Like the Queens, this pub was built by John Cathles Hill and, also like the Queens, it is a grade II* listed building and is on CAMRA’s National Inventory as well as the London Regional Inventory where the description is as follows: “One of the grandest of all pubs built during the great pub boom in the closing years of the 19th century. After years as a run-down pub it was given a careful refurbishment in 2002-3 which has returned it to its former glory. The Salisbury went up in 1898-9, the promoter being John Cathles Hill, a self-made builder and developer who is said to have made the designs himself. He was also responsible for developing large swathes of housing nearby. The Salisbury is a companion piece to Hill’s similarly splendid Queen’s in Crouch End, N8, and the plans of the two pubs are very similar indeed. The rich ironwork over and the mosaics and tiling in the generous porches give a foretaste of what to expect inside. The most lavish room was the ‘saloon’ on the right and, although it has lost its skylight, the alcoves, plaster, mirrors and woodwork still make it very special indeed. At the rear the former billiard room retains its lovely skylight and is now used as a restaurant and function room. The remainder of the pub is taken up with two bars surrounding an island servery of epic proportions. Originally there would have been more drinking areas within the large L-shaped bar on the corner. The counter is a fine one with small, deep panels and wavy pilasters. Behind is a largely original back fitting which bears pretty, delicate Art Nouveau painted details. The major and sumptuous addition in 2003 was the black and white marble floor in the corner bar. History in a name: The Beaconsfield down the road is named after one Conservative leader, the Salisbury after another. Robert Cecil (1830-1903), 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, entered Parliament in 1853 and had a distinguished career, especially in foreign affairs. He was prime minister in 1885-6 and 1895-1902. Unlike the Liberals, his government was sympathetic to the drink interest and this helped create a climate in which pub-building flourished.”

The listing description is as follows: “Large pub-hotel, 1898-9, by John Cathles Rill. Prominent corner site, curving round into St Ann's Road. French Renaissance style with shaped gables, ogee domed cupolas and large pedimented dormers. 3 storeys and attic, 9 windows and a chimney bay to far left. Red brick with stone bands and dressings. Slated mansard roof has higher central tower with wrought-iron crown. Ground floor of Portland stone with high plinth of grey granite. Polished black granite Corinthian pilasters support fascia. 2 enormous polished granite columns support ha1f-octagonal turrets. Moulded architraves to semi-circular arched openings. Engraved glass to ground floor windows. Entrances have ornate wrought-iron screens above imposts, with elaborately tiled lobbies and mosaic floors. INTERIOR: Top floor: many small bedrooms, each with distinctive fire-surrounds and overmantels of various patterns; kitchen with shelves and large niche for range. Railways: original radiators, black and white tiled floor, panelling, pedimented door surrounds, wrought-iron gas light fittings, tiled former toilet area. Second floor, not inspected. First floor: large room at the front, formerly a restaurant and concert room. Elaborate, compartmented ceiling with ornate fibrous plasterwork, all by the Mural Decoration Company. Engraved glass by Cakebread & Robey, inserted into doors separating off the residential part of the building. Two staircases, one wooden, one with cast-iron balusters. Ground floor, bar area: compartmented ceiling with cast-iron columns, open plan. Curved bar with stone trough at base. Large billiard room with top-lit roof glass painted with creeping vine motif. Many elaborate engraved mirrors and fire surrounds. Saloon divided off by arched screen containing glass engraved with Art Nouveau motifs. A magnificently elaborate and complete interior. HISTORICAL NOTE. The Salisbury Hotel was built by Mr John Cathles Hill as one of a pair of pub-hotels in Hornsey. Mr Hill was a successful developer in this part of North London and had his own workshops, where many of the fixtures and fittings for the pubs were made. The glass is notable for the incorporation of Art Nouveau motifs, a short-lived vogue at the turn-of-the-century. SOURCE: 'Victorian Pubs' by Mark Girouard, Yale 1984.”

The Salisbury featured on the Daytime Crawl of Hornsey in September 2001, the Racing, Railways and Prime Ministers: Daytime Crawl of Wood Green, Hornsey, Crouch End, Finsbury Park and Harringay in June 2009, and the Queens, Earls and Tories: Daytime Crawl of Hornsey, Crouch End, Crouch Hill and Harringay in February 2014.