Appraisal

No. 17, Mercer Street, return on Shelton Street, formerly the Mercers’ Arms P.H.

Marking the corner of Shelton Street and Mercer Street, the former Mercers’ Arms at no. 17, Mercer Street, is a lively four-storey former pub and has an original pub frontage with polished, pink and grey granite pilasters. The windows at third floor level are contained in pedimented dormers on each three-bay and four-bay street-elevations. The upper floors are faced in warm red brick with painted stone dressings and cut-brick panels of sunflowers and other decorative features. A tall chimney stack crowns the canted corner. The Mercers’ Company’s demi-Virgin heraldic device – ‘The Mercers’ Maiden’ - is used as a support to the recessed, moulded panel on the canted corner extending through the first and second floor storeys that once contained the original pub sign.

An unlisted building of particular architectural interest and townscape value contributing positively to the character, appearance and significance of the Covent Garden Conservation Area.

The recessed panel on the canted corner should be re-used for a painted sign of appropriate design and lettering. The red brickwork of the upper storeys should be washed to reveal its full brightness, and the joinery of the former pub front painted in strong colours chosen from the recommended list.