Great Eastern Tavern, Hertford

Built as a hotel in 1843 by the Eastern Counties Railway it was purchased by Mc Mullens in 1903 and refurbished in the 1940s (says Historic England). It is little changed since then.

Two-storey of yellow stock brick with a central loggia entrance. Inside you can see where there was a off sales originally. The left hand door leads to the saloon with carpet, fielded panelled dado with bell pushes and old fixed seating around the bay window. The bar counter dates from the 1940s with more modern panels attached in the 1970s. The bar back is the 1940s one with mirrored panels and only one fridge replacing some lower shelving; and there is a 1940s brick fireplace in a wood surround. Note the model railway above the exterior window.

Door on the right leads to the ‘Tap’ with carpet. There is a sloping towards you 1940s bar counter with vertical panelling and the bar back also looks 1940s. There are two 1940s brick fireplaces, fixed seating on the right / street side and a vertically panelled dado.

In 1982/83, the room was extended so there is a wide gap to an area with carpet and more vertically panelled dado so maybe all panelling is modern.