The Rising Sun Public House – Tottenham Court Road at Windmill Street, Fitzrovia, London, England

This imposing four-storey structure houses the Rising Sun, a public house at 46 Tottenham Court Road, Fitzrovia, London. This pub was established in 1730 and most recently re-built in 1897 in Art Nouveau Gothic style by two much admired Victorian architects Leonard Martin (1869-1935) and Henry John Treadwell (1861-1910). The Rising Sun is said to be their masterpiece. It is an elaborate building with classical pilasters framing the second floor windows, a high parapet and a three-bayed return facade to Windmill Street. It sports delicate mouldings, heraldic beasts, rising suns, decorative gables, and an elegant bartizan. (A bartizan is an overhanging turret.)

In the early 1980’s, the owners of the day made a bizarre decision. They changed its name to The Presley, lowered the ceiling by about two yards, anointed it with pictures of Elvis and turned it into a rock 'n' roll bozo. It was an eccentric interlude which the next owners, Scottish and Newcastle, speedily put behind them. It is now The Rising Sun again, or almost. The extravagant Victorian interior is irretrievably gone. It is now what they call an Ale House: bare boards, real ales and speedy pies. The facade, though, has been meticulously restored. So good news from this generally ill-favoured thoroughfare. Outside, a minor masterpiece rescued. Inside, well, at least the ceiling is back where it belongs. It is a Grade II listed building with English Heritage.