Thieves have stripped the lead – will vandals appear next?
Photo Credit: Mr D. R. Smith.
An extraordinary pub and hotel that has suffered much, the Grade II* Waterloo Hotel has featured in our Top Ten before. Built by Wood and Kendrick in 1907 as a showcase for brewers Mitchells & Butlers, the Waterloo was always intended to impress.
Doorway detail. Photo by Tony Hisgett
Behind the baroque façade is a superb interior with an amazing restaurant with original grill, still in working order and considered unique. Highly decorated tiles cover walls and ceiling.
The importance of the Waterloo was recognised by English Heritage in 1999 when it upgraded the pub to Grade II*. But the last few years have seen a decline and it is now closed and in a deplorable state. Recent lead thefts will undoubtedly cause severe damage from water ingress. CAMRA’s Heritage Pubs website has great pictures of the wonderful tiled interior to the basement grill room. We believe this is intact – but for how much longer?