London Pubs Group

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Mahogany Bar

1 Graces Alley
Shadwell
E1 8JB

The WhatPub entry is here: WhatPub/Mahogany Bar

Like the Gun, the Queens Head and the George Tavern, Stepney, this pub is not on CAMRA’s Regional Inventory but it is in a grade II* listed building and the listing description is as follows: “Mid C19 formerly the Albion Saloon. Music Hall from mid C19. Stock brick. 3 and 2 storeys, 9 windows, unbarred sashes with painted lintels. Entablature with cornice above ground floor. Pilasters. Door has carved flanking pilasters with bas relief of flowers and fruit. Interior with stage and surrounding balcony (used for sailors originally whilst civilians sat in the pit) remains. Formerly known as the Mahogany Bar as it was the first theatre to have wooden fittings. Balcony has gilded leaves and floral decoration, and is supported on barley sugar pillars. Proscenium arch has gilded ball moulding. Arcading to rear apsidal wall, opposite stage. Tiered balcony floor and banded ceiling. Has also been used as a chapel and as a seamans club. Grade II* for sociological interest and for interior.”

Pevsner’s Buildings of England London 5: East says that the nucleus of the building “was the former Prince of Denmark public house (called the Mahogany Bar, on account of its fittings).”

Wilton’s Music Hall has reopened recently after restoration, some of which still continues. The restoration brief for the architects was to restore to use but not to over-restore, hence the charming lack of intervention.

The Mahogany Bar featured on the Going to the Dogs: Daytime Crawl of the Isle of Dogs, Poplar, Limehouse and Stepney in October 2015.