Here you will find a review of the latest edition of CAMRA’s London’s Real Heritage Pubs. In contrast, Le Gothique is a pub and restaurant that sits inside a larger historic building. The building in question is the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, which stands on the edge of Wandsworth Common and is our cover picture for this edition. Many readers will no doubt recognise it as the home of the Wandsworth Common Beer Festivals (see below). The photo was taken by Mark Justin, who owns and operates the business with his son Andrew.
Those of you who have been to the festivals will know the Great Hall with its spectacularly decorated ceiling and high windows. Up until now, the hall has been sadly underused and Mark has only had occasional use of it. He has however recently secured permanent access and been able to incorporate it into the premises licence for Le Gothique, so that he no longer needs temporary event notices. The licence now covers the bar area, the restaurant, the garden and the Great Hall, making it by floor area possibly one of the largest pubs in London.
Originally called the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum when opened in 1859, this Grade II*-listed building has quite a history. It was designed by Rhode Hawkins in the Gothic Revival style, combining Scottish baronial, Jacobean and French influences. Queen Victoria herself laid the foundation stone on 11 July 1857. The ceiling of the Great Hall was painted by J G Crace with the insignia of the countries and towns of Britain and the Empire. It’s hard to believe that the Great Hall was severely damaged by fire in 1980 and restored in 1987, gaining a Civic Trust award.
The construction of the RVPB was funded from an appeal set up by Prince Albert for the widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the Crimean War. Its first use was as a school and orphanage for girls, with a boys’ school being added in 1872. Contemporary reports suggest that it was not the most comfortable of places. Nevertheless, it stayed open although, during World War One, the building was requisitioned and refurbished as the 3rd London General Hospital, augmented by marquees on the Common. The school returned in due course and remained until it was evacuated to Wales at the outbreak of World War Two.
The building was then requisitioned again, this time by MI5 as their London Reception Centre. It is estimated that some 34,000 refugees fleeing the Nazis were ‘processed’ here for security and intelligence purposes. It is said that Hitler’s deputy, Rudolph Hess, also spent some time there. These events are marked by a recently unveiled blue plaque. The photo shows Simon Bailey of the Secret WW2 Learning Network performing the honours.
The RVPB was bought by the former London County Council in 1952 and used as a teachers’ training college, then as a school. However, by 1974 it had deteriorated severely, almost to the point of being fit only for demolition. It was saved by the joint efforts of the Victorian Society and the Wandsworth Society who had it listed. At this point the RVPB was the responsibility of the Greater London Council who passed it on to a sympathetic developer in 1980. Over the next six years it was fully restored and converted into arts spaces and offices and, of course, a bar and restaurant.
Le Gothique serves three changing cask beers, often from Sambrook’s, Drop Project and Downton. The Great Hall will mostly be used for events but Mark and Andrew will be happy to let visitors take a look when it is not in use. Just ask. Please note however that they may well be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, if booked for an event, especially in the summer. You can check before travelling by calling 020 8870 6567.
Le Gothique’s opening hours are 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm to 4pm on Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
