PUB CRAWLS – Page 2

January 18, 2014 by: Sunny London

Nicholson’s Pub Crawl London: Exchanging a Shoe for a Kwak?

BEER. How many of you would give up a shoe for a great glass of beer? Last night I watched, completely mystified, as my husband proudly handed over his shoe to a bartender so he could gulp a Kwak. Yep. A Kwak. And it was all in the name of the first official Sunny in London pub crawl!

We purposely started my own Nicholson’s Pub Crawl London at The Porcupine because I frequented this pub often during the semester I interned at NBC News- London Bureau. It was just steps away from my flat and the bureau.

My husband ordered a San Miguel, and I enjoyed a small Rioja. Ok, I’ll confess right now that I don’t fancy beer. But, it’s hardly acceptable to live in London and not partake in the pub culture.

The pub is located just outside the Leicester Square tube station on Charing Cross Road and Great Newport Street at the edge of Chinatown.

We also ordered some nibbles, a Scotch egg and fried calamari. The menu at the pub is fairly standard: Fish and Chips, Burgers, Homemade Chicken Kiev, Shepherd’s Pie for Two, Steak and Kidney pie, etc.

The next stop on our Nicholson’s Pub Crawl London involved a quick trip through Chinatown to De Hems Dutch Café Bar on Macclesfield Street.

This delicious spot is a favourite of my husband and his mates. It dates back to the 17^th century, and according to its website, it takes its name from a Dutch seaman who bought the pub in 1890.

De Hems features an intense specialty Belgium and Continental beer menu. Pay attention to the picture below. It doesn’t list prices- it’s alcohol percent level…

I stuck with my Rioja, and my husband decided to give a “kwak” at something different. He asked the bartender if it still held true that you had to surrender a shoe for the special brew. Once it was confirmed, he handed over both his right Merrell and his money in exchange for this stunning replacement slipper and his drink.

It is served in a wooden glass holder specifically designed with a rounded bottom, which enhances the flavour of the beer. The shoe serves as collateral for the pub to guarantee that customers won’t run off with, or as the British say “nick”, the glass and holder.

De Hems not only features the standard British Nicholson’s menu but also features Dutch food, heavily influenced by Indonesian cuisine due to the Dutch colonization of Indonesia. Such food items include chicken sate and spring rolls.

Once my husband finished his Kwak, he made the shoe/holder exchange and we were off to our third Nicholson’s pub, Marquis of Granby on Rathbone Street. I continued my evening’s date with Rioja, and Mr. Sunny switched back to San Miguel.

The Marquis of Granby was a popular hangout for the NBC crew members and local postal workers because it’s located near the old bureau and a local postal sorting location.

I thoroughly enjoyed my mini Nicholson’s Pub Crawl London. If you visit their website, they offer “Ale Trails” in Soho and Oxford Street, Theatreland, Piccadilly to Westminster, Historic to Blackfriars, The Financial District, and London Bridge to Tower Bridge. You also can get a free Ale Trail T-shirt by using their collector’s leaflet and getting six different stamps from six different pubs. If you visit the site, you can also download their Autumn Ales Tasting Guide.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the Shoe-Kwak exchange and what ideas/suggestions you have for future Sunny in London pub crawls!

For more on amazing pubs in London, we highly recommend this book that we purchase each year…
The Good Pub Guide 2016

January 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

The 5 Worst American Beers

Do you have any idea how many American beers exist now? This question really intrigued my British husband, Mr. Sunny, on our recent trip to Florida. While we were there visiting from London, he was on a mission to try as many American beers as possible.

I’ve never fancied the taste of beer. So, during our ten days visiting my home state, I sat back and watched him sample beer after beer and took notes on all his observations.

Through his devout ‘research’, he discovered several American beers that feels are lovely. Unfortunately in this experiment, he identified a handful that made the drink challenge a bit hard to swallow.

Let’s begin with the positive and then move to the ‘only if it’s the last beer available on Earth’ option…

If you’re an avid Sunny in London blog reader, you’ll know Mr. Sunny regularly orders Stella Artois. We really should get some kind of brand ambassador role for this because it’s mentioned in nearly every food, restaurant and drink review we do.

Next, he’ll select San Miguel, if Stella isn’t on the beer menu.

If I’m not around and he’s at a leaving drink or night out with his mates, he’ll get serious and order a Delirium Tremens. He’s a huge fan of Belgian beers. We wrote about where to drink these beers in Brussels.

When he was twenty, Mr. Sunny spent a year living in Los Angeles. He recalls very few beer options at bars during that time. Now, he is simply amazed at how far American beers have come and always takes pictures of the taps to send his mates in London.

On this trip, he rated Yuengling beer as the best. Following that, honourable mentions go to Rolling Rock and Budweiser.

And these are the ones he will fondly refer to as ‘the Worst American Beers’ on the planet.

Worst American Beers: Up River Lager

Brewed by the Mudshark Brewing Company in Arizona, this lager didn’t impress Mr. Sunny. Specifically, he said it left a more than fishy taste in his mouth. Even though we were on holiday in Florida, this still didn’t sit well with this self-proclaimed professional beer drinker.

Worst American Beers: Lagunitas Beer

This IPA is billed as ‘highly drinkable.’ It has a bit of caramel malt barley that ‘provides the richness that mellows out the twang of the hops.’

Mr. Sunny says, ‘the twang makes your tongue curl.’ No good.

Worst American Beers: Humbolt Brown Hemp Ale

We admit that Mr. Sunny tried this beer just to be a bit cheeky. It’s brewed with toasted hemp seeds that add an herb-accented flavour. Although it’s won numerous awards in California, Mr. Sunny says ‘Just Say No’ to this one. Further, he said it didn’t even give him the munchies. Duuuuuuude.

It’s in the center in the picture above.

Worst American Beers: Floridian Hefeweizen

The tagline ‘Suntan for your Soul’ definitely caught my husband’s attention. He says the best sunscreen for a British bloke is to be seated at an indoor bar.

However, this beer from the Funky Buddha Brewery didn’t go down like the liquid sunshine we had hoped for.

Worst American Beers: Milwaukee’s Best Light

Finally, Mr. Sunny agrees with the entire US drinking population in saying that ‘The Beast’ is by far the champion of the worst American beers.

So, that’s an Englishman’s view of what’s on tap in America.

We want to give a special shout out to the House of Beer in Port Orange, Florida for letting Mr. Sunny sample so many beers for this story. They have a great Winterfest selection of booze for the holidays, if you’re in the area.

Mr. Sunny would like for everyone to know that this is the blog post he enjoyed the most, and he’s available to conduct this type of research anytime, any place. And, he really loves the personalized beer mug that With Luv Design sent him for Christmas. He says it’s a stocking stuffer he hopes to keep full year round!

Do you agree with Mr. Sunny’s worst American beers? Which ones would you add to the list?

October 15, 2019 by: Sunny London

The Best Pubs Near King’s Cross London

Mr Sunny and I never thought to share a King’s Cross Pub Crawl with you until this past summer. Generally, the King’s Cross and St Pancras International Station area is where we change trains or get trains. For example at these two stations it’s common to take either the East Midlands Railway Link, Eurostar, Southeastern or Thameslink.

This means that Mr Sunny and I don’t spend much time in the actual neighbourhood because we are likely just to have a drink at a pub or bar before or after a trip and then head to our travel destination.

For people visiting London for the first time, the British Library would be the only iconic place of interest in the immediate King’s Cross area. It is not a neighbourhood I would suggest getting a hotel if you want to be centrally located near many attractions or great shopping.

However, it is great for those taking a trip on the Eurostar to France, Belgium or the Netherlands before or after staying in London. Or, people planning additional trips within the UK to York or Edinburgh might want to stay close to the stations if they have an early train to these destinations.

So, what happened this summer that made us think you would want to know the best pubs near King’s Cross London?

Train delays and cancellations!

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Pubs at King’s Cross and St Pancras Station

On a few nights during the summer in 2019 all trains were cancelled from King’s Cross. This caused thousands of people who commute to London for work to either be stranded for hours, or even worse for them, stuck in London overnight.

If you know British culture, you know that the solution to being delayed is to wait in a pub with a pint. Or two. Or three…

Therefore, Mr Sunny felt it his moral obligation as an Englishman born in London to ‘help out humanity’ by preparing a list of the best pubs near King’s Cross. He recommends you have this list in your pocket so it is ready to help you cope with severe train delays at Kings Cross or St Pancras international station.

Perhaps the easiest pub to find at these stations is the Betjeman Arms, which is in St Pancras International Station on Euston Road. It is the poshest pub on our King’s Cross pub crawl.

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The Grand Terrace at the Betjemen Arms has a great view of St Pancras Station and the famous The Meeting Place statue. In fact, that’s probably why I have had drinks there a few times. It is really easy to find because you can just direct people to meet you at the ‘pub near the statue at the station.’

This Geronimo Inns pub is open early for breakfast. The British menu changes seasonally, and they have craft beers and moreish wines from around the world.

Of our two pubs at the stations, King’s Cross Wetherspoons (AKA The Barrel Vault) is the top pub that Mr Sunny recommends. He chooses Wetherspoons because it is known for its cheaper prices. They also offer a good English breakfast. He is pretty sure that you can get it as takeaway too, if you are in a rush to catch a train. The Barrel Vault pub also is closely located to screens displaying train times, which is smart to keep your eye on while you are waiting.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- A Short Walk Away

If you leave either station and make a right on Euston Road, you will find O’Neills on 73-77 Euston Road. It is technically located in Marylebone.

O’Neills is an Irish Pub and Bar chain in London. This specific location is closed for a remodel until 21st October. We’ll be sure to include an update when the doors open again.

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Not too far down the road you will find The Euston Flyer at 83-87 Euston Road. Mr Sunny says this pub near King’s Cross is a great place for watching major sporting events. It is a lively location and is part of the Fuller’s pubs experience. Avid readers of Sunny in London know that we love their food and have reviewed many Fuller’s pubs.

Mabel’s Tavern is just around the corner on a side street off of Euston Road. At 9 Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9AZ this tavern is allegedly haunted. Mabel’s Tavern is a traditional alehouse with a wide variety of superb beers and freshly prepared food on the menu.

At Mabel’s Tavern you will find commuters and tourists plus local office workers at lunch time. Crowds gather at this pub near King’s Cross in the evening to watch live sports events.

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Just when Mr Sunny thought he had been to all the pubs in London, we discovered The Dolphin the day we did our final research for our list of the best pubs near King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. It is a straight shot from Mabel’s Tavern and is on 47 Tonbridge Street.

He loved it because he feels it is a “proper old traditional pub.’ Mr Sunny said The Dolphin and the next stop on this pub crawl are probably the last of the pubs that can be considered ‘local pubs’ in the King’s Cross neighbourhood because so few people can afford to live in Central London now.

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You might call the Skinner’s Arms an old London boozer. What caught Mr Sunny’s attention the day we visited is the “saloon” insignia above the door frame. He explained to me that back in the day, a saloon bar was separate from the public bar. It was an area for those deemed more elite and had better seats and drinks. The public bar was cheaper and an area where working class would mainly just get drunk.

The Skinners Arms has a friendly atmosphere for all. inside and outside you will regularly find London’s working commuters and visitors. The pub is located in Judd Street WC1, just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross station and Euston Road.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Food

With all this beer, we feel it would be best to give you some food tips to soak up the alcohol. Mr Sunny gravitates to burgers or steak to compliment cold beer. He is a huge fan of Five Guys, which is just outside King’s Cross Station. My favourite burger joint in London is Shake Shack, which has locations in Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Victoria Station.

Another burger place near King’s Cross that we know is good is Honest Burger. Many of Mr Sunny’ mates who work in the area go to The Big Chill for after work drinks. It’s a laid-back bar club with basement and roof terrace, hosting busy and eclectic DJ programme. The Big Chill is on 257-259 Pentonville Road.

For a stronger meal, we recommend Bar and Block. They have great deals, so it’s worth following them on social media to know what’s on offer.

However, if you are on the run, The Kiosk is an independent takeaway kiosk offering deli-style roasted-meat sandwiches, plus iced teas and coffees that is right inside St Pancras station.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Final Thoughts

Please let us know if you visit any of these pubs, because we are always interested in feedback. Plus, if you have any experiences at pubs in the King’s Cross area that you can add, that would be great!

To be honest, if there ever is an occasion when Mr Sunny hasn’t been to a pub in London, he relies on the Good Pub Guide. If you are in America you can get it either as a hard copy or the Kindle version on Amazon here.

Want a Freebie for London food?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

August 27, 2019 by: Sunny London

Best Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl London

If you’re a Londoner, you might be quick to call ‘click bait’ on a pub crawl on King’s Road. Because there are hardly any pubs actually on the King’s Road. It’s actually known for being one of the most popular streets for shopping in London. So, in order to get my London born husband (who is a self-proclaimed pub expert) out for a day in Chelsea with me, I put him in charge of a King’s Road Pub Crawl that included a side of shopping.

Initially this wasn’t too much of a challenge for him because he spent part of his childhood living in Chelsea. He and his family had a few local favourites that he wanted to visit. However, some of them haven’t stood the test of time. And some have morphed through the times in to a different experience.

Nonetheless, Mr Sunny put together a list of pubs that will impress anyone visiting London as well as has local knowledge of the pubs in Chelsea. Let’s take a look, Sunny friends.

Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl

Chelsea Potter is one of the few pubs on King’s Road. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you know that Mr Sunny and I love the happy hour deals at Greene King pubs. In each newsletter, Mr Sunny recommends a pub of the week. Quite a few have been from this franchise because who doesn’t love 2 for 1 Prosecco and beer?

Pubs in Chelsea- Around the Corner

The Cross Keys- Mr Sunny was eager to see The Cross Keys. This pub should not to be confused with the ‘classic old boozer’ pub in Covent Garden on Endell Street with the iconic floral front. The Cross Keys in Chelsea is discreet and tucked away on a residential street. In fact, this is the description of many of our choices in the Best Pubs in Chelsea Pub Crawl.

Location: 119 Kings Road, Chelsea SW 3 4PL

What Mr Sunny likes: It’s near King’s Road and the Embankment, so it’s a great escape while the ‘Mrs is shopping’. The Sunday Lunch looks good and seems to be frequented by mostly locals. That’s always a good sign! Another good sign is the list of celebrities who drank at The Cross Keys.

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The Phene: We enjoyed drinks here. Mr Sunny feels it is still a local’s pub but is definitely more of a gastropub.

Location: 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

What Mr Sunny likes: The beer garden is fabulous and the Sunday lunch looks delicious. We advise you to arrive early for this food experience because it was quite packed when we stopped by. Or better yet, you should book a table in advance.

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Cooper’s Arms- This pub does a great job of combining contemporary and traditional design. Their website suggests they have a welcoming atmosphere, so take a look at these shots and see if you agree. I love pubs that have comfortable furniture and a vibrant colour scheme.

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Location: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea SW3 5TB

What Mr Sunny likes: The terrace is good for having a quick smoke or vape and the menu features a traditional Sunday lunch.

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The Surprise: This was at the top of Mr Sunny’s list because it was his dad and mum’s local when he was a child. He remembers when locals clearly had one side of The Surprise pub, and the other side was devoted to the public.

Location: 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea SW3 4AJ

What Mr Sunny likes: He says he is a bit disappointed that over the years it has made such a change to a gastropub. However, since it’s a Young’s Pub, we know the menu and food are top notch too.

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Phoenix- Mr Sunny feels this Geronimo Inn pub off of the King’s Road is more of a traditional London pub. He thinks they offer good beer, fine ales and lager.

Location: 23 Smith Street, Chelsea SW3 4EE

What Mr Sunny likes: While we note the above mentioned strengths, this pub represents nostalgia for Mr Sunny too. He would love to know if anyone remembers the curry house that previously was next to this pub. It was one of his family’s favourites. His parents would enjoy drinks in the pub and the curry house owner would signal them when their take away order was ready.

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The Antelope: Of all the pubs we visited on the Sunday we did the Chelsea Pub Crawl, this was Mr Sunny’s favourite.

Location: Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW11W 8EZ

What Mr Sunny likes: We know that it’s a tad bit on the edge of Chelsea, but it’s well worth a visit. As a traditional Fuller’s pub, The Antelope has London Pride. This is Mr Sunny’s dad’s daily beer choice.

He loved seeing a nice horseshoe shaped bar and enjoyed seeing a bar full of locals watching live sports.

Pubs in Chelsea- Out of Range

Our final stop was The Botanist, which is listed in The Good Pub Guide. While it suited me just fine, Mr Sunny decided to skip having a drink here because it is quite posh. Londoners won’t be surprised to hear that Mr Sunny said it was full of ‘Sloane Rangers.’

Location: 7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE

What Mr Sunny likes: ‘This is a great place to use to loo before you leave Chelsea’

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Pubs in Chelsea- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny has an excellent memory, when it comes to recalling pub locations and what their unique selling points are. However, he also uses Good Pub Guide to keep the pulse on what’s happening in the London pub scene. As you can see, through time pubs change names, ownership and style. Having a book or app readily available if you live in London and were born here is always a good idea.

If you’re visiting London and need help, it’s a great idea!

We hope you enjoyed this Best Pubs in Chelsea pub crawl. If you’d like regular recommendations from Mr Sunny, don’t forget email subscribers regularly receive his pub suggestions!

What are your favourite pubs in London? Have they changed through the years? Do you still visit them when you’re in the neighbourhood?

January 30, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Woodman Pub- for those who have GAME

I have quite a treat today for my Sunny friends who are interested in rich English culture. It’s an adventure to the Woodman Pub, and unlike previous posts (the Nicholson’s and Covent Garden Pub Crawls), today we’re taking a rustic, hearty pub journey. So, roll up your sleeves and throw on your Wellington boots, mates!

After travelling down a tiny, windy road in Wild Hill, Hertfordshire you’ll reach the Woodman Freehouse. For my google map obsessed friends, it’s The Woodman Pub, Wild Hill Hatfield Hertfordshire AL9 6EA

This pub, which has been an eight time winner of the South Hertfordshire “Pub of the Year”, is located on one of Henry XIII’s hunting lodges.

Currently, it belongs to Lady Salisbury, who fancies a bitter here on occasion. And if you’d like a glimpse in to the English hunting tradition, this is where you should be!

This round of drinks with my husband, his father and myself included a half dozen free range chicken eggs. The total was barely over £10. (~$15)

Let’s be clear- the eggs aren’t part of a “giveaway” for a round of adult beverages. My father-in-law said it was important to buy them because they were so fresh they had probably been laid that morning. My husband indicated they also had goose and duck eggs for purchase. Sometimes, the pub asks customers to bring the carton back if they find they’re running low in their carton supply, They can leave them in the entrance, and guess who’s on watching…

We ordered our lunches, which consisted of my fish finger sandwich, my husband’s toasted cheese/ ham/onion, and my father-in-law’s bacon roll. The bread was so pillowy fresh it dissolved in my mouth faster than cotton-candy.

Like any English pub, there was a dart board, and of course…. atleast one canine.

I thought my new doggie friend Cato was posing for my camera, but I learned later that he was most likely focused on the sandwich I had in my other hand.

Unlike the atmosphere of Central London, there were also a few equestrians and their horses that pranced past the pub.

The Woodman holds traditional hours, which means it closes at “half two” and reopens at 5:30pm. Let me tell you, at 1:40pm on a Monday afternoon, the place was packed with estate and farm workers, as well as gamekeepers, all fresh from the outdoors.

I hear that most local people venture there mainly for the bitter, but they also specialize in real ale. Usually, there’s 6-7 real ales from micro-breweries on draft, where most pubs feature four. Lagers aren’t very popular. One special on tap this particular day was “Henry Weston, Old Rose cider”, which clocks in at 7.3% alcohol. They change the sign each time they receive a delivery, and while we were there…

So, within minutes…

You guessed it- SIGN CHANGE!

It’s also known for rearing pheasants for pheasant hunts, which also are sold by the pub if they are left over.

If you can only make one trip to the Woodman Pub, perhaps you might want to consider going for one of the two beer festivals they have during summer months. During this time, it’s popular for people to camp in the fields behind the pub so they don’t have to travel in the evening and can return early the next morning.

Sunny friends, if you’re looking for a genuine sport bar with a real macho, outdoors feel, I can’t imagine there’s any place finer than the Woodman Pub.

To find other interesting pubs, my husband and his father highly recommend The Good Pub Guide. American readers can find it here.

June 15, 2015 by: Sunny London

A London Pub Crawl with Hollywood History

Interested in a London Pub Crawl that integrates beer and Hollywood history? We’ve found just the journey for you, Sunny friends! In honour of Mr. Sunny’s birthday week, we’re publishing what we think could be the best Sunny in London pub crawl on the blog.

The irony of this London pub crawl is that it started on April 1st and didn’t end until Monday, June 1st.

Why so much drama?

Contrary to it starting on April Fools’ Day, this beer adventure is no joke. However, it is straight out of Hollywood.

Mr. Sunny has wanted to take me on a City of London pub crawl for a while. We thought it would be fun before we hit the RS Hispaniola’s Spring Menu Launch party on the River Thames. We tried to meet up in the area, but the plan derailed when I was two stops away on the Underground and learned the Holborn station was closed.

Once I arrived above ground, I sent a text to Mr. Sunny advising him to take another route. Minutes later I learned there was a fire in Holborn that was causing the station closure. My imagination ran wild, and I was sure glad I was in open air and no longer below the streets.

He found me, and we hit our first stop on our historic Hollywood London Pub Crawl.

London Pub Crawl: Ye Olde Mitre

I’ve always felt Snatch features Brad Pitt’s best acting. So, I love Mr. Sunny’s imitation of his accent when we’re being silly, ‘dawg’. Ye Olde Mitre is featured in the film. However, if you aren’t looking for this London pub, you would walk right past it. Write down this address: 1 Ely Court, Ely Place, London EC1N 6SJ. This is the only signage I could find…

As we walked down the alley to the pub, Mr. Sunny informed me of more drama. Apparently, police cannot enter this pub without permission because it’s not in the jurisdiction of London Metropolitan Police. When checking the pub’s website, I read this:

Built in 1546 for the servants of the Bishops of Ely, The Ye Olde Mitre is famous for having a cherry tree, (now supporting the front) that Queen Elizabeth once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton. The pub was actually a part of Cambridge (Ely being in Cambridge) and the licencees used to have to go there for their licence. Set in a part of London steeped in history, it’s near where William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered at Smithfield, along with martyers and traitors who were also killed nearby.

Yikes!

Since the pub is under the Cambridge jurisdiction, this seems true.

I treaded carefully to the front door, curious what I would see…

I don’t have many shots of the interior because it seemed packed with Londoners. As an American expat married to a British man living in London, I’m always keen to blend when I can. Whipping out the blog camera to take pictures of people who were part of this ‘secret society’ of London pub knowledge didn’t seem cool. But, I did stealthily grab two for you.

As the London fire in Holborn continued to burn, we ventured to our next historic location that also has a bit of a secret society feel.

London Pub Crawl: Knights Templar Pub

Well, not really. There’s nothing secret about this pub’s appearance. However, it is named after the Warrior Monks- The Knights Templar. It also had a crowd full of Londoners. Hence, the ceiling shots below.

The Knights Templar Pub website indicates it opened on March 31, 1999 on 95 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1DT. It is named after the Order of Warrior Nights across whose land Chancery Lane was built in the 12th century. The interior is truly stunning and gives you the feel of being on a Hollywood set. No corner is left untouched by the historic theme.

Or should we say Hollywood theme?

Have you seen The Da Vinci Code? The plot moved heavily around the Knights Templar. Apparently, if you look very closely during the scene featuring Middle Temple Church, you might spot the Knights Templar Pub.

This is when our own London Pub Crawl had some drama.

When Mr. Sunny and I left this pub, we tried several others but found nearly everything closed and the streets a bit chaotic. The Holborn fire was taking over this part of town and causing most businesses to lose power and be evacuated, including several pubs we tried to visit.

After feeling like we too needed to vacate, we fled to safety aboard the R.S. Hispaniola and had a fabulous, fire free evening.

But, there was still one place left to see.

London Pub Crawl: The Old Bank of England

On June 1st, I found myself near East London with some extra time. It had to be done, even if Mr. Sunny couldn’t make it. I finished the London Pub Crawl. See if you can find the pub in this picture below.

Not so easy, is it? Let’s cross the street and take a closer look to see if it helps you…

This is The Old Bank of England, situated in the former Law Courts Branch of the Bank of England at 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT. This pub’s history stretches back to 16th and 17th centuries where two taverns stood on the site of the Old Bank of England. In 1888 they were demolished to create room for construction of the Law Courts’ Branch of the Bank of England.

The website indicates that The Bank of England traded at this site for 87 years until 1975.

It was in 1994 that the London Brewers Fuller’s took over the lease. Aside from this factual information, there’s a creepy past also connected to the pub.

Heard of Sweeney Todd? That’s the fictional character originating in Victorian literature and then hitting stage and Hollywood screen. It’s alleged that The Old Bank of England lies between the barber shop owned by Sweeney Todd and the pie shop owned by his mistress Mrs Lovett.

It’s in the tunnels below The Old Bank of England that Sweeney Todd is said to have butchered his victims before they were cooked and sold in pies to Mrs Lovett’s customers.

Double Yikes!

I’m glad I just sipped on a large glass of red wine (I hope!) and took a few pictures the afternoon I visited. After researching the history of this last stop on the London Pub Crawl when I got home, I will say I am curious about what’s really on tap at The Old Bank of England.

All jokes aside, The Old Bank of England is not only historic and connected to the drama of storytelling and Hollywood but also a gorgeous pub.

London Pub Crawl: Final Thoughts

Mr. Sunny and I hope you have the chance to enjoy this pub crawl that certainly has a ton of English history, Hollywood connections, and let’s not forget… in the words of Mr Sunny…

Damn good beer!

Although Mr Sunny plans our pub crawls based on his life as a Londoner and passionate beer drinker, he and his father recommend The Good Pub Guide for Londoners and visitors. American readers find it here. and be sure to read the resource I have for you: A Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time

What fun, historic pubs have you been to in London, Sunny friends?