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Named the Bulls Head until it was rebuilt in 1885, the Chandos was enlarged to its present size in 1891. The attractive wood and stucco frontage is topped by a cooper working his craft on a balcony high up on the corner (see photo). The premises has been noted by Westminster Council as an unlisted building of merit.
The ground floor has bare boards, polished woodwork, stained glass windows, secluded seating and a semi-enclosed area to the rear. Upstairs you can find the lounge, named the "Opera Room" after the English National Opera at the nearby London Coliseum, with its own servery for food and drinks and where families are welcome.
The usual range of Sam Smith's beverages are available including handpumped OBB. The menu offers traditional pub dishes at modest prices for the area. Patrons should note that there is a strict "no swearing" policy in Samuel Smith's establishments. Also by decision of the brewery owner, customers may not use mobile phones (except for payments), laptops or similar inside the pub; tablets and iPads are prohibited inside or outside. The brewery's policy is that its pubs are for social conversation person to person.
Historic Interest
A pub was established on this site by at least 1710, being used for Masonic Lodge meetings later in the 18th century. The pub was enlarged in 1891 by owner Edwin Porter, an artist and an athlete (a cyclist, with a successful race record). He and brother Walter (who ran the Brighton in Glasshouse Street) were partners. Some time later, the pub was bought by the Coliseum Syndicate who subsequently sold it on to Truman Hanbury Buxton. In the 1930s and 1940s it was run by Carrs (London) Ltd, a substantial restaurant, pub and catering concern based nearby. The pub was damaged by a bomb that fell on the night of December 29th 1940, during what was described as the greatest air raid on London. Historic photo attribution: George R Sims, Living London series, 1902.
Chandos, London