Pubs with Bruce

Fitzrovia, London. First licensed in 1737 with the present building designed by Bird and Walters dating from 1898. Some of the public houses were named the Cock (there are 71 in the UK) because they sold the once popular Cock Ale, but it is not known if this is one of them. The ornate exterior features large hanging lanterns. The interior presents a long narrow room with traditional booths, lots of dark woodwork, etched glass, snob screens, and mosaic tile flooring. The bar b

Soho, London. Established in 1742 although the current building dates to 1868 and it's present decor of late Victorian glittering opulence is from 1897. It sits on !and once owned by the 2nd Duke of Argyll, a great military figure and long-time backer of the right horse. Legend has it that a secret tunnel once connected the pub to his nearby mansion. The interiors retains many original features including beautiful decorated red ceilings, ornamental columns, dark wood paneled

Greenwich. There are three nice pubs to stop at on the riverside walk from the Greenwich city centre to the Greenwich tube station. There is the Trafalgar Tavern (1837, see my earlier post), The Yacht (1790), and the Cutty Sark. Established in 1695 as a free house, it was originally the Green Man, became the Union Tavern in 1810, before being renamed the Cutty Sark in 1951 to celebrate the iconic tea clipper which is docked permanently in Greenwich. Located at a scenic bend

Greenwich. This grand riverside pub was designed by architect Joseph Kay and built on the site of the Old George Tavern in 1837. It is typically Georgian with distinctive balconies and large windows overlooking the Thames. It was designed to cater to wealthy diners, particularly politicians who would travel by barge from Westminster to attend famous "whitebait feasts" for the Liberal Party in Victorian times, the last being held in 1885 when the outgoing cabinet of William Gl

Greenwich. Located on Royal Hill, this charming family run Victorian Era (1837-1901) pub is known for its eclectic "museum" decor and authentic Italian cuisine. Since 2015 the pub has been run by the DeRosa family, bringing Sicilian home cooked food and a warm, hospitable atmosphere, described as a "public home" (complete with "Ciao", the family/pub cat) by proprietor Pietro. Described as a" museum pub", it is filled with eclectic, antique items collected by the family on the

Greenwich. Built in 1691 during the reign of William III and Mary II, it was known as the Prince of Wales until 1726 (the name referring to the heraldic badge, commemorating the title rather than a specific individual). It long served as a stop for travelers on the long Dover Road from London to the Kent coast, and records indicate that it probably housed livestock. It is located directly on (or immediately adjacent to) the Prime Meridian line. The oldest pub in Greenwich, it

Hyde Park, London. While officially recorded in 1721, it is believed to have been a tavern and coaching inn since the 1600s, possibly once called "The Saracen's Head". Situated along the route from London to the Tyburn Gallows (now Marble Arch), the pub was notoriously the last stop for condemned prisoners in the 17th and 18th centuries, including highwayman Claude Duval, who was hanged at Tyburn in 1670. It is reputed where the phrases "one for the road" (a final drink) and

Limehouse, London. Established in 1827 and located off of York Square, it is known for a 1987 visit by the Queen Mother, where she poured her own pint (there are photos of this in many Young's pubs around London, but it happened here). It is also widely believed to be the inspiration for the Queen Vic in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The large front room features a small island style bar. The door to the Queen's Gallery leads to a game room and small back bar. No cask ales a

Limehouse, London. I have been trying to get to this pub located on the north bank of the Thames for a long time. It was established in 1583 as "The Bunch of Grapes", with the current building dating back to the 1720s. In its early days it was a working class tavern serving the dockers of the Limehouse Basin. In those perilous days corpses were a valuable commodity, and watermen would supplement their income by dragging inebriated customers down the back stairs of the pub, dr

Carnaby, London. This pub on Kingly street was established in the 1728 (known as the Two Blue Posts) and was rebuilt in 1892. It is one of five pubs of this name (there were six until the 1990s) in the West End area. Why so many? One legend suggests that blue posts were once used to demarcate the boundary of 16th century royal hunting grounds (Soho supposedly takes its name from an old hunting cry). The second explanation (and probably more likely as seen by the hanging signs

Carnaby, London. First licensed in the 1700s and known as the Bricklayers Arms until 1887, for many years it was owned by the nearby Liberty department store. This building was built in 1898 and is a prominent example of a 19th century "Gin Palace" in the West End, characterized by its elaborate, luxurious interior designed to attract customers. It features a distinctive French Renaissance style, red brick, a projecting corner turret, acanthus leaf decoration, and a copper ro

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Located in the Market Square, it is one of the oldest public houses with a coaching yard in the south of England. The cellars date back to the 13th century with the oldest part of the current structure (the Great Hall) dating back to 1470. The properties were purchased in 1455 by William Wandesford, who had served in the household of Margeret of Anjou. Unfortunately he was a Lancastrian during the War of the Roses and had to forfeit the estate in 1

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Located in Temple Square, this pub dates back to the 1500s, with the current structure going back to 1830, and it claims to be the oldest Queens Head in England. At one time the pub sign depicted the head of Anne Boleyn, who married Henry VIII in 1533 and was later beheaded after Henry turned his attention to Jane Seymour. It is a picturesque two story part timber framed and plastered, part brick building, with an old tile roof and it's original ch

Banbury. A historic pub dating back to 1824, originally formed by two small rooms. In the early 1920s local man George Mumford operated a successful auto repair garage in the rear and car park, including a four fuel pump and a radio accumulating service. The former garage area has been incorporated into the pub and features memorabilia that pays tribute to its automotive past. A small rounded bar serves the surrounding rooms (including a lovely snug), in front of the pub is s

Banbury. Established in 1596 and surviving the Great Fire of 1628, this is the third oldest building in town. It was formerly known as the Flying Horse, and in the 1830s was a coaching inn, with as many as 53 coaches departing weekly for London (a seven hour journey). It is considered a living museum of Banbury's history and contains numerous unique artifacts. The bar is built from fort doors sourced from Fort Saint-Andre, Avignon. The wood paneling in the restaurant and the

Banbury, Oxfordshire. This timber framed building dates back to the 15th century and was functioning as an inn in 1570. Renowned for its connection to the English Civil War, it was used by Oliver Cromwell while besieging Banbury Castle. The Globe Room, built between 1629 and 1637 is reputedly where Cromwell planned the Battle of Edgehill, and was used as a courtroom for Royalist trials. It was famous for it's Italianate style oak paneling, a stone fireplace, and a magnificent

Buckingham. Originally built in the early 1800s to serve the adjacent Buckingham Canal wharf, it was a key location for travelers and workers on the canal system. Over the years it was also known as "The Ship" and "13". Due to renovations over the years it is not the oldest looking pub (the locals refer to it as the "posh pub"), but the bar and the area around it is still quite nice. Acorn Pubs Amber Bitter from St. Austell Brewery was nicely balanced and tasty. Located direc

Buckingham. Located in a market town between Oxford and Milton Keynes, this free house is one of the oldest pubs in town, dating back to 1610. The pub is visible on John Speed's 1610 map of Buckingham and is associated with the neighboring Mitre Cottage, circa 1420. In its early days The Mitre stood in an area known as Prebend Bend, a district that has a priest but no church. The local economy was supported by nearby farms, businesses, and religious pilgrims visiting St. Rumb

Oxford. A historic pub dating back to 1756, it was originally built as a forge and blacksmith shop by wheelwright John Morris, who rented the land from St. John's College. The name is probably derived from an old oak tree on the property, although there is also the famous story relating to Charles II (there are 389 pubs in the UK named Royal Oak). Back in the day it had the nickname "Doctors Lounge" due to its close proximity to the Radcliffe Infirmary, acting as a popular wa

Oxford. A historic, narrow Victorian-Era pub established in 1820 and rebuilt in 1879, it is one of the oldest buildings on George Street. It was originally known as Bunch of Grapes and featured a covered alleyway entrance, which was moved directly onto George Street in 1973. Over the years it has been operated by Bath Ales, West Berkshire Brewery, and St. Austell Brewery, but now it is a free house. There is a single narrow paneled room served by a long rounded bar on one sid