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116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
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116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
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Community pub
A popular community pub attracting a wide clientele in the middle of Station Square and within the hub of Petts Wood East. Geared up for dining as well as partying, this venue can get busy, especially at the weekends. Over 21s only.
The imposing mock Tudor building, complete with tall chimneys and lattice windows, was built in 1935 and is Grade II listed. Built originally as a public house and hotel with a ballroom attached, it has undergone several refurbishments over the years: The most significant being in 1996, when two sides of the pub consisting of the saloon bar and restaurant were merged into one. It has, however, managed to retain its wood panelling, fireplaces, brickwork and other original features. Since then, it has been further refurbished with a modern twist to cater for its clientele.
The main entrance leads to the L-shaped tiled bar with its wooden top and brick backdrop. The ornate glazed brick fireplaces are now occupied by coal effect fires, whilst the ornate chandeliers have contemporary lighting, complementing the pale blue ceiling and wooden panelling. The flooring is part carpet in a cream and grey pattern and part tiled. There is an assortment of seating with both high and low tables. The raised area to the right of the bar gives a more traditional atmosphere, complete with banquette seating under the watchful eye of William Willett in an imposing photograph. The left of the bar leads into the dining area, on a raised level with double aspect windows. A further assortment of seating is geared up for viewing major sporting events shown on a couple of large TV screens. Framed prints, some on a time zone theme, play a low key reference to the pub's heritage.
The former ballroom is now the Function Room, and with its ornate arched ceiling and window drapes is now used for community events and hosting live music (this is available for hire).
The outside seating area around the pub overlooks the square and is sectioned off with flower troughs. The patio garden is overlooked by trees and has a couple of shelters.
There are a couple of cask ales plus a cider on handpump (Weston's) along with a range of keg beers, including Camden Town, Beavertown and BrewDog.
This pub is named in honour of local MP, William Willett, who campaigned for daylight saving in the 1900s and which subsequently led to the Summer Time Act 1916 and the creation of British Summer Time. The pub name is unique within Great Britain.
Listed on the National Heritage List for England - please refer to:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1427230
The Grade II listing was given in 2015 in order to protect this example of an interwar public house, with its plasterwork and structured timber framing.
Listed under the CAMRA London Pubs Group (on their London Local Inventory) as having an interior of local historic interest.
Historic Interest
Built in 1935 in Neo-Tudor style to the design of S.C. Clarke, chief architect of Charrington's Brewery, this hotel and public house originally had 13 bedrooms. This was intended to serve the growing community of the Petts Wood suburb, housing development having started with the opening of Petts Wood station in 1928. Station Square was laid out in the same year and subsequently expanded. The pub sign originally showed the sun and clock with one side showing 12 noon and the other side 1 o'clock. Long-standing legal restrictions meant that no other pub could be built within one mile (until 1995, when JD Wetherspoon opened the "Sovereign of the Seas" nearby).
Development of Petts Wood started in the 1920s and the pub probably dates from that time The exterior has black and white half timbering on the upper storey, and red brick on the lower, with wonderful chimney stacks. The pub appears to have made into one large room at some time as there are three distinct ceiling styles. The first is plaster with moulded plaster cornices decorated with birds and vines and unusual embossed plaster representations of flowers such as thistles and lilies and a Charrington Toby symbol adorning the walls below the cornices. The second has a wooden beamed ceiling, the third plaster panels. Inside there is fielded wooden wall panelling and leaded windows. The fireplaces are of red brick, some with twisted brick columns.
The servery has a half-timbered canopy which looks more modern but the bar-back has more convincing Tudor-arched detail. Part of the bar counter has also been replaced with the same half timbered panelling as the canopy. Note also the charming plaster panels in the main room depicting fairies frolicking among trees and various birds and animals, including a frog.
Double wooden doors at the right hand end of the L shaped bar lead to a magnificent function room with a fine barrel roof. This room also contains a small corner bar. At quiet times it is possible to arrange a visit to the function room but it is best to ring ahead. Outside there is a Charrington Toby ceramic plaque over one of the entrance doors. The pubs unusual name comes from local resident William Willett who campaigned for daylight saving time in the early part of the Twentieth century.
The Public Bar and Smoke Room on the left were combined in the 1980s â the Snug bar on the right still remains as a separate room linked by two doorways to the left hand bar. In 1980s when the bar and smoke room were combined new bar fittings were installed in all rooms â this is confirmed by looking at the servery in the Function Room (which is obviously a later addition after part of the Function Room was lost to form a kitchen) - it is identical to all the others. The bar back fitting with carved leaf feature in the top left and right corners of each bay looks very similar to the original style in the top of doorways but is different.
The bar counter front does look to be of a style suitable for 1935 (or 1950s) but if you look at the ladies and gents doors and run your hand over the panelling it has a smooth finish whereas that on the counter front and on some wall panelling (& the Disabled Toilet door) have a notable rougher finish.
Development of Petts Wood started in the 1920s and the pub probably dates from that time The exterior has black and white half timbering on the upper storey, and red brick on the lower, with wonderful chimney stacks. The pub appears to have made into one large room at some time as there are three distinct ceiling styles. The first is plaster with moulded plaster cornices decorated with birds and vines and unusual embossed plaster representations of flowers such as thistles and lilies and a Charrington Toby symbol adorning the walls below the cornices. The second has a wooden beamed ceiling, the third plaster panels. Inside there is fielded wooden wall panelling and leaded windows. The fireplaces are of red brick, some with twisted brick columns.
The servery has a half-timbered canopy which looks more modern but the bar-back has more convincing Tudor-arched detail. Part of the bar counter has also been replaced with the same half timbered panelling as the canopy. Note also the charming plaster panels in the main room depicting fairies frolicking among trees and various birds and animals, including a frog.
Double wooden doors at the right hand end of the L shaped bar lead to a magnificent function room with a fine barrel roof. This room also contains a small corner bar. At quiet times it is possible to arrange a visit to the function room but it is best to ring ahead. Outside there is a Charrington Toby ceramic plaque over one of the entrance doors. The pubs unusual name comes from local resident William Willett who campaigned for daylight saving time in the early part of the Twentieth century.
The Public Bar and Smoke Room on the left were combined in the 1980s â the Snug bar on the right still remains as a separate room linked by two doorways to the left hand bar. In 1980s when the bar and smoke room were combined new bar fittings were installed in all rooms â this is confirmed by looking at the servery in the Function Room (which is obviously a later addition after part of the Function Room was lost to form a kitchen) - it is identical to all the others. The bar back fitting with carved leaf feature in the top left and right corners of each bay looks very similar to the original style in the top of doorways but is different.
The bar counter front does look to be of a style suitable for 1935 (or 1950s) but if you look at the ladies and gents doors and run your hand over the panelling it has a smooth finish whereas that on the counter front and on some wall panelling (& the Disabled Toilet door) have a notable rougher finish.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 2 regular beers.
Daylight Inn, Petts Wood
Sports TV
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Live Music
Garden
Family Friendly
Parking
Events
Function Room
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
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