Pub Heritage Cannon
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Kent - Brompton
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed Status: Not listed
15 Garden StreetBrompton
ME7 5AS
Tel: (01634) 841006
Email: markseanmarriott@icloud.com
Website https://www.thecannonpub.co.uk/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/72700585728
Real Ale: Yes
Nearby Station: Chatham
Station Distance: 1400m
Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Chatham) and Bus Stop
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
The lovely green-glazed frontage and its raised lettering is a striking sight. This is in the house style, developed before the First World War by London and Burton brewers Truman, Hanbury & Buxton. They are said to have acquired the Cannon only in 1929 and such dating would make the ceramic work a rather late example of this treatment. A big rear extension was added about 1984. The two front doors both open into the public bar: presumably the left one originally went into a lobby/vestibule that accessed the lounge (left) and probably had another door straight ahead for the off-sales (which must have been very narrow): any off-sales partition or hatch to the servery have now gone. It’s hard to explain the curious bulbous projection of the bar counter in this area (pictured: perhaps it had something to do with the off-sales arrangements). The sloping public bar counter is presumably from the THB refurbishment (the back fitting seems much later). Other fittings also seem later and a particular curiosity is the roof tiling on the overhang to the lounge counter: just the sort of strangeness that 1960s pub designers went in for in the interest of novelty (the counter below could also be of the Sixties).
A pub since 1842, it was owned by John Russell of West Street Brewery who in 1929 sold out to Trumans who carried out a refit both externally as well as interior-wise soon after. It was extended back about 30 years ago but the original layout is clearly visible and it still retains some c.1930 fittings. This small locals pub has a good Trumans glazed frontage with ‘Trumans London & Burton Beers’ raised lettering on the fascia and green glazed stone on the ground floor. Also, a ‘The Brompton’ original etched window.
The two front doors lead to the public bar on the right – the right one into a porch – presumably the left one originally went into a lobby / vestibule that led to the left hand lounge and had another door straight ahead for the off sales. The public bar has a bare wood floor and sloping to you 1930s bar counter painted dark brown. The bar back looks more 1960s – might even be 1980s? with mirror mosaic. What looks like a 1930s wood surround fireplace is now blocked up with c.1960 ply panels. Difficult to date the dado panelling as painted dark brown; benches not that old.
The left hand lounge has a carpet, another 1930s sloping to you bar counter (with some panels added about 25 years ago) but the bar back looks more 1970/80s. The ‘Private Bar’ glazed panel that was in the door to the lounge on the left is now in a frame on the left of the servery (covered by crisp boxes?). The extension at the rear houses a games room.
Full Description
The two front doors lead to the public bar on the right – the right one into a porch – presumably the left one originally went into a lobby / vestibule that led to the left hand lounge and had another door straight ahead for the off sales. The public bar has a bare wood floor and sloping to you 1930s bar counter painted dark brown. The bar back looks more 1960s – might even be 1980s? with mirror mosaic. What looks like a 1930s wood surround fireplace is now blocked up with c.1960 ply panels. Difficult to date the dado panelling as painted dark brown; benches not that old.
The left hand lounge has a carpet, another 1930s sloping to you bar counter (with some panels added about 25 years ago) but the bar back looks more 1970/80s. The ‘Private Bar’ glazed panel that was in the door to the lounge on the left is now in a frame on the left of the servery (covered by crisp boxes?). The extension at the rear houses a games room.
