing nearby. The Salisbury is a companion piece to Hill’s similarly splendid Queen’s in Crouch End, N8, and the plans of the two pubs are very similar indeed. It is a three-storey (plus attic) pile which totally dominates its corner site. It is built of stone on the ground floor and has contrasted red brick and limestone on the upper floors. Particular features to note are the Larvikite (a flecked, black stone from Norway) columns which carry turrets above and the crown which tops the highest part of the building. The rich ironwork over and the mosaics and tiling in the generous porches give a foretaste of what to expect inside.
On the right, entering through the doorway marked 'Saloon Bar' one comes into the most lavish room consisting of a superb wide corridor with splendid mosaic floor; this space is reminiscent of drinking lobbies so popular in northern pubs (note also the couple of recesses for rather more private drinking). Although it has lost its skylight, the alcoves, plaster, mirrors and woodwork still make it very special indeed. At the rear the former billiard room retains its beautiful skylight decorated with vines that is now used as a restaurant and function room. The remainder of the pub is taken up with two bars surrounding an island servery of epic proportions. Originally there would have been more drinking areas within the large L-shaped bar on the corner with a vast island servery. The counter is a fine one with small, deep panels and wavy pilasters. Behind is a largely original back fitting which bears pretty, delicate Art Nouveau painted details. Elsewhere, the decoration in the surviving etched glass is more typical of such work in late Victorian pubs.
Also look out for a series of unusual mirrors-cum-pictures which are found at several points in the pub. The only really unfortunate change at the Salisbury has been the intrusive creation of the toilet area between the two other rooms. The major and sumptuous addition in 2003 was the black and white marble floor in the corner bar: also the superb mirror (by Cakebread Robey & Co.) by the right-hand entrance which had been stolen, was replaced with a modern copy. The grade II* listing recognises the special importance of this grand and interesting public house.
This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 0 regular beers.
Salisbury, London
Source: National
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