Walnut Tree

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Essex - Broads Green

Three star - A pub interior of exceptional national historic importance

Listed Status: Not listed


Broads Green
CM3 1DT

Tel: (01245) 360222

Real Ale: Yes

Public Transport: Near Bus Stop

Bus: Yes

View on: Whatpub

One of the least spoilt pub interiors in Essex, the star features here are the simple but endearing public bar and the snug formed out of the former off-sales.

Overlooking the village green, the Walnut Tree was built in 1888, according to the datestone high up on the right. The original pub comprised the two rooms on the left - public bar and former bottle and jug, now a snug. Both are little altered. The front door leads you into the delightful snug, squeezed between the two other bars. It has a parquet floor, Victorian bar counter, a bar-back consisting of old shelves on a mirrored back and just two small benches by way of furniture. A part-glazed partition separates it from the no-nonsense public bar with its original full-height panelling and attached bench seating. The bar counter was added in 1962 (there was none previously) and the fireplace, despite looking earlier, is from the 1980s. The front part of the saloon bar was formerly the landlord's private parlour; it came into pub use in 1962 and was later extended.

Overlooking the village green, this pub was built in 1888, according to the datestone high up on the right. The original pub comprised the two rooms on the left - public bar and former bottle and jug - plus the outside gents on the left, which is still in use. The two rooms are little altered. The front door leads you into a delightful snug, squeezed between the two other bars. It has a parquet floor, Victorian bar counter, a bar back consisting of old shelves on a mirrored back and the only two small benches by way of furniture.

A part-glazed partition wall separates the shug from a basic traditional public bar on the left. Its walls have original full-height panelling painted deep red on the dado with cream above; basic bench seats with padded cushions are attached. The only changes are the removal of a small piece of the glazed partition near the servery, to which the landlord plns to add a replacement; a bar counter was added in 1962 as the parquet floor indicates there was none there originally - but it is not clear whether there was previously a hatch. The 1950s looking brick fireplace was actually added in the 1980s by locals and has a log fire. The (now very modern) door between the two rooms could be explained by beer only being served in the snug which also acted as the jug and bottle prior to the counter being added in 1962.

The saloon bar on the right was originally the landlord's private parlour and just half its present size before being brought into pub use in 1962, adding a small counter. In 1981 an extension was added on the right of the building to bring the toilets inside and doubling the lounge in size. The present bar counter dates from 1981 and the button leatherette fixed seating in bays must be from the same time though it does look very 1960s. The thickness of the wall confirms it was an exterior one.

The three real ales and cider are all fetched from the cask in the cellar so the handpumps are there 'just for show'."

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