Olde Mitre Inne, Ye, High Barnet

This ancient and very beautiful inn, dating originally from the seventeenth century, contains four separate drinking areas. The two front rooms are the oldest, although the partition between them has been partially removed, creating a wider opening between the two. The original front door, opening into the snug area, has also been closed and a more modern (although still old) opening created into the longer front side bar. The L-shaped bar counter, made from varnished wood and probably Victorian, opens into both these spaces, and the bar incorporates a fireplace of some antiquity, with an original crazed tiling surround. The back of bar appears to be more recent. Old wooden wall panelling in the side bar has been cut to fit the uneven ceiling, and small hinged windows with modern glass open into the carriage passage running alongside the building.

Behind the two front drinking spaces is a lower bar which appears to have been refurbished more recently, although the outer walls are faced with what may be early 20th century panelling. Half timbering on the interior wall appears to be more recent. The flagged floor is partly covered by a modern carpet. The layout of the room may have been modified, with a curved half wall next to the seating area appearing to have been added to separate a corridor space leading to the rear of the building. There is an original serving hatch opening from the bar area.

Beyond the lower bar is a lengthy corridor which leads past the toilets to a rear room which was once a stables and more recently has been used for storage. It was converted into a drinking space in 2013. Many original features from the stables remain – including two thirds height, still functioning doors with the upper half barred which originally opened into the main stables area, and the original paved floor. Doors into the garden appear to be modern, presumably replacing half doors originally opening into stables compartments.

It is possible to recognize many of the original features in this inn, particularly in the two front rooms. There have been some changes to the layout, however, principally the removal of partitions to create wider door spaces, the moving of the front door originally leading into the snug, the probable alterations to the lower bar, and the recent renovation of the stables area. Nonetheless this is a highly attractive and congenial place to drink and eat, and well worth making a detour to visit.