London Pubs Group

Shakespeares Head

1 Arlington Way
Finsbury
EC1R 1XA

Although this pub is not a listed building, it is a Two Star pub on the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Inventory with an interior of very special national historic interest, and the description is as follows: "Built 1960 by Courage Brewery the only change is the removal of the wall that separated the public bar and the lounge in the late 1980s; the original fittings remain. The building is of brick part of two storeys and both parts have flat roofs.

The U-shaped single room retains the original counter on the left made of brick and painted black with a shelf just short of the top lined with black Formica and a wooden top. The bar back of glass shelves is very 1960s. Panelling on the rear left wall is good quality 1960s and elsewhere there is floor to ceiling ply panelling. On the right the bar counter is of wood with sections of button leatherette panels and a shelf just short of the top lined with black Formica and a wooden top. There is a brick painted black fireplace with an electric fire and the fixed seating looks original. All the walls have floor to ceiling ply panelling. The gents’ appears unchanged with a middle row of blue diamond tiles and the ladies’ has yellow ones."

The WhatPub link is here: WhatPub/Shakespeares Head

The Pub Heritage Group link is here: PHG/Shakespeares Head

The Shakespeares head has yet to feature on a LPG pub tour.

Exterior Left Hand Bar Right Hand Bar Pub Sign