Champion of the Thames

One of the last remaining traditional pubs in the city centre, the “Champ” retains, largely unaltered, its late 19th century interior in an 18th century building.

By the front door there is a draught screen and a rare part glazed partition wall that separates the public bar on the left and a smaller lounge on the right. On the rear left it a now disused door with an old etched 'Public Bar' panel which indicates a partition has been lost - possibly an off-sales was accessed from the front door?

The bare boarded wood-panelled public bar has a marvellous etched window showing the Champion in action, but is not original having been smashed and replaced a number of times (the pub lies on the notorious “King Street Run”). It retains a Victorian panelled counter which has been moved slightly in recent times. The bar-back looks mainly Victorian but there has been some changes as up to the 1980s casks were stillaged within the servery. The mirrors look modern and there are few lower shelves. The room retains old fitted seating on the front side and a bare bench at the rear left.

The panelled right hand room has a wood block floor. The small angled bar counter is of the same style as the public bar one so is also Victorian. A former fireplace has been converted into a tiny seating alcove. Another small nook may have been cupboards converted into a small seating area? Fixed benches with modern leather upholstery can be found on the front wall side and attached to the partition. The small square tables here are old. A passageway at the rear with modern dado panelling leads to the toilets that were added in the 1980s, replacing the outside loos.