https://www.spreaker.com/show/pub-crawling-in-londonenSociety & CultureCopyright izi Distribution Serviceshttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/bfaf9ccb78e9ff0f13960d95180dd7f5.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/show/pub-crawling-in-londonWed, 20 Oct 2021 14:49:59 +0000izi Distribution Servicesizi Distribution Servicesfeeds@spreaker.comWhen it comes to history, London has lots of it and the same goes for pubs too! In fact, visiting some of the best-loved drinking dens in the English capital is one of the best ways to get to know the character of the city and to pick up some...cleanepisodicizi Distribution Servicesfeeds@spreaker.comWhen it comes to history, London has lots of it and the same goes for pubs too! In fact, visiting some of the best-loved drinking dens in the English capital is one of the best ways to get to know the character of the city and to pick up some interesting historic facts too. In this tour we will be taking in some of the capital’s finest – and oldest - drinking establishments. From the place where the famous Mayflower ship began the first leg of its journey taking the Pilgrim Fathers over to America, to one of the most notorious highwayman’s pubs in the capital. You’ll be able to track down London’s oldest riverside pub, as well as what might well be the oldest drinking establishment in the entire city, plus the tour includes stop offs at some London drinking spots where historic speeches were written, literary clubs formed and famous tomes penned. Many of the pubs have substantially retained their original features and you can get a good idea of what it might have been like to share a table with Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or a boatload of pirates.There have been all sorts of drinking establishments in London over the years, from the inns and taverns that first got us into the habit of drinking publicly, to the Gin Palaces of the 1820s. Today, London has one of the finest bar cultures in the world, with everything from gastropubs to high-end cocktail bars to choose from. However, when it comes to drinking in a historic spot – where Queen Elizabeth I once danced around a cherry tree or where some of the literary greats of London propped up the bar – you just can’t beat an old London pub.This tour also covers some of the events and context that have influenced the development of London’s pubs. From the Great Fire of 1666 that forced many establishments to rebuild, to the brewing history that made the capital great and the contemporary bar culture that we have today, this tour covers it all. Just remember that you don’t need to visit all the pubs in one day… _______Podcast based on audio guide Pub crawling in London. Author: Tours for everyone In the podcast format you may enjoy stories remotely; if you go out and experience the audio tour on location it is adviced to use the izi.TRAVEL application that really guides you and plays stories automaticly based on your positionNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-15-beer-and-brewing-in-londond2dd1fd8-ddc7-4522-bd79-914ca1d9e503Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:09:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesBeer is something of a British tradition. This hardy drink has come a long way since medieval days when it was brewed in people’s kitchens and was the tipple of choice for the Romans and Greeks before wine was widely available. It’s also provided the...185cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesBeer is something of a British tradition. This hardy drink has come a long way since medieval days when it was brewed in people’s kitchens and was the tipple of choice for the Romans and Greeks before wine was widely available. It’s also provided the foundation for the pub scene that has been a constant theme in London through the ages. London has also been a focal point for the British brewing industry, particularly with respect to the religious establishments of the city, which were where all the beer was being brewed in the 13th century. Thanks to the hops that were brought over to the UK by the Dutch, at one point St Paul’s Cathedral brewery was producing almost 70,000 gallons of the good stuff. In 1342, the brewing of beer was essentially commercialised and moved away from religious establishments. That was the year that the Brewer’s Guild was founded. Four decades later and the brewing industry in London had expanded, fast with more than 300 commercial breweries set up in the city.By the 16th century London was officially a beer loving city. As the history books (and portraits that show his size) record, monarch of the time Henry VIII was a lover of booze, including beer and he had two brewers that supplied the royal household. One of the brewers provided ales and the other beer – the king’s main royal residence at Hampton Court Palace consumed about 13,000 pints a day! In fact, beer was considered medicinal and everyone drank it – even the lowest servants in the household received four pints a day. The Great Fire in 1666 devastated a number of London breweries but in their place new ones opened, such as Truman Hanbury and Buxton, which was to become one of the biggest breweries in the city.The London brewing trade was responsible for bringing an enormous amount of money into the city, as well as new technology too – it was thanks to the Red Lion brewhouse in Wapping that London got its first steam engine. As has tended to be the case in commerce, as the decades passed, the biggest profits were being shared amongst a few large companies. By the 19th century there were 12 breweries supplying 75% of London, while around 100 smaller companies shared the remaining 25% of trade. Lager came to London in 1882 when the Austro-Bavarian Lager Beer and Crystal Ice Company opened a brewery on Tottenham Court Road. However, as the 20th century progressed more and more breweries closed their doors and at last count there were only around 10 in the city.Nohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-14-the-great-fire-of-london7a103ac9-8289-4bb2-a725-f7f3848f7420Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:08:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesLondon’s pub culture was significantly influenced by the Great Fire of London, which took with it numerous taverns and inns that might otherwise still be serving the capital’s drinkers to this day. The fire began just after midnight on Sunday 2nd...202cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesLondon’s pub culture was significantly influenced by the Great Fire of London, which took with it numerous taverns and inns that might otherwise still be serving the capital’s drinkers to this day. The fire began just after midnight on Sunday 2nd September 1666 at a bakery on Pudding Lane – this road is located in EC3 near Monument tube station. The Monument, after which the station is named, was designed to commemorate the Great Fire that almost destroyed the entire city. As much of London was made from wood in the 17th century, the fire swept across the city and raged for three days until Wednesday 6th September. Unfortunately on the night that the fire started there was a considerable wind and this fanned the flames so that traditional fire fighting techniques were almost completely useless. Rumours in the streets of ‘suspicious foreigners’ setting the fires made the public panic and order was lost as the fire continued consuming businesses and homes all over the city. In total, around 13,200 houses were burned down during the fire – these had housed around 70,000 of the 80,000 inhabitants of the City at the time.The Great Fire burned down many of London’s great monuments, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Exchange, the Custom House, the Bridewell Palace and three gates in the west of the city - Ludgate, Newgate, and Aldersgate. Surprisingly, deaths from the fire were thought to have been few and only single figure casualties were recorded at the time. Essentially everything within the Old City was destroyed, from the Tower of London to Holborn and the start of The Strand. Some of the few buildings in the area to survive the fire included the St Bartholomew's Gatehouse, some parts of which date back to the 1200s. 41 Cloth Fair – the oldest house in the City – was also shielded from the flames by St Bartholomew's nearby and many of the houses on Long Lane also survived as the road was protected from the fire by the St Bartholomew's priory walls.A number of historic London pubs did manage to survive the Great Fire, albeit in spirit. Ye Old Cheshire Cheese and The George Inn Yard were two of the pubs that the fire took but which were rebuilt on the same site whereas others, such as the Seven Stars behind the Royal Courts of Justice, actually managed to remain in tact. Of course London’s pubs have been through many trials over the years and The Great Fire was only one of them – religious upheavals and disasters such as the Bubonic Plague had an equally negative effect. However, there has always been a special place in the hearts of the British for the pub – as Queen Victoria once said “Give my people plenty of beer, good beer, and cheap beer, and you will have no revolution among them.”Nohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-13-lamb-flag8581311d-c564-46a0-aeb0-3999be9aa371Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:07:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesAn excess of whisky and buckets of blood have defined the history of The Lamb & Flag. There has been a pub on the site since 1772 so this Covent Garden drinking hole definitely scores highly as one of London’s most historic pubs. If you add in the...153cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesAn excess of whisky and buckets of blood have defined the history of The Lamb & Flag. There has been a pub on the site since 1772 so this Covent Garden drinking hole definitely scores highly as one of London’s most historic pubs. If you add in the fact that Charles Dickens used to drink here then you can see why the establishment is firmly rooted in London’s drinking history. The pub was initially called The Coopers Arms and it became the Lamb & Flag in 1883. It also had a rather dubious nickname for a while - 'The Bucket of Blood.’ This was because the pub used to be used for bare knuckle prize fights in the early 19th century.The Lamb & Flag is by far Covent Garden’s oldest pub and has seen the area go through many changes. During Dickens’s time the writer would have found plenty to write about, as this was an insalubrious part of London, characterised by poverty and slums, violence and crime. In fact, some say it was completely unpoliced for a while because the police were to scared to venture there – a far cry from the way it is today. The alleyway that runs along beside the pub was the notorious spot where poet John Dryden was attacked in 1679 by men who had been hired by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester. The two men had an ongoing conflict and it was this spot that Wilmot chose as the location to try and take the upper hand. The upstairs room of the pub is now called the Dryden Room as a nod to the famous customer who almost met his sticky end nearby. There are two centuries worth of caricatures and cuttings plastered on the walls here, which are worth browsing for those with an interest in the pub and the area - they really add to the sense of history.In the present day there are no slums or bare knuckle fights to speak of at the Lamb & Flag. Instead, you can admire the architecture and parts of the building that date back to the 17th and 19th centuries, try the extensive whisky collection and dive into the menu of pub favourites. This is a great pub to stop off at if you’re shopping in Covent Garden or on your way to a show.Lamb & Flag33 Rose StreetCovent GardenLondonWC2E 9EB Opening hoursMonday – Thursday 11:00 – 23:00Friday - Saturday: 11:00 – 23:30Sunday: 12:00 – 22:30Food? YesTube: Leicester SquareNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-12-the-spaniardsb19cb293-8da7-4b8a-9c6b-2663c3a41c7aThu, 24 Dec 2020 07:06:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesDo you want to find out why Dracula ended the way it did? The Spaniards has the answer…This 16th century inn has had more than its share of brushes with historical figures and has claimed a place in literary history too. It was immortalised by Charles...145cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesDo you want to find out why Dracula ended the way it did? The Spaniards has the answer…This 16th century inn has had more than its share of brushes with historical figures and has claimed a place in literary history too. It was immortalised by Charles Dickens in The Pickwick Papers and legend has it that Keats’ ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ was written in the pub after more than a few glasses of claret. There are also the associations with Bram Stoker's Dracula - one of the ghost stories associated with the Spaniards was used to finish the plot to Dracula.The Spaniards is thought to have been constructed in 1585 and formed part of the entrance to the Bishop of London's estate (look out for the original boundary stone in the pub’s front garden). You can still see the toll house opposite where travellers were charged to go through the Finchley boundary on which the pub was built. Interestingly, today the toll house is in the borough of Barnet, while the pub sits in the borough of Camden.Dick Turpin’s father was once thought to be a landlord of the Spaniards and as a result there are plenty of rumoured associations with the highwaymen that prowled this area several centuries ago. Apparently highwaymen used to watch for unsuspecting travellers from the inn and there are records of the capture of one robber, Samuel Bacon, who was picked up by the police just a few hundred yards away. There was also a tree at the end of the road, which was a well known spot for highwayman hangings.The Spaniards is famous for its gardens, among other things, which are some of the best attached to any London pub and were created to be pleasure gardens. At one point it was possible to see all the way to Windsor Castle from the gardens here. Today, the sizeable outside area makes this a really popular pub in summer, particularly as they host regular BBQs. In the winter it’s all about the roaring fires, cosily Dickensian nooks and crannies and the menu of warming pub classics.Spaniards RoadHampsteadLondonNW3 7JJ Opening hoursMonday – Saturday: 12:00 – 23:00Sunday 12:00 – 22:30Food? YesTube: HampsteadNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-11-prospect-of-whitby5d431d88-a4c7-4d8f-9a72-09fa69322984Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:05:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesSmugglers, devil whisperings and a noose in the window, The Prospect of Whitby is one spooky spot for a drink – perfect if you like goosebumps with your gin and tonic. The pub claims to be London’s oldest riverside tavern and dates from about 1520. It...148cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesSmugglers, devil whisperings and a noose in the window, The Prospect of Whitby is one spooky spot for a drink – perfect if you like goosebumps with your gin and tonic. The pub claims to be London’s oldest riverside tavern and dates from about 1520. It was first known as ‘The Devil’s Tavern’ as, in its early days, the pub had a rather dubious reputation. In the 1600s it was a favourite drinking hole of "Hanging" Judge Jeffreys – who gained his name after sentencing hundreds of men to death following the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685. His presence is commemorated today by a noose that still hangs from the window. As well as the noose, when you go to the Prospect of Whitby look out for the original flagstone floor, which dates back to the 16th century. The rest of the building that you see today came 300 years later. The interiors of the pub reflect the history that was heavily influenced by the pub’s position by the Thames - it was once a meeting point for smugglers, sailors and cutthroats. You can see chunks of ships masts embedded in the building, as well as smugglers barrels and shipping mementos decorating the interiors. There are some quite dark legends associated with the area - for example the tales that captured pirates were tied to the posts here and then left until high tide to drown. It was also the location from which Sir Hugh Willoughby’s failed attempt to discover the North-East Passage to China was launched in 1533.Make sure you get a good view out over the Thames from the prospect as this horizon has been sketched by both Turner and Whistler. The Grade II listed building has also been frequented by the likes of Charles Dickens and Samuel Pepys and has also appeared in popular culture, from books to TV shows. The Prospect of Whitby has also attracted numerous celebrities over the years, from Princess Margaret and Prince Rainier, through to Kirk Douglas and Paul Newman. Today, The Prospect of Whitby is a great place from which to enjoy the Thames with a solid menu of pub food and some good beers.57 Wapping WallLondonE1Opening timesMonday – Thursday: 12:00 - 23:00Friday – Saturday: 12:00 - 00:00Sunday: 12:00 - 22:30 Tube: Shadwell (DLR)Food? YesNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-10-gordons-wine-bar7e858b09-e516-4597-b307-be1a238865e8Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:04:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesDo you get peckish in pubs? There are more than 20 cheeses on the menu at Gordons and it’s London’s oldest wine bar (established 1890). Entering the bar via its creaking staircase down into the cavernous rooms below is certainly a rather Dickensian...141cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesDo you get peckish in pubs? There are more than 20 cheeses on the menu at Gordons and it’s London’s oldest wine bar (established 1890). Entering the bar via its creaking staircase down into the cavernous rooms below is certainly a rather Dickensian experience. The wood and exposed brickwork on the walls, which are covered in memorabilia and historic newspaper cuttings add to the ambiance. Gordon’s is pretty much entirely candlelit – as it might have been back in the late 19th century – and the rough and tumble collection of furniture gives the place a rather glamorously run down feel.Arthur Gordon, the bar’s first owner, was a ‘free vintner’ – one of very few people who could set up and sell wines anywhere in the country without a licence. This rather odd situation arose as a result of an agreement with Edward III after he was unable to repay loans that the vintners had extended to him a number of years earlier. There are also many other fascinating historic associations with Gordon’s – Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Light That Failed’ in the room above the bar and he was also known to write in the parlour of the bar itself.The bar was established in the vaults of demolished Georgian houses and this subterranean atmosphere gives it a unique and historic feel. It has barely changed since it was first established in 1890, including the menu, which doesn’t offer a single beer. Instead there is a fantastic range of wines and champagnes, as well as port, sherry and madeira that are served from the barrel. If you want something to go with your tipple then there’s plenty of cheese (there’s also a full menu of hot and cold food and tapas). The clientele of Gordon’s has included many creatives and thespians from the original Player’s Theatre, which used to be positioned almost directly opposite. It also attracts a large number of lawyers and has become known as the "adulterous barrister's bar" thanks to its numerous dark corners.47 Villiers StLondon WC2N 6NEOpening hoursMonday – Saturday: 11:00 – 23:00Sunday: 12:00 – 22:00Food? YesTube: EmbankmentNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-9-simpsons-tavernda28cf4e-0856-4db4-a190-6d83262d806fThu, 24 Dec 2020 07:03:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesFancy potted shrimps with your pint? Or a spotted dick and custard? Then head for London’s oldest restaurant – and don’t forget your bowler hat. The founder of Simpson’s – Thomas Simpson – was something of a Gordon Ramsey in London in the 18th...135cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesFancy potted shrimps with your pint? Or a spotted dick and custard? Then head for London’s oldest restaurant – and don’t forget your bowler hat. The founder of Simpson’s – Thomas Simpson – was something of a Gordon Ramsey in London in the 18th century. Before he opened Simpson’s Tavern, Cornhill he had already opened the Fish Ordinary Restaurant in Bell Alley, Billingsgate followed by the Queen's Arms, Bird in Hand Court, Cheapside when the first property was demolished. The land on which Simpson’s sat was a gift from his father and when the establishment was opened in 1757 it sat opposite the site of the first coffee house – The Jamaica Wine House. Initially, the establishment did not admit women and it wasn’t until 1916 that the doors were opened to the fairer sex.As well as being a drinking establishment, Simpson’s Tavern is well known for its food. Back when the tavern opened The Original Fish Dinner was on the menu and one of the major attractions of the place for many people is the fact that the menu hasn’t particularly changed. For example, there are potted shrimps in butter, oxtail stew, steak and kidney pie and those famous fish and chips – as well as old school deserts like spotted dick and custard. Plus, the interiors of the pub still feel very much olde worlde – with wood paneled stalls and frosted windows - as if they haven’t changed since it was first opened back in the 18th century (which they most likely haven’t). Look out for the overhead brace rail, which is designed to hold your top hat or bowler while you eat your lunch.Simpson’s can lay claim to being the oldest restaurant in London, as well as a historic drinking establishment and was frequented by the likes of Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens. Today it’s worth a visit to dine in its historic interiors on its unchanged menu to get a real sense of London as it was over two centuries ago.38 1/2, Ball Court AlleyCornhillLondon EC3V 9DR Opening hoursMonday: 11:30 – 15:30Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 – 15:30 Saturday & Sunday: ClosedFood? YesTube: BankNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-8-the-french-house7d8d90fc-1a1f-4158-89ed-2a80a4c6ad00Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:02:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesThe French House is celebrity heaven but you can only get a pint on 1 April if you’re very nice to the pop star Suggs. The pub sits on Dean Street in Soho and is particularly famous for being the establishment that sells more Ricard than anywhere else...150cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesThe French House is celebrity heaven but you can only get a pint on 1 April if you’re very nice to the pop star Suggs. The pub sits on Dean Street in Soho and is particularly famous for being the establishment that sells more Ricard than anywhere else in the country. Ricard is an aniseed flavoured liqueur that is popular in France. The French House also serves only half pints of beer – the only exception to this is on April 1 when pints are served. A recent tradition of the French House has been that the pop star Suggs from Madness draws the first pint on April 1 as his mother was a barmaid at the pub. In fact, this Soho pub has attracted more than its share of famous faces throughout the years. Some of its well known patrons include Robert Plant (who described the French House as his favourite bar in the world), Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, Oliver Reed and Edith Piaf.The heritage of The French House stretches back to 1910, when the pub was opened as ‘The Wine House.’ It was actually established by a German named Schmidt but when he was deported at the start of the First World War Victor Berlemont took over – famous for being the first foreigner to be granted an actual full English pub licence. Although Berlemont changed the name from The Wine House to York Minster, the pub’s nickname was ‘The French.’ The origins of the nickname are confused – some believe it was because locals thought Berlemont was French (he was in fact Belgian). Others claim that it’s because this is where de Gaulle wrote his rallying "À tous les Français !" speech calling for the Résistance after he fled to London following the fall of France during the Second World War. Whatever the reason, the name has stuck.Although The French House certainly isn’t the oldest pub in London, stepping inside it does feel like stepping back in time. Wood paneling and memorabilia line the floors and walls and the pub retains its atmosphere thanks to a refusal to accommodate modern distractions like fruit machines or loud music. There’s food during the day but not in the evening although there are plenty of bar snacks.49 Dean StreetSohoLondonW1D 5BG Opening Times: Monday – Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 Sundays: 12pm - 22:30Food? Yes, during the day.Tube: Leicester SquareNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-7-the-white-hart357da380-a89b-44a8-981f-491549ded029Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:01:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesIf you were a highwayman about to be hung in the 1700s then this pub would be where you had your last pint…The White Hart’s claims to be the oldest licensed premises in London so if you’re looking to have a drink in what might the city’s very oldest...153cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesIf you were a highwayman about to be hung in the 1700s then this pub would be where you had your last pint…The White Hart’s claims to be the oldest licensed premises in London so if you’re looking to have a drink in what might the city’s very oldest pub then don’t miss this one. The pub claims to have been first established in 1216 but was rebuilt in the form that you see it today in 1912. The Old Bailey records a pub called The Whyte Hart Public House on the site here since the 15th century at least, so it’s certainly one of London’s oldest establishments. It also used to be one of the least safe, as this pub was a favourite with London’s highwaymen and rogues.When Drury Lane become a fashionable street during the 16th and 17th centuries, the area – and the pub – really cleaned up its image. Some of the more notable residents of the area at the time included The Marquess of Argyll, Oliver Cromwell and Nell Gwynne. Unfortunately, in the 18th century the area once again took a turn for the worst and the poet John Gay wrote the following about Drury Lane: “O may thy virtue guard thee through the roads of Drury’s mazy courts and dark abodes.” Brawls, public drunkenness, prostitutes, slums and gin palaces were all common to the area at that time and The White Hart survived it all, seeing many historic figures pass through its doors as the decades passed. One of the most infamous was highwayman Dick Turpin who – like many condemned to the noose – had a last drink in the pub before he was hung in 1739.While The White Hart certainly trades on its impressive heritage it’s also one of the few historic London pubs to have kept up with the times. A recent refurbishment has made the place more visitor friendly and there’s also an impressive, mostly impromptu range of entertainment, from chatting to celebrities such as Paul Merton, to listening to the musicians who often turn up here to do spontaneous performances after their shows in nearby Theatreland.191 Drury Ln London WC2B 5QDOpening hoursMonday – Thursday: 11:00-00:00Friday: 11:00-02:00Saturday: 12:00-02:00Sunday: 12:00-23:00Food? YesTube: HolbornNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-6-the-grapes0e0e3b46-31cd-4f4c-b308-b46f70e27fd3Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:00:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesWould you like to drink in a pub owned by Gandalf? Well then The Grapes in Limehouse, East London is the pub for you. Ok, so it isn’t actually Gandalf who owns the pub but Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen who has lived on the same street as...149cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesWould you like to drink in a pub owned by Gandalf? Well then The Grapes in Limehouse, East London is the pub for you. Ok, so it isn’t actually Gandalf who owns the pub but Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen who has lived on the same street as The Grapes for decades. McKellen considered the pub his local for years as he was friendly with former licencee Barbara Haigh who had been a Playboy Bunny at the Playboy Club in the 1960s. In fact, the pub was more than just a drinking hole for Gandalf-to-be and was also his local restaurant – he used to get sandwiches or fish and chips from the upstairs room to take home with him.While McKellen might be the most famous contemporary name associated with The Grapes he’s certainly not the only one. The Grapes was originally called The Bunch of Grapes and a pub has stood on the Limehouse site since 1583. In Queen Elizabeth I’s time it became a focal point for world trade and was patronised by many intrepid seafarers, such as Sir Humphrey Gilbert, one of the Queen’s explorers. In fact Sir Walter Raleigh set sail from a spot directly below The Grapes when he started out on his third voyage to the New World. The Grapes appears in some historic pieces of fiction, mentioned for example in Charles Dickens’ ‘Our Mutual Friend’ as “a tavern of dropsical appearance.” Narrow Street, on which the pub sits, was a favourite of painters Francis Bacon and Edward Wolfe, who both lived on the street, and the Limehouse area was incredibly popular with writers. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a plot line for Sherlock Holmes who came here looking for opium in the area from local Chinese immigrants. Another major selling point for The Grapes is that this was one of the few pubs to survive The Blitz during the Second World War, which wiped out large parts of the London. Today, the pub has a cosy local feel and a genuine dockyards character that reflects its fascinating history. The food menu includes such classics as a pint of devilled whitebait and soup of the day with Wapping bread and butter.76 Narrow StreetLimehouseLondonE14 8BP Opening timesMonday – Wednesday: 12pm to 3pm & 5:30pm to 11:00pm Thursday – Saturday: 12pm to 11pm Sunday: 12:00pm to 22:30pm Food? YesTube: Limehouse, Westferry (both DLR)Nohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-5-the-viaduct-tavern54dd56d2-595b-4021-a520-e87320070ac2Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:59:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesAn opium den on the first floor? Prison cells in the basement? The Viaduct has seen all sorts of debauchery over the ages and if you’re looking to discover what London’s original Gin Palaces might have looked like then it is a perfect example. Ornate...169cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesAn opium den on the first floor? Prison cells in the basement? The Viaduct has seen all sorts of debauchery over the ages and if you’re looking to discover what London’s original Gin Palaces might have looked like then it is a perfect example. Ornate fittings, gas lighting and elaborate decor defined the Gin Palaces of the Victorian era and you can still see the design in The Viaduct, an authentic survivor of Gin Palace style. The mirrors and etched glass panels that you will see in pubs all over the country hail from this period; the traditional pub bar is a relic of the counters that were used to serve in the ‘dram shops’ that preceded the Gin Palaces. The Viaduct was also thought to have hosted an opium den on the first floor at one point so this really is a pub that knows how to show its patrons a good time!The Viaduct sits at the east entrance to the Holborn Viaduct and was named to commemorate the road’s opening in 1869, which was also the year that the pub opened. The Viaduct was the first ever in central London and considered a major architectural achievement by Queen Victoria. Over the years there have been whisperings that the pub used to have five prison cells in the basement. These were thought to be a part of Newgate Prison across the street (which was demolished in 1902 to make way for the Old Bailey). However, it’s likely that this rumour comes from the fact that the land the pub now stands on used to be the site of a debtor’s prison called Giltspur Compter. This would mean a rather less dark and gruesome type of criminal than a Newgate prisoner once lived here. Before the pub was built public hangings were a frequent spectacle in the area and there is a small water feature across the street that apparently marks the spot where the hangings took place. As a result of this rather grisly history in the area many believe that The Viaduct is haunted by the spirits of those who met their end here. Today, The Viaduct still has the Gin Palace feel, which is why it’s a favourite drinking haunt for many who love historic London pubs. You’ll also be able to have a tipple to celebrate that piece of the pub’s past as The Viaduct prides itself on the wide range of gins to choose from. Look out for the ‘toll booth’ in the pub, where the landlord used to sell beer tokens to the public to stop the staff getting their hands on any money.126 Newgate StreetLondonEC1A 7AA Monday – Friday: 8:30–11:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed Food? YesTube: St Paul’sNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-4-ye-olde-mitrebc5505d3-8d29-4527-9875-726209b714d3Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:58:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesA hidden drinking den that dates back to 1546 – but you might also recognise it from films like Guy Ritchie’s Snatch (perhaps Brad Pitt drank from your glass..). The pub was originally built for the servants of the Palace of the Bishops of Ely from...148cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesA hidden drinking den that dates back to 1546 – but you might also recognise it from films like Guy Ritchie’s Snatch (perhaps Brad Pitt drank from your glass..). The pub was originally built for the servants of the Palace of the Bishops of Ely from Cambridgeshire and is actually still officially part of Cambridgeshire and not the City of London. It has its own mini religious dominion (perhaps a little like the Vatican). The police can’t enter the pub unless invited to do so by the commissionaire, although whether these traditional rules would still be obeyed if you started turning over the tables remains to be seen.Although the pub was first constructed in the 16th century, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1772 and has remained pretty much in the same condition since it was reconstructed. It’s thought that the current pub construction includes a stone mitre (a distinctive 90 degree joint) from the old Palace of the Bishops of Ely gatehouse. This has been built into the wall – hence the name. The pub is located on Ely Place, which is also home to St Etheldreda's. This is the only medieval Catholic church in London and the last remnant of the old palace.During the reign of Elizabeth I, Sir Christopher Hatton – who was one of the Queen’s favourites at the time – took an interest in the land around St Etheldreda's and wanted to build himself a magnificent palace there. Bishop Cox, who was in charge of the land only complied when the Queen threatened to defrock him if he didn’t allow the construction to go ahead. It was the Queen’s friendship with Christopher Hatton that led to the legendary tale of her dancing around a cherry tree with him – a cherry tree that stood at the door of Ye Olde Mitre pub.Part of the charm of Ye Old Mitre is that its only accessible by alleyways – from two separate streets – and is hidden away with that curiously cramped design that indicates a truly traditional London pub. The pub serves food, such as scotch eggs and traditional pies and chips and the drinks selection includes plenty of ales and beers.1 Ely CourtEly PlaceHolbornLondonEC1N 6SJMonday – Friday: Until 23:00 Saturday: CLOSED Sun: until 22:30 Food? YesTube: Chancery Lane, FarringdonNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-3-ye-olde-cheshire-cheese7dbdba7d-bd0f-4c78-8a68-af1fbce3c0edThu, 24 Dec 2020 06:57:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesIf you’re wondering why this pub has such a Dickensian vibe, it’s because Charles Dickens was one of its regulars…(FYI there’s no cheese on the menu). There has been a pub on the site of Ye Old Cheshire Cheese since 1538 and it’s certainly one of the...168cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesIf you’re wondering why this pub has such a Dickensian vibe, it’s because Charles Dickens was one of its regulars…(FYI there’s no cheese on the menu). There has been a pub on the site of Ye Old Cheshire Cheese since 1538 and it’s certainly one of the most atmospheric pubs in London when it comes to traditional look and feel. Before you enter the pub be sure to look to the right of the door and here you will see a list of all the monarchs who have reigned in England during the time in which the pub has been supplying thirsty Londoners with mouthwatering drinks.When you visit Ye Old Cheshire Cheese you’re in great company, as Oliver Goldsmith, Mark Twain, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton and Dr. Johnson are all thought to have been regular patrons. Centuries ago you’d have found them propping up the bar and setting the world to rights (or drinking and scribbling in the corner). Charles Dickens was also a regular and the pub has a serious Dickensian feel, being slightly gloomy, small and squashed looking. Nevertheless, it is full of character and the design hasn’t changed for centuries.The pub was originally destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt shortly afterwards. The vaulted cellars of the pub are thought to belong to a 13th-century Carmelite monastery that was once located here. It was the monastery’s guesthouse that was perhaps the first incarnation of the pub as somewhere to host visitors.The interiors of Ye Old Cheshire Cheese are fascinating – dark and wood paneled, the pub has a large floor space but is split into numerous corridors and different dining rooms, bars and staircases. It’s easy to see how it became home to a number of dining clubs and societies – such as the Rhymers' Club (founded by W. B. Yeats and Ernest Rhys and 1890) – and why many well known figures found refuge in its charmingly gloomy corners. Perhaps one of the most famous residents of the pub was Polly the Parrot, who lived at the pub for 40 years, entertaining patrons. Polly’s death was announced on the BBC news and recorded in obituaries in more than 200 newspapers around the world. Ye Old Cheshire Cheese is particularly well known for its bar snacks so make sure that you arrive hungry.145 Fleet StreetLondonEC4A 2BU Opening hours Monday to Friday: 11am-11pm Saturday: noon-11pm Sunday: noon-4pm. Food? YesTube: Temple or Chancery LaneNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-2-the-old-bell-taverna567763c-f091-4791-ba99-7bd3640a4069Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:56:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesDrinking den of media barons and wordsmiths throughout the centuries and right next to the famous wedding cake church! The Old Bell is a London pub that has pretty much seen it all and has been licensed as a tavern for more than three centuries. A lot...169cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesDrinking den of media barons and wordsmiths throughout the centuries and right next to the famous wedding cake church! The Old Bell is a London pub that has pretty much seen it all and has been licensed as a tavern for more than three centuries. A lot of beers and ales and a lot of drinkers have passed through its doors during this time but the Old Bell has still managed to keep its unique character, despite the changing face of the modern city all around it.The Old Bell was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1670. Wren is one of the most highly acclaimed architects in British history, responsible for the design of iconic buildings, such as the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, the south front of Hampton Court Palace, the Monument, the Wren Library at Cambridge University and the Royal Observatory. He built the Old Bell in order to house the masons who were working on nearby St Bride’s Church for him. The church had been destroyed during the Great Fire. St Bride’s spire is thought to have been the inspiration for the traditional tiered wedding cake.In fact, the history of The Old Bell as a drinking establishment goes back even further and the pub was previously known as Twelve Bells, the Golden Ball or Bell. In 1500, when it was called The Sun, Wynkyn de Worde, former assistant to England’s first printer William Caxton, constructed a printing press in the pub and books were printed there. This area has had a long association with printing and The Old Bell has played a key role in it. More recently, it has hosted lunches and drinking sessions for many of the journalists and media barons who worked in the area during the 1970s and 1980s when most of the UK daily newspapers were printed in the area. Today, the pub very much retains is quiet, traditional character, although it can get quite lively during lunchtime and after work happy hours thanks to all the offices nearby. Coloured, leaded glass windows, a well worn wooden floor and distinctive London pub signage give The Old Bell a real sense of character and many original features have been maintained. The pub serves a range of real ales and traditional pub food. Once you’ve finished your drinks then take a stroll out of the back door and into St. Brides Church courtyard for a moment of peace in this bustling city.95 Fleet StLondon EC4Y 1DHOpening times:Monday to Friday: 11:00 - 23:00Saturday: 12:00 - 20:00Sunday: 12:00 - 17:00 Food? YesTube: Temple or St Paul’sNohttps://www.spreaker.com/user/13721751/episode-1-london-and-booze60dde589-862d-4e2a-b8fe-c2f4e7178b75Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:55:14 +0000izi Distribution ServicesAside from the fact that London has always been a focal point for the British brewing industry, the English capital and alcohol have always gone hand in hand.London and GinGin consumption increased markedly during the first half of the 18th century...227cleanfullizi Distribution ServicesAside from the fact that London has always been a focal point for the British brewing industry, the English capital and alcohol have always gone hand in hand.London and GinGin consumption increased markedly during the first half of the 18th century and the focal point for all the British debauchery? London of course. The ‘opium of the people’ was guzzled by the gallon in England’s capital and the evils of its effects (everything from suicide to infanticide) were captured in the 1751 print by English artist William Hogarth – ‘Gin Lane.’ The uncontrolled drinking of gin became such a problem that there were even attempts to legislate it with five major acts created to try and control the consumption of gin. The gin craze finally began to subside after the Gin Act 1751 and in the 1800s the far more palatable and sophisticated(ish) face of gin gave us London’s famous gin palaces.London’s famous drinkersGiven that London has always been the centre of the British entertainment and social sets it’s not surprising that it’s been home to some of the most famous drunks over the decades. The American writer and London resident Ernest Hemingway was a notorious alcoholic and is credited with the phrase ‘write drunk, edit sober’ although it’s not known whether he actually said it. Edgar Allan Poe was another notorious 19th century American party boy and lived for a time in Stoke Newington. It’s unlikely that Winston Churchill was a serious alcoholic but he’s certainly known as one of history’s most famous drinkers; Bonnie Prince Charlie was a royal who was particularly well known for his love of all things alcoholic, as was Henry VIII, Edward VIII, George VI (the list of boozy British monarchs is endless). London has also had its fair share of drunken poets, actors and thespians, from Christopher Marlowe through to Oliver Reed.Celebrity drinking holesLondon is a magnet for celebrities and the uber rich from all over the world and as a result you’ll find some of the most famous bars in the world in the modern city. The Met Bar for example, was a notorious hangout for Britpop heroes and supermodels like Kate Moss during the 1990s and Chinawhite was a much loved haunt of footballers during the early noughties. These days many celebrities take a more low key approach to their drinking, although there are still plenty of drinking spots that have that celebrity sparkle, from the Groucho Club to The Arts Club. If you’re rich and famous and you want to have somewhere quiet to drink then why not simply buy the place? Madonna’s ex Guy Ritchie did just that with the Mayfair pub The Punchbowl, Piers Morgan purchased the Hansom Cab and chef Gordon Ramsey, The Narrow.Whichever way you look at it London’s drinking establishments are inextricably intertwined with its history. When it comes to getting to know the city and its heritage, there are few more fun ways to do it than by taking a tour of the numerous pubs and bars. Some might even say they have made the city what it is today…No