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Unspoilt Grade II listed pub.
Now re-opened after refurbishment, selling a changing cask beer,, 15 kegs and 40 bottles.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- c.1889, designer unknown. Red brick with extensive stucco dressings and encaustic tile decoration, glazed ground floor front, ornamental cast iron window boxes to second floor windows. Three storeys, three bay front to Leonard Street, five bay return to Ravey Street with lower northern continuation of two storeys with attic, four bays wide. Continuous fascia to both sides. Ground floor with glazed terracotta facing, bearing the name of the Meux brewery's products.
Interior: features include behind-bar mirrored screen with Corinthian columns; boarded ceiling carried on slender cast iron columns; room to rear lined with inscribed mirrors proclaiming the virtues of the drink on offer. Open stairs to rear lead up to former function room on first floor. A characterful pub from the High Victorian period with a good facade and internal survivals of note.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
The Griffin is actually two buildings that have been knocked into one; the older part stretches down Ravey Street and has some typical detailing from about 1870. The later part, on the corner, has some distinctive tiled panels and dates from c.1899. Inside, the long Victorian counter remains, as does the match-board panelling that covers the ceiling. But the feature of most interest is the seven bay back fitting behind the bar with a series of unusual, highly ornamented wooden columns with capitals picked out in gold, a number of original mirrors. In what was previously a separate room at the rear there are three inscribed mirrors advertising “Finest Scotch Whiskies”; “Clarets of the Finest Vintage”, and “Ports of the Leading Shippers”.
The Griffin we have today is actually two buildings that have been knocked into one pub. The older part stretches down Ravey Street and has some typical detailing from about 1870. The later part, on the corner, has some distinctive tiled panels and dates from c.1899. Then, between the wars, along came the brown tile refacing of all the ground-floor walls by Meux’s Brewery to promote their wares – they brewed on the site of the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road until 1921, then moved to Nine Elms where brewing ceased in 1964.
All the internal partitioning has gone but the long Victorian counter remains, as does the match-board panelling that covers the ceiling. But the feature of most interest is the seven bay back fitting behind the bar with a series of unusual, highly ornamented wooden columns with capitals picked out in gold, a number of original mirrors including ones with wording “East London Liquer Co.”; “Griffin Tavern”; “Drew & Sons Biscuits Steam Works Shadwell”; “Martell & Hennessey Brandies”. and a fancy cornice above. Fridges have replaced lower shelving.
In what was previously a separate room at the rear there are three inscribed mirrors advertising “Finest Scotch Whiskies”; “Clarets of the Finest Vintage”, “Ports of the Leading Shippers” - the left one looks much older than the other two which may be later reproductions?
Thus pub closed in 2014 for conversion of the top two floors to residential which included the loss of the former function room on the first floor. The pub reopened in 2016 with most wooden surfaces painted a deep green colour.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 0 regular beers.
Griffin, London
Changing beers typically include: Oakham - Citra
Disabled Access
Dog Friendly
Function Room
Games
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
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