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There is no denying that the pub is a staple of British culture. They have been part UK life for centuries, transitioning over time from dirty drinking dens to places of gastronomical eats. But our enthusiasm for the public house has been on the wane for a long time. On average, 29 pubs close every week1. It’s a statistic I don’t like, so I am starting a series on beautiful historic pubs in the UK, beginning with my home city, London.
I’ve chosen pubs I have visited and pubs I have discovered online that have kept or restored their historic features. I adore pubs that make me feel I have gone back in time or that I am part of their history, and the interiors of these establishments will leave you wondering why you don’t spend more time in them.
1http://www.camra.org.uk
The Mayflower
117 Rotherrhithe Street, SE16 4NF
Situated on the River Thames, The Mayflower dates back to the 1600s. It was named after the Mayflower Ship that set sail from a nearby spot. This vessel took the Pilgrim Fathers, separatists who broke from the Church of England, to the New World.
Low ceilings and dark wood paneling creates a moody and cosy atmosphere, all while waves of the Thames laps outside .
Image taken from Time Out London
Image taken from the Mayflower Pub website
Image taken from the Mayflower Pub website
Image taken from the Mayflower Pub website
Princess Louise
208 High Holborn, WC1V 7EP
The Princess Louise is a stunning example of beautifully preserved Victorian interior design. Named after one of Queen Victoria’s daughteres, it is a Grade II listed, this public house underwent a refurbishment in 2007. Even the marble urinals are protected. Built in 1872 and situated not far from the British Museum, inside you will be greeted by an island bar surrounded by booths that retain their snob screens*. Perfect for intimate drinks.
*not such a nice part of Victorian drinking history. These are etched glass that allowed the middle classes to see the working class in the adjacent bar, but the working class could not see them.
Image taken from Pinterest
Image taken from CN Traveller
Image taken from Travels with Beer
The Black Lion
274 Kilburn High Road, NW6 2BY
Travel on the Bakerloo line to visit another Grade II listed public house. The Black Lion, in Kilburn, has a bar, restaurant and 14 guest bedrooms. Built in 1898, this drinking establishment has excellent reviews online, and apparently do a cracking roast.
Image taken from the Black Lion website
Image taken from booking.com
The Viaduct Tavern
128 Newgate Street, EC1A 7AA
The Viaduct Tavern is one of London’s most haunted pubs and the last example of a late Victorian gin palace in the City of London. Which is useful, as gin helps calm the nerves . The interior is wonderfully ostentatious, being modeled on a Victorian opera house. It was built in 1874/5 on top of the cells of the Giltspur Street Compter. This was a remand prison that took in the overflow of prisoners from Newgate Prison, which was across the road. The cells, now used as a pub cellar, are apparently the site of paranormal activity.
Image taken from Design My Night
Image taken from the Viaduct Tavern website
Image taken from Design My Night
The Crown Pub
116 Cloudesley Road, N1 0EB
The Crown in Islington is one of my favourites pubs in London. Continuing the tradition of Grade II listed pubs, The Crown also holds this accolade. It’s Victorian decor is not as opulent as some of the other pubs on this list, but it is no less beautiful. It’s full of locals who actually talk to you, so you’ll not find yourselves amongst wildly inebriated revellers spilling their drinks on your lap. Their food is damn fine too and their staff are always delightful.
Image taken from the Crown website
Image taken from the Crown website
The Blackfriar
174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
Yep, you guessed it. The Blackfriar is a Grade II listed pub, but it’s decor is not like the others above. It is a stunning example of Art Nouveau design. The site it stands on was once the Dominican friary. The Dominicans were known as “the blackfriars” because of the black cloaks they wore, hence the name of the pub. The interior was remodelled in the early 20th century by sculptor, Henry Poole. It features numerous friezes and mosaics (including the sign outside) depicting the Blackfriars. It is understandably a popular pub in London, so avoid lunch or get there very early evening to grab a table.
Image taken from Cat Morley
Image taken from BBC News
Image taken from BBC News
The Victoria
10A Strathearn Place, W2 2NH
Legend has it that Queen Victoria, having disembarked at Paddington Station, stopped off at this pub, and thus it was then named after her. Charles Dickens is although believed to have sat and written part of Our Mutual Friend here. I sometimes find a gin with a bit of ice helps relax the mind, so I don’t blame him (plus, his home must have been crazy with all his children!). It’s location positions it perfectly for visits by royalty, genius, celebrities and all us other folk that keep the wheels turning. The Victoria still boasts many fittings from the mid-Victorian era which many other public houses discarded during renovation. And if you want an intellectual challenge whilst sipping on your beer, Tuesday is Quiz Night.
Image taken from The Victoria website
Image taken from Design My Night
Image taken from Pinterest
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