King Edward VII, Stratford

An early 18th century two storey building dwarfed by neighbouring properties and with a number of Victorian / Edwardian fittings. On the front right a disused door leads into a passage formed by a Edwardian wood and glass partition which retains four of its five main panels and smaller ones between the two bar doors. There is a frieze of bunch of grapes above the partition. It has a wonderful floor to ceiling tiled wall with patterned relief tiled in mainly green and yellow on the dado and above seven tiled panels in light green, turquoise etc. A door with ‘Saloon bar’ etched and frosted window leads to the rear bar with a Edwardian bar counter where panels have been added to the front between the pilasters but the top looks original. The bar back is mainly Edwardian with pillars but the rear panelling and shelving is modern. The walls have excellent linenfold panelling but a photo on the wall shows much plainer panels so presumable it was added at a later date?

If you take a careful look at the floral patterned etched rear window you can see the outline of a Prussian helmet. The pub changed its name from the King of Prussia to the King Edward VII in 1913. The fireplace might be old but more likely a reproduction one. Steps lead up to a room on the rear left which is an addition with no old fittings. The front bar with ‘Lounge bar’ etched and frosted panel in the door has a modern counter and bar back, post-war panelled walls and modern flag floor on the right and bare wood on the left. The existence of more front doors confirms it was at least two rooms in the past. Some dado panelling on the rear left is old as could be the small tiled and vast iron fireplace. All the stubby partitions are modern.