Many readers will be familiar with the Coach & Horses in Greek Street, Soho – better known as ‘Norman’s’ after its long-serving and legendarily rude landlord, Norman Balon, who retired in 2006. CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group (PHG) has always recognised the pub as having an important historic interior. We know it was fully remodelled between the wars and most of that work – wall panelling, tapered bar counter, bar back and spitoon troughs – survives intact. The pub is split into three spaces by a pair of screens which have lost their double doors. PHG is very keen to find out when that removal took place; do any readers remember the pub before it was opened out and, if yes, can they recall approximately when that was done?
Any information about a few other alterations would also be most welcome. The middle section apparently once had fixed seating against the outer wall; is that correct and, if so, when did it go? Ditto, in the right-hand part there are reports that once there was a frosted glass panel bearing, in red, the legend ‘Wine & Spirits’. Finally, the upper section of part of the bar back must be a later addition because the inscriptions commemorate long-lost, if not loved, products like Skol and Double Diamond which suggests an early 1960s date. If anyone can help with these queries, we would be most grateful. Please contact paul.ainsworth@camra.org.uk
Paul Ainsworth