Bull

Pub Heritage Group have recently carried out a regrading of Real Heritage Pubs - click here for full details

Greater London South East - Woolwich

One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest

Listed Status: II

151 Shooters Hill
Woolwich, Shooters Hill
SE18 3HP

Tel: (020) 8856 0691

Website https://www.bullhotelshootershill.co.uk/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BullTavernWoolwich

Real Ale: Yes

Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Falconwood) and Bus Stop

Bus: Yes

View on: Whatpub

The Bull's important features include two completely separate rooms as well as old bar-backs and counters.

This is a two-storey pub rebuilt in 1881 of red brick with a panel of a sunflower in relief on the Shrewsbury Road exterior. There are frosted panels in the surviving doors.

The lounge bar to the left of the pub is entered through an exterior lobby on the Shrewsbury Road side with a black and white tiled floor. Unfortunately the semi-circular bar counter was altered at some point since 2018 and a protruding extension added to the right accommodating modern shelving and fridges. The part of the counter that survived this alteration is old - possibly even Victorian - as is the bar back which has a number of narrow mirrored panels. In this room there is a 1930s brick fireplace, and an old baffle by the door.

The public bar on the right of the pub can be entered either through the vestibule on the Shrewsbury road side, or the separate vestibule on the Shooters Hill side. Additionally, a corner door is now bricked up which locals claim led to a snug, and all this indicates that two rooms have been combined into one. The counter - from the appearance of the hatch - seems old, but has been refronted and a new top added in the 1960s. Parts of the bar back (wooden arch, pillars) are original, but the illuminated panels on the top of the bar back with ‘The Bull’ and a Courage Cockerel; and shelving look to be addition from c.1960. There is good cornice painted grey.

Unfortunately the bar counters and bar-backs in both rooms have been painted black, and grey and off-white paint has been applied liberally in both rooms.

Two-storey pub rebuilt 1881 of red brick with a panel of a sunflower in relief and retains two (of originally three) rooms and even the off sales shop on the right remains but long disused.

Large surviving off sales shop on the right survives, together with most of the counter, although one corner has been removed for ease of access. It retains the original shelving and is currently used for storage, but is likely to be lost soon, to be converted into a tea room by the pub's Pizza franchise.

Lounge bar at rear of the pub is entered through an exterior lobby on Shrewsbury Road side with a black and white tiled floor. The semi circular bar counter looks old, and the bar backs are also old (1930s or earlier) with a number of narrow mirrored panels. The pot shelf above the bar is modern. There is a 1930s brick fireplace, and an old baffle by the door. The ladies has inter-war white dado tiling with a green border throughout; gents toilets have no old fittings.

Public bar on Shooters Hill side of the pub is entered through a vestibule with a tiled floor and two doors (only the right one in use). This indicates two rooms have been knocked together. Additionally, a corner door is now bricked up (many years ago?) which locals claim led to a snug. Frosted panels in the surviving doors. The counter - from the appearance of the hatch - seems old, but has been refronted and a new top added in the 1960s. Parts of the bar back (wooden arch, pillars) are original, but mosaic mirrors, illuminated panels on the top of the bar back with ‘The Bull’ and a Courage Cockerel; and shelving look to be addition from c.1960. Lower shelving lost to fridges. There is good cornice painted dark red.
 

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