Great Northern, Luton

The term “little gem” has become something of a cliché but springs immediately to mind on entering this tiny one-bar pub. A narrow three-storey building of brick built 1860s. It was given a good quality refurbishment in the 1890s. In 1921 it was purchased by Benskins Watford Brewery Limited and at this time it had a Private Bar, Public Bar and Tap Room. It was named after the Great Northern Railway station which opened in Bute Street in 1858.

You enter via the left hand door which originally led to the off sales or private bar but the partition was removed a number of years ago. The right hand door was the original entrance to the public bar but now it is out of use. By the left hand door there is a short screen painted a beige colour with an etched glass panel in the top half. There is a dado of dark green tiling with a tulip motif in relief all around the room and the ceiling is held up by a pillar with a simple capital of leaf decoration all painted dark green; three ceiling roses.

The bar counter is of an inter-war style having a canted front recently painted dark green. The wooden display cabinets and pot shelf above the bar counter are modern. The four-bay bar back fitting dates from the 1890s with a mirrored back and slender columns holding up the shelves. In the servery there is a door with a ‘Bar’ etched panel. Commendably, there is no loss of lower shelves as a fridge is sensibly placed under the bar counter. At the rear on the right is a 1930s brick fireplace painted dark blue. Along the right hand wall is some 1960s seating with metal legs. At the front of the room is a rare domino table with holders for your pint glass on each corner.

Sadly, most of the patterned glass on the front has been replaced, presumably because of breakages. However, at the rear of the room there is an exterior-looking window with an etched panel. Beyond it was a room, once a lounge, later a pool room but now a smoking area. The ladies’ toilets are outside whereas the gents' toilet are inside - both are modernised.