38 Red Lion Street,
Holborn,
London,
WC1R 4PN
0872 148 0777
The ViewLondon Review
While we here at Viewlondon love all things new, we retain a soft spot for pub owners who buck the current trend for converting traditional boozers into gastro/concept venues and instead maintain them in their original glory.
Or course, there are plenty of unexceptional old pubs that could certainly do with a lick of paint, a Spanish/Moroccan menu and an LED lighting system, so don’t lets be Luddite about this. It’s just that it seems vaguely criminal to tear down an historic interior if you’re merely planning to replace it with Warhol posters and lime green paint.
The Enterprise is a pub run by someone who understands all this. It is magnificently original, with a dark sign above the entrance that you could easily miss if you’re not looking carefully. It becomes immediately apparent that this is somewhere special though when you step inside.
The interior has clearly had a bit of a scrub at some point, but that’s as far as it goes. The left hand wall is striking – white and patterned tiles surround a series of huge original Victorian mirrors, and tables and chair are laid out in nicely ordered fashion in front of them.
The bar is a splendidly ornate wooden affair, and right by the front window is a lovely large table and a number of comfy old leather armchairs. I was poured a fine pint of London Pride and rushed over to stake my claim at the window.
There wasn’t much need however, as at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon I was the only person there. It certainly didn’t bother me, as I had a great book and some time to spare. Over the afternoon a few more people turned up, and by 4.30pm it was half full.
If you’re bored by the current crop of pub conversions, gastropubs and cocktail bars then pay the Enterprise a visit. It’s one of the best places to drink away an afternoon I can think of.
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