| Ye Oldest Pub 15:03 - Aug 23 with 9695 views | colinallcars |
Nice article in the Sunday Times mag.
Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem was thought of as the oldest, and I visited a few times on that, but they say it's not even the oldest in Nottingham.
They say the Henry Tudor in Shrewsbury which is actually the original building (1426)
There's a pub in Amersham that many say is the oldest - been there but can't remember the name.
No flat-roofers there.
The oldest in our vicinity must be Ye Olde White Harte in Barnes.
Anyone know any contenders. They'll all be gone soon the way things are going.
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 14:36 - Aug 25 with 1750 views | R_from_afar |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 18:13 - Aug 23 by johann28 |
There's quite a few pubs that go back to the Anglo-Saxon age. The Old Ferry Boat Inn, St Ives, Cambridgeshire reportedly dates back to 560 AD although there's no written evidence of this, but the inn is mentioned in Domesday Book and according to locals is haunted by Juliet Tewsley, a ghost who appears annually on the anniversary of her death by hanging herself after a narrow home defeat in the last minute in 1050 (+3). The Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswolds dates from 947 AD, and features a 16th-century stone fireplace with “witch marks” intended to ward off evil spirits who often appear dressed in Chelsea kits (ok, I made that last bit up). Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham – claims to have been established in 1189 AD, but as you say there's definitely ones as old, if not older ones there, for example, Ye Olde Salutation Inn, which sits on a network of caves and is believed to date back to the 9th century. It is also, inevitably, reputedly one of the most haunted pubs in England. The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, also documented in Domesday Book as The Ship Inn in 1086, is considered one of the most likely candidates for the oldest pub still in operation, whilst Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (stop it), St Albans claims to date back to 793 AD. The George in Southwark has the oldest documented claim in Town (1542), but the Prospect of Whitby also claims to be older (1520), as does The Cheshire Cheese (1538). Ye Olde Mitre (1546) and Ye Olde Cock Tavern (1549) also date from the 1540s. [Post edited 23 Aug 22:27]
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I was going to mention Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, it was very pleasant when I visited it a few years back. In fact, St Albans is a brilliant, if expensive, place for a pub crawl because it boasts lots of small but homely back street pubs.
My favourite historic pub is the 14th century Pilchard Inn, on Burgh Island, in Devon. Unless it's low tide, you can only access it by sea tractor, boat or helicopter. It is known to have been used by local smugglers and is very atmospheric inside. There's also an art deco Hotel on the island.
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| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 14:58 - Aug 25 with 1683 views | Boston |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 18:53 - Aug 24 by TwoHalves |
‘Rudest Landlord/Landlady’ is one such ‘business opportunity’. In London that accolade was often claimed by the late Norman Balon, mine host at Soho’s Coach and Horses.
Another contender, in my experience, was the landlady at the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub (the one prone to week-long lock-ins when it snows), in West Yorkshire.
Arriving there in the company of my three Citeh (and one Liverpool) mates at the end of a gruelling day on the Pennine Way, having climbed over two sheep blocking the entrance, we were greeted with a cheery, “Oh, that’s all I f*cking need. Another bunch of f*cking walkers”. |
Another bunch of fvcking w@nkers, y’say! |  |
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 22:45 - Aug 25 with 1470 views | loftboy |
I always thought that the hung drawn and quartered was a very old pub, turns out the current building went up in 1914, there was a drinking establishment on the site going back hundreds of years but not the current building. |  |
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 09:23 - Aug 26 with 1320 views | johann28 |
Next time you're in the City with time on your hands, be sure to check out the appealingly named Hoop and Grapes (originally named Hops and Grapes to show it sold both beer and wine) which claims to be the oldest Licensed House In the City. Originally built in 1593, it's been extensively changed over the years, but was very lucky to survive the Great Fire of London, which stopped just 50 yards away. As a result, the structure is one of the very few timber buildings to have survived. The first impression when you enter is of the crooked 17th century frontage with sash windows fitted in the 1720’s at eccentric angles, whilst to the back is a flagged floor next to a huge chimney breast in a space that was a kitchen in the sixteenth century.
The building was also scheduled for demolition in the early 1990s, but thankfully, was saved with a Grade II-listing in 1991. [Post edited 26 Aug 9:59]
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 10:56 - Aug 27 with 1124 views | CateLeBonR |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 20:28 - Aug 24 by TwoHalves |
Bit concerning, that, but thanks for posting.
I do like a challenge though so I will now make an effort to re-double my real ale consumption, starting with a trip to the King Charles I pub, King’s Cross, which, to my eternal shame, I’d never previously heard of (assuming I pass the ‘no w*ankers’ test, detailed on their website, of course!)
BTW, isn’t there a ‘Cask/Real Ale’ thread for this sort of thing somewhere? |
Enjoy the King Charles I It's a proper hidden gem! Another not far away is the Wenlock Arms. I like to combine the two with a stroll along the Regents Canal. |  | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 12:24 - Aug 27 with 1052 views | TwoHalves |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 10:56 - Aug 27 by CateLeBonR |
Enjoy the King Charles I It's a proper hidden gem! Another not far away is the Wenlock Arms. I like to combine the two with a stroll along the Regents Canal. |
I’ve had my eye on one of the few Harvey’s pubs in London for a while. It’s the Cat’s Back in Point Pleasant, Wandsworth, which I discovered a few years ago, in a previous incarnation, dropping off a passenger, although I’ve yet to pay a visit.
I thought a walk along the south side of the river from, say, Teddington lock and finishing up at the pub might be fun (subconsciously channeling the final scenes of Ice Cold in Alex no doubt).
My form with combined walking/drinking expeditions isn’t the best though; all too often the balance has shifted to the latter. To whit, I began the Capital Ring Walk - at West Ham mate’s insistence - a year or so ago (starting point the Woolwich Foot Tunnel near the old Crown & Cushion pub where my mum grew up).
All went well until we got to Section 8 (Osterley Lock to Greenford) several months later when, having got lost (not for the first time), we stumbled upon the Fox Inn, Hanwell, where we decided to ‘regroup’.
Needless to say, no further progress on that section of the walk was made (I offer the beer festival next door in mitigation) and we returned (somehow) to south London several hours later.
The same thing happened on our second attempt a month later, further progress only being made the following week, although it took a considerable effort of will to do so (ref. Ulysses and the Sirens).
Section 13 (Stoke Newington to Hackney Wick) currently looming. | | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 13:17 - Aug 27 with 999 views | colinallcars |
There are some wonderful pub crawls along the river - Kew, Richmond, Twickenham.
I start or finish in the White Swan, Twickenham riverside. That means the crawl contains a ride on the ferry over to Petersham. | | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 14:32 - Aug 27 with 926 views | TwoHalves |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 13:17 - Aug 27 by colinallcars |
There are some wonderful pub crawls along the river - Kew, Richmond, Twickenham.
I start or finish in the White Swan, Twickenham riverside. That means the crawl contains a ride on the ferry over to Petersham. |
Wasn’t there a song about a ferry over a river? It’ll come to me in a minute … | | | |
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 16:58 - Aug 27 with 818 views | nick_hammersmith |
The Royal Standard in Beaconsfield is pretty old. When I worked in Chalfont we used to take overseas visitors there for a taste of the Harry Potter olde worlde.
The guys from Czech loved our warm beer, and I liked their cold lager! |  | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 17:28 - Aug 27 with 789 views | Trellick |
Wasn't it pints of Owd Roger in the Royal standard. Seem to remember the room spinning round after visiting there  |  | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 17:40 - Aug 27 with 773 views | TwoHalves |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 17:28 - Aug 27 by Trellick |
Wasn't it pints of Owd Roger in the Royal standard. Seem to remember the room spinning round after visiting there |
Had a similar experience after being persuaded to try Russian Imperial Stout. | | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 18:38 - Aug 27 with 730 views | CateLeBonR |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 12:24 - Aug 27 by TwoHalves |
I’ve had my eye on one of the few Harvey’s pubs in London for a while. It’s the Cat’s Back in Point Pleasant, Wandsworth, which I discovered a few years ago, in a previous incarnation, dropping off a passenger, although I’ve yet to pay a visit.
I thought a walk along the south side of the river from, say, Teddington lock and finishing up at the pub might be fun (subconsciously channeling the final scenes of Ice Cold in Alex no doubt).
My form with combined walking/drinking expeditions isn’t the best though; all too often the balance has shifted to the latter. To whit, I began the Capital Ring Walk - at West Ham mate’s insistence - a year or so ago (starting point the Woolwich Foot Tunnel near the old Crown & Cushion pub where my mum grew up).
All went well until we got to Section 8 (Osterley Lock to Greenford) several months later when, having got lost (not for the first time), we stumbled upon the Fox Inn, Hanwell, where we decided to ‘regroup’.
Needless to say, no further progress on that section of the walk was made (I offer the beer festival next door in mitigation) and we returned (somehow) to south London several hours later.
The same thing happened on our second attempt a month later, further progress only being made the following week, although it took a considerable effort of will to do so (ref. Ulysses and the Sirens).
Section 13 (Stoke Newington to Hackney Wick) currently looming. |
Anchor and Hope is a funny little pub on that leg of the Capital Ring. Well worth a visit. | | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 20:24 - Aug 27 with 658 views | colinallcars |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 18:38 - Aug 27 by CateLeBonR |
Anchor and Hope is a funny little pub on that leg of the Capital Ring. Well worth a visit. |
I used to wonder why some pub are Hope & Anchor and some are Anchor & Hope.
It's nowt to do with seafaring but comes from a biblical expression - “let hope be thy anchor” later it says “let truth be thy sword & buckler”
Never seen a pub called that though.
When I win the Euromillions I'll call my first pub that. | | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 22:48 - Aug 27 with 567 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 22:08 - Aug 23 by johann28 |
The George is a truly fabulous place, but i'm afraid can't claim to be the 'oldest'. Unlike the ones cited in the thread, it's not mentioned in Domesday; the first written of it is in 1222, and the first proof of a licence to sell alcohol is 1397 (I could go on about medieval licenses until you've all gone home, but it's of interest to those of us involved). The place had such a colourful history afterwards (enquiries on request) that, I suspect, gave it its reputation.
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I’ve enjoyed your posts on this thread and I’ve got to ask, how come you have a super niche interest in medieval licences and very old pubs in general? | |
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| Ye Oldest Pub on 23:04 - Aug 27 with 541 views | PeterHucker |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 14:36 - Aug 25 by R_from_afar |
I was going to mention Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, it was very pleasant when I visited it a few years back. In fact, St Albans is a brilliant, if expensive, place for a pub crawl because it boasts lots of small but homely back street pubs.
My favourite historic pub is the 14th century Pilchard Inn, on Burgh Island, in Devon. Unless it's low tide, you can only access it by sea tractor, boat or helicopter. It is known to have been used by local smugglers and is very atmospheric inside. There's also an art deco Hotel on the island.
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One of my best mates lives in Bigbury-on-Sea so I know the Pilchard Inn very well.
Just don't miss the last sea-tractor back to the mainland!!
Talking of the southwest, I was in the Hatchet Inn in Bristol the night before we won there last season. Reckoned to be the oldest pub in the city and supposed to be haunted if you believe in that kind of thing. Blackbeard apparently used to drink in there, and the locals claim that the big heavy door is partly made out of the skin of a hanged convict!! |  | | |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 23:08 - Aug 27 with 528 views | johann28 |
| Ye Oldest Pub on 22:48 - Aug 27 by Beckenhamhoop |
I’ve enjoyed your posts on this thread and I’ve got to ask, how come you have a super niche interest in medieval licences and very old pubs in general? |
Thanks Beckenham. I could bore people for hours on this (and have done). As to why, it's a long story, for which you'd need a psychologist, but something to do with my Anglo-Belgian ancestry, I guess, and a great liking for beer. I then got into the wine trade and used to give tours and lectures on this sort of stuff, thus necessitating a bit of research. As with anything once you start delving, the more you know the more you realise what you don't know. | | | |
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