The official re-opening of the Trafalgar public house, relocated to 224- 226 Kings Rd. (on the corner with Chelsea Manor St) will be on Trafalgar day 21st October. It will be attended by the Vice-chairman of The Chelsea Society, whose ancestor fought in the battle.
The grade II Listed Building, constructed in 1910, was designed by Reginald Blomfield as a bank, (latterly the Nat West Bank) in the ‘Wrenaissance’ style, the elevations comprising soft red brick and Portland ashlar on a plinth of grey granite.The building has been sensitively converted to a pub and restaurant, with a theatre venue in the basement, named the Havannah Room (after HMS Havannah, launched in 1811 and commanded by the 3rd Earl Cadogan during the Napoleonic wars).Many historic details have been retained, including the high ceilings which give a sense of spaciousness. The dining area has been separated from the ‘pub’ space, creating an elegant linear room, with beautiful Montgolfier-Empire chandeliers, the whole both cosy and grand at the same time.The Trafalgar retains a ‘real pub’ feel with timber panelled booths and the walls adorned with mosaic-esque panels, and a collection of historic images and paintings, including some facsimiles which refer to the building’s past as a bank.The front door has a heavily moulded surround with a triple keystone, above which is a carved panel bearing a crown and anchor (as if the architect foresaw that one day the building would become The Trafalgar pub!) and a festoon, which is now adopted as the logo for the Pub, – a rare bond between the new establishment and the building it has adopted.
The Chelsea Society is committed to saving buildings which are worth saving, and we are pleased to see one of those buildings converted to a suitable new purpose, which contributes to the social amenities of Chelsea.
