Ossington Coffee Tavern

The Ossington Coffee Tavern is a Grade II* listed building in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. It was erected and endowed in 1882 by Charlotte Viscountess Ossington, widow of Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington, and given to the town of Newark-upon-Trent as a temperance coffee tavern and hostelry. The foundation stone was laid on 10 November 1881 by Harold Peto of the architectural firm Ernest George and Peto, and the tavern opened on 23 November 1882. The building was designed to promote the cause of temperance, offering a general coffee room, boys' room, kitchen, assembly rooms, reading room, library, club room, billiard room, dormitories for travellers, stabling for horses, a tea garden, and a bowling alley. The final cost of construction was £13,500, and Lady Ossington endowed it with £20,000; including the land, her total contribution was £38,049. The venture was not commercially successful as a temperance tavern, and in 1889 it became a private hotel. In 1942 it was taken over by the Air Ministry to accommodate airmen from RAF Winthorpe. It was designated Grade II* listed in 1971. In 2014 it was sold to become a Zizzi pizza restaurant with other residential and retail units; that branch closed in 2021. In January 2024, Stray's café and bistro moved from Middlegate to The Ossington, returning it to its original purpose, but in March 2025 it was announced that Stray's was closing.

The Ossington Coffee Tavern was conceived as a temperance establishment in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. The foundation stone was laid on 10 November 1881 by Harold Peto, representing the architectural firm Ernest George and Peto, who designed the building. A sealed bottle containing coins of the realm and an inscription was placed within the stone. The inscription recorded that the building was erected and endowed in 1882 by Charlotte Viscountess Ossington, third daughter of William Henry Cavendish, fourth Duke of Portland, and widow of the first Viscount Ossington, late Speaker of the House of Commons. She gave it to the town of Newark-upon-Trent as a token of her interest in its prosperity and with the earnest desire to promote the cause of temperance. The land was purchased from Philip Handley of Newark for £4,549. The building, designed for a coffee tavern and hostelry, cost some £12,000 exclusive of the site, with the final cost reaching £13,500. Lady Ossington endowed it with £20,000, making her total contribution £38,049 including the land. The tavern opened on 23 November 1882 and was named after Lady Ossington. The ground floor contained a general coffee room, boys' room, kitchen, and offices; the first floor had assembly rooms for market dinners and large gatherings, a reading room, library, and club room for Masonic and other benefit societies; the second floor had a billiard room and dormitories for travellers. There was stabling for 30 horses, a cart shed for farmers on market days, a tea garden, and a bowling alley. The woodwork carving, including ceilings and cornices, was by Walker Smith of London. The river side included a garden planted with limes intended as a German 'Bier Garten' for outdoor musical entertainment, with a large oak summer-house and a 65-foot flagstaff. Another garden facing Castle Gate was planted with acacias and enclosed with iron railings. Stables for 48 horses and a carriage-house were also included, and Messrs Benham and Sons of London equipped the kitchen. The building was not a successful commercial venture as a temperance tavern, and in 1889 it became a private hotel. In 1942 it was taken over by the Air Ministry to accommodate airmen from RAF Winthorpe. In 1971 it was designated a Grade II* listed building. In 2014 it was sold to become a Zizzi pizza restaurant with other residential and retail units. In 2021 this branch of Zizzi's closed, leaving the ground floor empty. In January 2024, Stray's café and bistro moved from their Middlegate location in Newark to The Ossington and returned it to its original purpose. In March 2025, it was announced that Stray's was closing.

• 2025

  In March, it was announced that Stray's was closing.

• 2024

  Stray's café and bistro moved to The Ossington in January, returning it to its original purpose.

• 2021

  Zizzi branch closed, leaving the ground floor empty.

• 2014

  Sold to become a Zizzi pizza restaurant with residential and retail units.

• 1971

  Designated a Grade II* listed building.

• 1942

  Taken over by the Air Ministry to accommodate airmen from RAF Winthorpe.

• 1889

  Became a private hotel after failing commercially as a temperance tavern.

• 1882

  Tavern opened on 23 November, named after Lady Ossington.

• 1881

  Foundation stone laid on 10 November by Harold Peto of Ernest George and Peto.

A philanthropic temperance establishment and later a hospitality venue in Newark-on-Trent, housed in a Grade II* listed building.

• Temperance coffee tavern and hostelry

• Private hotel

• Zizzi pizza restaurant

• Stray's café and bistro

1. 1Ossington Coffee Tavern, Newark on Trent - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ossington Coffee Tavern - Wikidatawikidata.org