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ooo o o A–Zo PLACES TO EAT COUNTRY HOUSESo SCHOOLSoCHURCHESo MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONSo OTHER BUILDINGS

Butler's Retreat, Epping Forest

 

BUTLER'S RETREAT
12 Rangers Road
North Chingford
London
E4 7QH

020 8524 2976

 

Butler's Retreat began life as a barn in or after 1859 to store harvested corn from Chingford Plains. A family who lived at that time in Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, next door, had started to serve teas but found the teas were in the way when people wanted to look round the Lodge. They were given permission to use the barn provided it could still be used as shelter when children visited. Butler's Retreat continued to serve teas until recently, and offered a party venue too. Though it is currently closed, teas are available from a mobile catering van nearby.

Castle Inn, Woodford Green

 

THE CASTLE INN
High Road
Woodford Green
Essex
IG8 0XG

020 8505 8615

 

 

The area around the Castle Inn was once a hamlet known as Woodford Row. The present Castle Inn dates back to the early 1800s but there has been a hostelry on the same site at least since the 1750s. A former posting house, the Castle has long been one of the area's most popular watering holes for visitors to Epping Forest.

Crown & Crooked Billet

 

THE CROWN & CROOKED BILLET
13 Cross Road
Woodford Bridge
Essex
IG8 8BN

020 8502 9192

 

The Crown and Crooked Billet was built in the late 18th century though altered since. Its scenic position overlooking the larger of the two greens and the pond at Woodford Bridge has ensured its popularity.

Eagle Inn, Snaresbrook

 

THE EAGLE INN
73 Hollybush Hill
Snaresbrook
London
E11 1PE

020 8989 7618

 

 

Originally known as the Spread Eagle, this was an important 18th century coaching inn on the London-to-Newmarket route. Now rebranded and owned by a carvery chain, the Eagle has a restaurant to the rear. Eagle Pond, nearby, takes its name from this popular inn.

The George, Wanstead

 

THE GEORGE, WANSTEAD
High Street
Wanstead
London
E11 2RL

020 8989 2921

 

The present George was built in 1904 to replace an earlier hostelry which in its early days was called the George and Dragon. This was a coaching inn on the London to Epping route: coaches could be booked next door. The building of the railway in 1856 meant there were fewer coaches from that time on, but the George has remained a popular watering hole ever since.

The George, South Woodford

 

THE GEORGE, WOODFORD
70 High Road
South Woodford London
E18 2QL

020 8532 2441

 

The traditional-looking George Inn, on the corner of High Road and George Lane, helps retain some historic character in South Woodford. The building dates from the early 18c but has later additions. There is known to have been a 17th century inn preceding this one, however, known as Horns Inn. By the mid 18th century the George was one of five inns in Woodford: the others being the White Hart, the Ship and Castle, the New Wells, and the Old Wells.

The Horse & Well, Woodford Wells

 

THE HORSE AND WELL
566–568 High Road
Woodford Wells
Essex
IG8 0PS

020 8505 8805



 

The Horse and Well at Woodford Wells existed as the Horse and Groom by the early 1770s, and as the Woodford Wells in 1838. It was licensed as the Horse and Wells in about 1784. There had been two other pubs at Woodford Wells: The Old Wells and the New Wells. Both those were gone by the end of the 1700s. The present Horse and Well was built in the early 19th century.

The King's Head Inn, Chigwell

 

KING'S HEAD INN
High Road
Chigwell
Essex
IG7 6QA


020 8500 2021

 

This historic pub in Chigwell was the inspiration for the Maypole Inn in Charles Dickens’ novel Barnaby Rudge. In the 20th century it was a favourite lunch venue for Sir Winston Churchill during his time as the local Member of Parliament.
The King's Oak, High Beach

 

THE KING'S OAK HOTEL
Nursery Road
High Beach
Loughton
Essex
IG10 4AE

0208 508 5000

 

The King's Oak hotel was built in 1887, when it was planned to extend the railway to High Beach. In fact the nearest stop was Chingford. High Beach was a major attraction for Londoners who would arrive in hordes at weekends and on bank holidays. Cyclists and motorcyclists have traditionally used High Beach as a meeting place and the King's Oak is a favourite venue for club reunions. The first speedway race took place behind the building in 1928.
www.kingsoakhighbeach.co.uk

Prezzo Restaurant, Elmhurst, Woodford

 

PREZZO Restaurant
Elmhurst
98 High Road
South Woodford
London
E18 2QH

020 8559 0192

 

Designed by Joel Johnson of Walthamstow, Elmhurst was built in 1771 for a Silvanus Grove, and originally known as Grove House. After 1818 it was owned by a merchant, Alexander Stewart, who had sugar plantations in Jamaica; when slavery was abolished he was paid significant compensation. Two further families owned the house from 1851 until 1920, when it was bought by Queen Mary College and used mainly for student accommodation. The estate included sixteen acres till 1925 when the Southend Road was cut through it. Elmhurst was sold in 2004 for development.

The Royal Forest Hotel, Chingford

 

ROYAL FOREST HOTEL
4 Rangers Road
Chingford
London
E4 7QH

020 8523 7246

 

Originally built in 18??, the first building burned down and was replaced in 1933 with the present hotel, built to a similar design. The hotel was a well-known jazz venue in the 1930s but also hosted a number of dinners attended by Sir Winston Churchill when he was the local MP.
No longer offering accommodation, the Royal Forest is a popular pub and family restaurant for people enjoying a day out in Epping Forest.

The White Hart, Woodford Bridge

 

THE WHITE HART
Chigwell Road
Woodford Bridge
Essex
IG8

 

The White Hart at Woodford Bridge existed in the late 18th century but was rebuilt in about 1900 with a more ornate front.