Feature continues
Ten other pubs of yore
Old Bull & Bush
Built as a farm in 1645, became pub in 1721. Celebrated in an Edwardian music-hall song.
(North End Way, NW3)
Jamaica Wine House
London’s oldest coffee house, dating to 1652 but rebuilt after the fire and recently refurnished.
(St Michael’s Alley, EC3)
Seven Stars
Built in 1602 but unclear whether it remained a pub throughout its 400+ years.
(53 Carey St, WC2)
Red Lion
There’s been a pub on the site since 1434. The current pub dates to 1733, and was remodelled in 1896.
(48 Parliament St, SW1)
Ye Olde Mitre Tavern
One of the hardest-to-find pubs in London. The first Mitre was built
here in 1546, demolished in 1772 and almost immediately rebuilt.
(Ely Court, EC1)
Prospect of Whitby
Dates back to at least 1520, when it was known as the Devil’s Tavern.
The original building burnt down in the eighteenth century and the
current Prospect went up in its place.
(57 Wapping Wall, EC1)
The Olde Wine Shades
Built in 1663, it survived the fire and following centuries almost intact – licensed premises the whole time.
(6 Martin Lane, EC4)
Anchor
Shakespeare’s local, this is where Pepys watched the Great Fire, when
the pub was already over 100 years old. The pub has since been rebuilt
twice after fires – in 1750 and 1876.
(34 Park St, SE1)
The Guinea
A pub has been here since 1423. It was called the Pound, but changed
its name to mark the new currency in 1663. Current building dates to
1720s.
(30 Bruton Place, W1)
White Swan
Waterfront boozer dating back to around 1700 that faces the magical Eel Pie Island.
(The Riverside, Twickenham)
Bars, Pubs and Clubs
London Eating & Drinking
3 comments
Publican Roxy Beaujolais and I can't prove that The Seven Stars (53 Carey Street WC2) has been continuously operating as a pub since 1602-- no one can absolutely vouch for a building's useage over 400 years-- but the signs strongly indicate as much. The name has survived almost intact (it was first called The League of the Seven Stars in reference to the commercially important seven provinces of Holland), we uncovered authentic Elizabethan timberwork when I installed the dumbwaiter a few years back, and for most of its history the Stars stood close to working areas of river traffic with plenty of custom likely from the docks. We don't say Shakespeare popped in for a pint amid lively surroundings from his workplace at Blackfriars, but I bet he did.
The Tipperary on Fleet Street is said to have survived the Great Fire & dates from 1605 when it was the Boars Head
the bell just off cannon street survived the fire - it used to be a riverside pub in those days, before the river was embanked...