What can I say? This is a masterpiece of research and attention to detail, Tweedy! I do like it when you go to a pub that I actually know. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a very special place and I love that you identified the continuity between the picture and today. Right up my street. Likewise the slow reveal about the fireplace in The Cock! Continuity in pubs. It’s everywhere! The skylight in The Punch Tavern was a thing of beauty and well done for highlighting the plight of The Tipperary - what a tragic shame. Let’s hope it doesn’t get replaced by glass and steel. So much work obviously went into this. Absolutely brilliant.
Thank you! This was actually one of the most personally rewarding videos I've made to date on this channel, especially in terms of the research. I think I vaguely remember hearing in the distant past that the fireplace / chimneypiece in the Cock Tavern was something a bit special, but had never previously looked into the detail of it. So this really felt like the pub history equivalent of unearthing buried treasure. There's something magical about seeing individual pub fittings in old pictures and then being able to visit the pub and see them still there - and that happened twice in this video! Perhaps the cutlery cabinet at the Cheese isn't quite as celebrated or as visually impressive as the chimneypiece at the Cock but the former artefact is still actively used on a daily basis and not just a relic in a forgotten corner. I think I recorded about 20 minutes of footage in the Cock of me droning on and on about that chimneypiece and other aspects of the pub's history. It took quite a while during editing to whittle that down to something relatively concise and coherent - not helped by the fact I was three pints in by that point and the quality of elocution had noticeably deteriorated!
@@TweedyPubs when I was about 8, I cycled from town out to a village to find a cottage from a Victorian postcard in my Nan’s collection. I found it! Sort of set the course of my future obsessions!
Sam Smith is my favourite chain, and the Cheshire Cheese is my favourite pub in London. Will never forget snow up to my knees in winter, turning the corner to go into the pub and being welcomed by the heat of the fire, the scent of the pinewood, and the lively chatter of people escaping the cold. No music, no televisions, just strangers talking to each other. Made a good friend there, and networked with some financial services workers from America. Drank their beer, had some whisky, didn't even mind the cold on the way home.
Snow and the Cheshire Cheese sounds like a magical combination! It wasn't snowing when I filmed this but it was quite a cold winter's day and I really appreciated those open fires!
A excellent choice of brewery,it's also my favourite up hear in the North excellent choice of beers and the best brewed UK brewed lager in pure brew organic lager
Hello Tweedy, when this was a Fullers pub I had the pleasure of making and fitting full swag and tail details complete with curtains to those windows. Suffice to say, I couldn’t fit them off a ‘normal’ step ladder. I’ve also had the privilege of working at both The CC and The Old Cock Tavern. I’m really enjoying your content. Thanks.
Wow Paul, that's fantastic - I feel like I'm in the presence of pub royalty! That is an amazing job. As I hinted at in the video I preferred the interior there during its Fullers era. I do understand what McMullens were trying to do, to modernise it a bit and give it broader appeal - on my visit earlier this week there were lots of people in there with laptops and/or drinking teas and coffees... but it feels less like a pub now.
@@TweedyPubs I wouldn’t say pub royalty, but I’ve spent the vast majority of my working life in ‘boozers’, up until a recent health issue that has forced me to ‘retire’. There’s hardly a Fullers/Youngs/Spirit establishment that myself or the company I worked for that I haven’t fitted some kind of curtain/blind works. I certainly miss the central London pubs and I’m thoroughly enjoying your content Tweedy. Thanks once again.
You are correct about Chanticleer being derived from French. In the French narrative, Reynard the Fox, Chantecler is the name given to a rooster in the story. The name, by the way, means to sing clearly.
Having recently discovered this truly wonderful channel, I'm watching the videos from the start and I'm up to this one now. Frightfully delightful to see the Old Bank of England featured in this episode as it's my favourite establishment to get a feeling of being surrounded by opulence and royalty. I also love sitting inside the old public transport double-decker bus in the back yard. On cold, rainy evenings I have often been the sole occupier for hours on end.
Thanks John! I started using the old newspapers just to try and verify dates that pubs were supposed to have existed since, but then found they're often a good source of interesting anecdotes and other facts about the pubs. I think this is a fairly novel approach, most websites I look at that talk about pub history tend to rely on other sources like census records and Post Office directories.
Thanks Cedric, really glad to hear you enjoyed it. This one was particularly fun to research - so much history in these pubs, I could easily have done a whole half hour about some of them individually.
Thank you! Yes it was sad to see the state of the Tipperary but I hoped in some small way giving it at least a brief mention here might somehow help the chances that it does one day reopen. Fingers crossed.
Original name The Boars Head, renamed during or just after WW1 due to Irish soldiers in the British Army flocking there as they viewed the Guinness as the best in London, There was also Wards Irish House in Piccadilly .
Back in the day, '70s and '80s I used to work in Fleet street when it WAS still Fleet Street. I was walking along one lunchtime when a black cab stopped and acosted me to ask where Ye Old Ceshire Cheese was (American tourist in the back), he was only about 10 yards short of the turning, it amused me to see that a London cabbie couldn't find one of the most famous pubs in London.
Thank you! It's time consuming but I really enjoy it - discovering those Grinling Gibbons artefacts at the Cock Tavern felt a bit like unearthing buried treasure!
Small history update for you. The possession notice on the Tipperary was the result of Squatters after the pub closed. I believe the building is listed so even if it does not re open as a pub after redevlopment of the site, the building will remain.
I love this area too - it must have been a great place to spend those years in! I'm fascinated by that slightly hidden world within London, the inns of court etc. The pub around here which feels like it has the strongest presence of legal professionals to me is the Seven Stars - one of my all time favourites. I recall at one point Roxy talking about some legal trouble she was having with the owner of the freehold (Fuller's?) and she sounded reassuringly sanguine - "Most of my regulars are lawyers."
@@YogicBarrister Interesting - I wouldn't have guessed that to be a favourite of the legal profession! I think I only went there once, many years ago. I read somewhere that it (a bit like the Seven Stars) had strong personalities running the place, and that's always a key ingredient of a great pub.
Just discovered your channel, great stuff! I really want to visit the old cheshire cheese, it looks fantastic. I have always loved old pubs, I stull have a load of Better Pubs Ltd pub maps, from the early 80s. Although these days I am teetotal.
Another great great Video. Watching it while sitting in the pub and having a pint of Ale. And I am not ashamed to say it is a Wetherspoon. #IYKYK. The Cheshire Cheese is a wonderful pub and I was quite lucky to enjoy many days next to the fire in the main bar room. Having visited almost 80% of pubs in London, I haven’t been to the Old Bank. So thanks for putting that on my to do list. Keep up the great work, very much appreciated.
Thank you! My last video definitely changed my mind about Wetherspoons pubs. I've always had mixed feelings about the Old Bank of England. I originally recorded a segment in this video (which I cut in the edit as it was getting a bit long) talking about the days when I used to regularly entertain visiting colleagues / friends from out of London. I'd often take them on a pub crawl around this area of London, taking in places like the Seven Stars, the Cittie of Yorke and Ye Old Mitre. To my surprise more than once at the end of these crawls my guests said the Old Bank of England was their favourite pub of the crawl. I'd just included it on the list for a bit of variety! Personally I much prefer pubby pubs with low hanging beams and nooks and crannies etc... but each to their own! So many pubs in London to suit different tastes.
As always, great video 👍 As a fellow pub lover I think there is always something to like in our favourite establishments. Shame about that Tipperary, would loved a look in there. I’m in Balham on the 1st of February so will be having a tour! That’s the great thing about London, all the districts are accessible thanks to the tube! Thanks again, as always keep up the good work!🍺🍺 Paul
Thanks Paul! I think it has come up before in the comments but I really ought to do a bit more exploration south of the river. I was originally considering a trip to Wandsworth instead of this outing, but then somehow my attention was drawn away by that relatively unknown old fireplace etc in the Cock Tavern. Perhaps next time?
I loved that review Tweedy as i used to work off the Strand and have visited all of those pubs. If you are back that way the Devereux, the Edgar Wallace and the Cheshire Cheese (different to Ye Old CC) are worth a trip. And of course the George opposite the High Court. Great vlog as always - thanks.
Thanks Rob! Yes I was thinking of covering that cluster you mention in another video. Amazing to have four pubs which are all decent / historic / interesting in their own right just metres apart like that.
The Old Bank of England gets my vote. What a remarkable building interior. As soon as I saw pics of it a couple of years ago, I knew I had to go for a pint and did so in 2022. It was even better than the photos. The Olde Cheshire is ok, notwithstanding its remarkable history. I found it a bit dead. Like you, the background hum of people socializing really makes a pub. While not technically on Fleet Street, but about where it turns into Strand is The George; another of my favourites. We're heading your way again in May and am furiously making notes. The Crown & Sugar Loaf are near the top of the list.
I originally filmed a segment in the video where I mentioned I've sometimes had friends / colleagues visiting London, and had taken them on a pub crawl in this area. I assumed the "pubby pubs" like the Seven Stars or Ye Old Mitre would be their favourites, but at the end of the night sometimes people would say they liked the Old Bank of England most. I suppose that's part of the magic of pubs - they come in many different shapes and sizes and there are different styles to suit different tastes! Yes I was thinking of doing another video to cover that cluster of pubs at that end of the Strand around the George - there's also the other Cheshire Cheese there, the Edgar Wallace and the Devereux; all just metres away from each other.
Another interesting pub crawl i did visit the Cheshire cheese many years ago and it did feel like stepping back in time as the log fire was burning on our visit and very few people were in there 🍻
Love the irony of the The Bank of England pub. Reminded me of a hotel and bars built in Wallasey, (then ) Cheshire which had its licence opposed by a local church. The hotel never opened and instead became a public library which I attended, the children's part having a lovely hardwood bar which had never seen a drop of alcohol. Move on eighty years or so and the church has lost its congregation and fallen into disuse. It is demolished and what is built in its place?......A new library. What goes around.....
Many of these boozers were popular with the journalists working on the Fleet Street newspapers back in the pre 1980’s and the introduction of electronic printing.. Their during work hours during exploits are legendary.
Yes it sounds like a fun time Jim, and makes me wonder how any newspapers ever got published! When I was looking for pictures to include for the segment on Punch Magazine I found one of one of a "editorial meeting" of their staff - not a lot of writing materials on the table but certainly a fair few wine bottles!
The Street used to be a good pub crawl back in the late 70s . We started at the King Lud and took our darts as many of the pubs had dart boards and could always get a match for a pint . These were real working pubs for the guys in " The Print " .The cartoonists coincidentally , used another pub we used to frequent some 300 miles away while on holiday, the Cornish Arms at Pendogget in Cornwall . They would gather there for a break in November every year and leave cartoons that decorated the walls . Its always been a good beer thing for me and the lads . McMullen an old Hertford brewery , had quite a scattering of pubs from Herts of course into Essex , my nearest was near Epping . AK and IPA my favourites , particularly after Greene King closed the Rayments brewery at Furneaux Pelham . Very sad . Their BBA was a much better brew than GK IPA . They dropped the wrong beer , never was a GK fan .
Thanks L&J! I had a fantastic time in the Cheshire Cheese, and it was a great reminder that even some of these "touristy" pubs can still be magical if you catch them at the right time.
@@liberty_and_justice67 Yes in theory... but I asked a member of staff in the Cheshire Cheese if it has been quiet so far this month and he said actually some days yes, some days no! A company I worked for many years ago had their "Christmas" party in January because it was cheaper and the availability of venues was much better, and I get the sense that's becoming more common. The guy behind the bar said the pub's staff Christmas party was in February!
Another highly interesting video Tweedy. You recommend Ye Old Cheshire Cheese to me for my recent visit to London. Alas the night I was there, and planned to have a few pints with my friends, was the week before Christmas and all pubs were packed. So I ended up standing outside of the Nags Head in Covent Garden. Oh well, an excuse to come back soon 🍻
Thanks Scott! Yes it doesn't take much to fill up the Cheshire Cheese, unfortunately! It was fairly quiet on my visit, but I was waiting outside for it to open at midday on a weekday in January! If it's not quiet then I have no idea when it wold be...
Spent many hours propping up the bar in the Crown & Sugarloaf, (c2006-2009) when working on New Bridge St. We also liked The Old Bell (there used to be a 'Banksy' rat on the wall at the back of Old Bell next to the steps, but believe it's worn away now) and The Old Bank of England (during it's Fullers days). I agree, it appears to have lost some of its charm since the refurb. Another great vid Tweedy!
Thanks Ben! Yes it's a great area for pubs isn't it? Hard to think of another part of London which has that kind of density of interesting historic pubs.
I love Herefordshire (I don't know Shropshire quite so well) and would love to do a video covering some of the best village pubs there, as I have been to some absolute beauties. The challenge is getting around! Herefordshire apparently only has four stations, I get the sense buses are a bit of a rarity too, and obviously driving isn't really conducive to a pub crawl! I will give it some thought though, perhaps that would need to be a multi-day effort.
Thanks Seán! I thought of your recent suggestion to cover Irish pubs in London when passing the Tipperary. Really sad to see it in that state, but fingers crossed it will one day be brought back to life.
Went to Ye Old CC, back in August 1988. They used to put sawdust on the floors- at least on the 2nd floor where we were all crowded into. Interesting place. I remember having Greene King Ale at many places at that time.
Number 5 ( YOCT ) is incredible!! It’s got everything from beautiful architecture, provenance & variety of tasty pints. Thank you for the information!! I’ll make sure to investigate Fleet St. next time. Good thing there were only 4 places! …. Could be awfully challenging to film if more. 🍺😵😜
Thank you! As I mentioned in the video, I think that little corner of YOCT on the first floor in front of that ancient fireplace is a really very special spot, but in my opinion the rest of the interior is a bit underwhelming. Fortunately as I mentioned nobody else seems to take much interest in the fireplace! So I hope you can enjoy it with the wonderful peace and quiet I had during my time there, and raise a toast to Grinling Gibbons and Samuel Pepys.
U put alot into that John, very good. I've been in the Tipperary, such a tragic loss if it never reopens. I'd love someone to somehow get inside n see what state it is in.. cheers pal👍
Can't beat The Cheshire Cheese, especially with the fire on. Shame about the state of The Tipperary. I think I may have been one of the last people to have a drink in that pub as I remember going in sometime in 2020 or 2021 inbetween on of the lockdowns. I think it closed shortly after that for good. It was also interesting to see the inside of the cock tavern and hear the history behind it. I had always avoided it thinking it was actually quite a modern pub and its history was exaggerated by its current owners but the fireplace was excellent. It was particularly excellent seeing it in that old image looking exactly the same today. El Vino is an interesting, storied place on Fleet ST. but I get it's not a pub. Cheers Tweedy!
Thanks TKP! I completely agree about the Cheshire Cheese. I know it's very much on the tourist trail, and it can be completely overrun at times, but if you can catch it at a quiet time - as I did - with the fire lit, it's absolutely magical. I had only been into the Tipperary a couple of times, and probably the last time was at least a decade ago. I remember thinking it felt quite special: obviously a lot of "Irish" pubs in the UK (and around the world) are basically over-the-top gimmicky theme pubs, which I suspect might feel quite embarrassing to an actual Irish person. Whereas, at least when I was last there, the Tipperary reminded me a bit more of some of the beautiful but low key pubs I have been to in Dublin, which (at least at that time, many years ago) didn't seem to be just pandering to tourists. I had been to the Cock Tavern a couple of times before because I was vaguely aware it had a Samuel Pepys connection, but I knew it wasn't the original site of the pub, and so I just hadn't really taken it seriously... However the discovery that the fireplace (and possibly the cock above the door) was from the original site, and likely had 17th century origins, has really changed my mind about it. I will definitely go back now - that little corner of the pub had a similar kind of magic to the Cheshire Cheese. Yes I have been into El Vino - and did consider including it on today's tour - but I am aware many pub aficionados have a bit of an aversion to wine bars!
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese! 😮 I am definitely checking it out during my trip to London in two weeks!!! What an atmospheric, stunning pub! Will also be checking out The Dove Pub, Hammersmith. Have you been there before? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Thank you for the great video as always!!!!
Thanks T&L! Yes the Cheshire Cheese is a really special place - best enjoyed if you can get there when it's quiet! Hopefully February will still be quiet for your visit. Yes I have been to the Dove, albeit not for quite a few years now. I love that tiny bar room! I am thinking about doing a video out that way at some point.
Yes it almost looks slightly ridiculous! It actually doesn't feel extremely narrow once inside, perhaps it's the fact it's also a fairly tall building that adds to that effect.
A right shame about the Tipperary, was wondering if you would visit there as it was always on my list over the years whilst doing a pub tour of Fleet Street. This area deserved a second visit indeed Tweedy, good call and I've always enjoyed this area. The Cheese was always a good standby simply for it's history. I enjoyed when they would have a proper fire going in the front room, not sure if they do that anymore, sadly. Best from the Jersey shore in America, off for a pint shortly..
Thanks Al! There were fires burning in both rooms on the ground floor on this occasion I can assure you! I find that fascinating because I thought the "Clean Air Act" (or some similar legislation) prohibited open fires in central London. I am not complaining, of course, the atmosphere that creates is really magical. I hope you enjoy your Thursday evening pint!
Chanticleer. Stealing pub property after drinking more than is good for us then returning them later in a fit of remorse. We've all been there.......or is it just me?
Yes that's a fair comment! As mentioned in the video Sam Smith's London pubs no longer seem to be the bargain they used to be, although I think prices do vary from pub to pub, and the Cheshire Cheese is obviously a very famous location where they probably feel they can get away with higher prices. As you can see when making the videos I usually drink halves (mainly in an attempt to remain coherent!), and this did feel unnatural to begin with, but actually I think there's something to be said for it. You can still enjoy the interiors and the atmosphere but only spend half as much!
Wetherspoons aside, gone are the days when a working man could go down the pub and have a few pints, which is a way of life lost. Although its partly cultural, price has got a lot to do with it.
It's absolutely beautiful if you're fortunate enough to catch it when it's not too busy! ...and thanks for the reminder about Sam Smith's Stout - I find the Old Brewery Bitter to be drinkable, and tend to order that out of habit, but I suspect these days I'd prefer the stout where it's available.
What can I say? This is a masterpiece of research and attention to detail, Tweedy!
I do like it when you go to a pub that I actually know. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a very special place and I love that you identified the continuity between the picture and today. Right up my street. Likewise the slow reveal about the fireplace in The Cock! Continuity in pubs. It’s everywhere!
The skylight in The Punch Tavern was a thing of beauty and well done for highlighting the plight of The Tipperary - what a tragic shame. Let’s hope it doesn’t get replaced by glass and steel.
So much work obviously went into this. Absolutely brilliant.
Thank you! This was actually one of the most personally rewarding videos I've made to date on this channel, especially in terms of the research. I think I vaguely remember hearing in the distant past that the fireplace / chimneypiece in the Cock Tavern was something a bit special, but had never previously looked into the detail of it. So this really felt like the pub history equivalent of unearthing buried treasure. There's something magical about seeing individual pub fittings in old pictures and then being able to visit the pub and see them still there - and that happened twice in this video! Perhaps the cutlery cabinet at the Cheese isn't quite as celebrated or as visually impressive as the chimneypiece at the Cock but the former artefact is still actively used on a daily basis and not just a relic in a forgotten corner.
I think I recorded about 20 minutes of footage in the Cock of me droning on and on about that chimneypiece and other aspects of the pub's history. It took quite a while during editing to whittle that down to something relatively concise and coherent - not helped by the fact I was three pints in by that point and the quality of elocution had noticeably deteriorated!
@@TweedyPubs when I was about 8, I cycled from town out to a village to find a cottage from a Victorian postcard in my Nan’s collection. I found it! Sort of set the course of my future obsessions!
@TweedyPubs Hope you got an uber..
I was in The Tipperary for a quick pint of Guinness on 10th of April this year (2024) so it must have re-opened shortly after your visit! 😊
Sam Smith is my favourite chain, and the Cheshire Cheese is my favourite pub in London. Will never forget snow up to my knees in winter, turning the corner to go into the pub and being welcomed by the heat of the fire, the scent of the pinewood, and the lively chatter of people escaping the cold. No music, no televisions, just strangers talking to each other.
Made a good friend there, and networked with some financial services workers from America. Drank their beer, had some whisky, didn't even mind the cold on the way home.
That’s a wonderful description ❤
Snow and the Cheshire Cheese sounds like a magical combination! It wasn't snowing when I filmed this but it was quite a cold winter's day and I really appreciated those open fires!
I pay £3.00 for a pint of old brewery bitter in Leeds
A excellent choice of brewery,it's also my favourite up hear in the North excellent choice of beers and the best brewed UK brewed lager in pure brew organic lager
I am so enjoying your tours of these pubs. How I lament that many I frequented in the early 1980’s have changed beyond all recognition 😢
Hello Tweedy, when this was a Fullers pub I had the pleasure of making and fitting full swag and tail details complete with curtains to those windows. Suffice to say, I couldn’t fit them off a ‘normal’ step ladder. I’ve also had the privilege of working at both The CC and The Old Cock Tavern. I’m really enjoying your content. Thanks.
Wow Paul, that's fantastic - I feel like I'm in the presence of pub royalty! That is an amazing job.
As I hinted at in the video I preferred the interior there during its Fullers era. I do understand what McMullens were trying to do, to modernise it a bit and give it broader appeal - on my visit earlier this week there were lots of people in there with laptops and/or drinking teas and coffees... but it feels less like a pub now.
@@TweedyPubs I wouldn’t say pub royalty, but I’ve spent the vast majority of my working life in ‘boozers’, up until a recent health issue that has forced me to ‘retire’. There’s hardly a Fullers/Youngs/Spirit establishment that myself or the company I worked for that I haven’t fitted some kind of curtain/blind works. I certainly miss the central London pubs and I’m thoroughly enjoying your content Tweedy. Thanks once again.
You are correct about Chanticleer being derived from French. In the French narrative, Reynard the Fox, Chantecler is the name given to a rooster in the story. The name, by the way, means to sing clearly.
Having recently discovered this truly wonderful channel, I'm watching the videos from the start and I'm up to this one now. Frightfully delightful to see the Old Bank of England featured in this episode as it's my favourite establishment to get a feeling of being surrounded by opulence and royalty. I also love sitting inside the old public transport double-decker bus in the back yard. On cold, rainy evenings I have often been the sole occupier for hours on end.
That was most enjoyable, and so well researched. I do like the way you dig out old newspaper cuttings about the various pubs you visit.
Thanks John! I started using the old newspapers just to try and verify dates that pubs were supposed to have existed since, but then found they're often a good source of interesting anecdotes and other facts about the pubs. I think this is a fairly novel approach, most websites I look at that talk about pub history tend to rely on other sources like census records and Post Office directories.
Another interesting video, always informtive and entertaining keep up the good work
Wonderful video, particularly enjoy the historic references you include. Thank you for the Friday afternoon entertainment.
Thanks Cedric, really glad to hear you enjoyed it. This one was particularly fun to research - so much history in these pubs, I could easily have done a whole half hour about some of them individually.
Thoroughly enjoying your channel. I’m looking forward to visiting some of these pubs. Keep up the great work!
Glad you gave the Tipperary a mention..Have a lot of fond memories of when I worked in Fleet Street..Yet again your research is beyond the pale.
Thank you! Yes it was sad to see the state of the Tipperary but I hoped in some small way giving it at least a brief mention here might somehow help the chances that it does one day reopen. Fingers crossed.
Original name The Boars Head, renamed during or just after WW1 due to Irish soldiers
in the British Army flocking there as they viewed the Guinness as the best in London,
There was also Wards Irish House in Piccadilly .
Back in the day, '70s and '80s I used to work in Fleet street when it WAS still Fleet Street. I was walking along one lunchtime when a black cab stopped and acosted me to ask where Ye Old Ceshire Cheese was (American tourist in the back), he was only about 10 yards short of the turning, it amused me to see that a London cabbie couldn't find one of the most famous pubs in London.
Another great video, appreciate the research you put in.
Thank you! It's time consuming but I really enjoy it - discovering those Grinling Gibbons artefacts at the Cock Tavern felt a bit like unearthing buried treasure!
Small history update for you. The possession notice on the Tipperary was the result of Squatters after the pub closed. I believe the building is listed so even if it does not re open as a pub after redevlopment of the site, the building will remain.
Great stuff. Love the pubs around there. Skiving off work in pupilage
I love this area too - it must have been a great place to spend those years in! I'm fascinated by that slightly hidden world within London, the inns of court etc. The pub around here which feels like it has the strongest presence of legal professionals to me is the Seven Stars - one of my all time favourites. I recall at one point Roxy talking about some legal trouble she was having with the owner of the freehold (Fuller's?) and she sounded reassuringly sanguine - "Most of my regulars are lawyers."
@@TweedyPubs St Brides Tavern was the best I reckon. Sadly closed down I think
@@YogicBarrister Interesting - I wouldn't have guessed that to be a favourite of the legal profession! I think I only went there once, many years ago. I read somewhere that it (a bit like the Seven Stars) had strong personalities running the place, and that's always a key ingredient of a great pub.
Just discovered your channel, great stuff! I really want to visit the old cheshire cheese, it looks fantastic. I have always loved old pubs, I stull have a load of Better Pubs Ltd pub maps, from the early 80s. Although these days I am teetotal.
Tweedy thanks mate as always this is awesome. Really enjoyed the history behind ye old Cheshire cheese 😎🍺👍👍
Fascinating
Thank you so much for reviewing fleet st. Def looking forward to a pub crawl .
Always look forward to these. Another great video
Thank you, really glad you enjoyed it!
Gentlemen Only Served Here can easily be interpreted as "Everybody Here Is A Gentleman."
Great video. I remember my father in the 1970s moaning about the demise of Mild in pubs because he could no longer order a pint of Mild & Bitter.
Another great great Video. Watching it while sitting in the pub and having a pint of Ale. And I am not ashamed to say it is a Wetherspoon. #IYKYK. The Cheshire Cheese is a wonderful pub and I was quite lucky to enjoy many days next to the fire in the main bar room. Having visited almost 80% of pubs in London, I haven’t been to the Old Bank. So thanks for putting that on my to do list. Keep up the great work, very much appreciated.
Thank you! My last video definitely changed my mind about Wetherspoons pubs.
I've always had mixed feelings about the Old Bank of England. I originally recorded a segment in this video (which I cut in the edit as it was getting a bit long) talking about the days when I used to regularly entertain visiting colleagues / friends from out of London. I'd often take them on a pub crawl around this area of London, taking in places like the Seven Stars, the Cittie of Yorke and Ye Old Mitre. To my surprise more than once at the end of these crawls my guests said the Old Bank of England was their favourite pub of the crawl. I'd just included it on the list for a bit of variety! Personally I much prefer pubby pubs with low hanging beams and nooks and crannies etc... but each to their own! So many pubs in London to suit different tastes.
Just discovered your channel.
Will be in London next week and will use your vids as a guide to some proper pubs
As always, great video 👍 As a fellow pub lover I think there is always something to like in our favourite establishments. Shame about that Tipperary, would loved a look in there. I’m in Balham on the 1st of February so will be having a tour! That’s the great thing about London, all the districts are accessible thanks to the tube!
Thanks again, as always keep up the good work!🍺🍺 Paul
Thanks Paul! I think it has come up before in the comments but I really ought to do a bit more exploration south of the river. I was originally considering a trip to Wandsworth instead of this outing, but then somehow my attention was drawn away by that relatively unknown old fireplace etc in the Cock Tavern. Perhaps next time?
I loved that review Tweedy as i used to work off the Strand and have visited all of those pubs. If you are back that way the Devereux, the Edgar Wallace and the Cheshire Cheese (different to Ye Old CC) are worth a trip. And of course the George opposite the High Court. Great vlog as always - thanks.
Thanks Rob! Yes I was thinking of covering that cluster you mention in another video. Amazing to have four pubs which are all decent / historic / interesting in their own right just metres apart like that.
Very lucky to work 5 mins from fleet street so this is a great video for me thanks
Thanks Craig, and yes - lucky indeed! Do you have a favourite pub in the area?
The Old Bank of England gets my vote. What a remarkable building interior. As soon as I saw pics of it a couple of years ago, I knew I had to go for a pint and did so in 2022. It was even better than the photos. The Olde Cheshire is ok, notwithstanding its remarkable history. I found it a bit dead. Like you, the background hum of people socializing really makes a pub. While not technically on Fleet Street, but about where it turns into Strand is The George; another of my favourites. We're heading your way again in May and am furiously making notes. The Crown & Sugar Loaf are near the top of the list.
I originally filmed a segment in the video where I mentioned I've sometimes had friends / colleagues visiting London, and had taken them on a pub crawl in this area. I assumed the "pubby pubs" like the Seven Stars or Ye Old Mitre would be their favourites, but at the end of the night sometimes people would say they liked the Old Bank of England most. I suppose that's part of the magic of pubs - they come in many different shapes and sizes and there are different styles to suit different tastes!
Yes I was thinking of doing another video to cover that cluster of pubs at that end of the Strand around the George - there's also the other Cheshire Cheese there, the Edgar Wallace and the Devereux; all just metres away from each other.
Another interesting pub crawl i did visit the Cheshire cheese many years ago and it did feel like stepping back in time as the log fire was burning on our visit and very few people were in there 🍻
Thanks John! If you can catch it at quieter times as you did (and especially with the fire lit) then I think it's a really magical place.
Love the irony of the The Bank of England pub. Reminded me of a hotel and bars built in Wallasey, (then ) Cheshire which had its licence opposed by a local church. The hotel never opened and instead became a public library which I attended, the children's part having a lovely hardwood bar which had never seen a drop of alcohol. Move on eighty years or so and the church has lost its congregation and fallen into disuse. It is demolished and what is built in its place?......A new library. What goes around.....
Many of these boozers were popular with the journalists working on the Fleet Street newspapers back in the pre 1980’s and the introduction of electronic printing.. Their during work hours during exploits are legendary.
Yes it sounds like a fun time Jim, and makes me wonder how any newspapers ever got published! When I was looking for pictures to include for the segment on Punch Magazine I found one of one of a "editorial meeting" of their staff - not a lot of writing materials on the table but certainly a fair few wine bottles!
The Street used to be a good pub crawl back in the late 70s . We started at the King Lud and took our darts as many of the pubs had dart boards and could always get a match for a pint . These were real working pubs for the guys in " The Print " .The cartoonists coincidentally , used another pub we used to frequent some 300 miles away while on holiday, the Cornish Arms at Pendogget in Cornwall . They would gather there for a break in November every year and leave cartoons that decorated the walls . Its always been a good beer thing for me and the lads .
McMullen an old Hertford brewery , had quite a scattering of pubs from Herts of course into Essex , my nearest was near Epping . AK and IPA my favourites , particularly after Greene King closed the Rayments brewery at Furneaux Pelham . Very sad . Their BBA was a much better brew than GK IPA . They dropped the wrong beer , never was a GK fan .
Great atmosphere in Old Cheshire Cheese! Very interesting research on all the pubs.🎉
Thanks L&J! I had a fantastic time in the Cheshire Cheese, and it was a great reminder that even some of these "touristy" pubs can still be magical if you catch them at the right time.
@@TweedyPubs Like January 😂
@@liberty_and_justice67 Yes in theory... but I asked a member of staff in the Cheshire Cheese if it has been quiet so far this month and he said actually some days yes, some days no! A company I worked for many years ago had their "Christmas" party in January because it was cheaper and the availability of venues was much better, and I get the sense that's becoming more common. The guy behind the bar said the pub's staff Christmas party was in February!
@@TweedyPubs Like idea of spreading out the holidays throughout the year! Or better yet, keep celebrating until you get it right😂
Writers, publishers, and newsmen: where else would there be so many pubs in such a short distance? Well, maybe Parliament.
2:41 what is lost shall never be regained
The Crown & Sugarloaf was always part of the Punch Tavern. I used to drink there in the 1970's.
Another highly interesting video Tweedy. You recommend Ye Old Cheshire Cheese to me for my recent visit to London. Alas the night I was there, and planned to have a few pints with my friends, was the week before Christmas and all pubs were packed. So I ended up standing outside of the Nags Head in Covent Garden. Oh well, an excuse to come back soon 🍻
Thanks Scott! Yes it doesn't take much to fill up the Cheshire Cheese, unfortunately! It was fairly quiet on my visit, but I was waiting outside for it to open at midday on a weekday in January! If it's not quiet then I have no idea when it wold be...
Spent many hours propping up the bar in the Crown & Sugarloaf, (c2006-2009) when working on New Bridge St. We also liked The Old Bell (there used to be a 'Banksy' rat on the wall at the back of Old Bell next to the steps, but believe it's worn away now) and The Old Bank of England (during it's Fullers days). I agree, it appears to have lost some of its charm since the refurb. Another great vid Tweedy!
Thanks Ben! Yes it's a great area for pubs isn't it? Hard to think of another part of London which has that kind of density of interesting historic pubs.
Great video very Interesting. We are doing a fleet street crawl next time we are down there.
Thanks Marco! It's a great area for a crawl. The Seven Stars which isn't far off Fleet Street is also a favourite of mine.
Love your channel, Tweedy. Request: Hereford and Shropshire pubs, for a thirsty Canadian with roots in the West of Blighty!!!
I love Herefordshire (I don't know Shropshire quite so well) and would love to do a video covering some of the best village pubs there, as I have been to some absolute beauties. The challenge is getting around! Herefordshire apparently only has four stations, I get the sense buses are a bit of a rarity too, and obviously driving isn't really conducive to a pub crawl! I will give it some thought though, perhaps that would need to be a multi-day effort.
@@TweedyPubs True, could be a major effort. Thanks for considering it - you need a brewery to sponsor you so you can do it!!
Great video John!
Thanks Seán! I thought of your recent suggestion to cover Irish pubs in London when passing the Tipperary. Really sad to see it in that state, but fingers crossed it will one day be brought back to life.
Went to Ye Old CC, back in August 1988. They used to put sawdust on the floors- at least on the 2nd floor where we were all crowded into. Interesting place.
I remember having Greene King Ale at many places at that time.
11:57 Pink granite is usually from Peterhead
Number 5 ( YOCT ) is incredible!! It’s got everything from beautiful architecture, provenance & variety of tasty pints.
Thank you for the information!! I’ll make sure to investigate Fleet St. next time.
Good thing there were only 4 places! …. Could be awfully challenging to film if more. 🍺😵😜
Thank you! As I mentioned in the video, I think that little corner of YOCT on the first floor in front of that ancient fireplace is a really very special spot, but in my opinion the rest of the interior is a bit underwhelming. Fortunately as I mentioned nobody else seems to take much interest in the fireplace! So I hope you can enjoy it with the wonderful peace and quiet I had during my time there, and raise a toast to Grinling Gibbons and Samuel Pepys.
U put alot into that John, very good. I've been in the Tipperary, such a tragic loss if it never reopens. I'd love someone to somehow get inside n see what state it is in.. cheers pal👍
Thanks Dave! Yes fingers crossed that there is a future for the Tipperary.
Excellent video, you must visit some samuel smith pubs up north.🍻
I hear that the Tipperary has reopened its doors today
Very cool👍🏻
Thank you!
In the 1970s we used to drink in both The Old King Lud and latterly the New King Lud. Do either exist today?
Can't beat The Cheshire Cheese, especially with the fire on.
Shame about the state of The Tipperary. I think I may have been one of the last people to have a drink in that pub as I remember going in sometime in 2020 or 2021 inbetween on of the lockdowns. I think it closed shortly after that for good.
It was also interesting to see the inside of the cock tavern and hear the history behind it. I had always avoided it thinking it was actually quite a modern pub and its history was exaggerated by its current owners but the fireplace was excellent. It was particularly excellent seeing it in that old image looking exactly the same today.
El Vino is an interesting, storied place on Fleet ST. but I get it's not a pub.
Cheers Tweedy!
Thanks TKP! I completely agree about the Cheshire Cheese. I know it's very much on the tourist trail, and it can be completely overrun at times, but if you can catch it at a quiet time - as I did - with the fire lit, it's absolutely magical.
I had only been into the Tipperary a couple of times, and probably the last time was at least a decade ago. I remember thinking it felt quite special: obviously a lot of "Irish" pubs in the UK (and around the world) are basically over-the-top gimmicky theme pubs, which I suspect might feel quite embarrassing to an actual Irish person. Whereas, at least when I was last there, the Tipperary reminded me a bit more of some of the beautiful but low key pubs I have been to in Dublin, which (at least at that time, many years ago) didn't seem to be just pandering to tourists.
I had been to the Cock Tavern a couple of times before because I was vaguely aware it had a Samuel Pepys connection, but I knew it wasn't the original site of the pub, and so I just hadn't really taken it seriously... However the discovery that the fireplace (and possibly the cock above the door) was from the original site, and likely had 17th century origins, has really changed my mind about it. I will definitely go back now - that little corner of the pub had a similar kind of magic to the Cheshire Cheese.
Yes I have been into El Vino - and did consider including it on today's tour - but I am aware many pub aficionados have a bit of an aversion to wine bars!
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese! 😮 I am definitely checking it out during my trip to London in two weeks!!! What an atmospheric, stunning pub! Will also be checking out The Dove Pub, Hammersmith. Have you been there before? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Thank you for the great video as always!!!!
Thanks T&L! Yes the Cheshire Cheese is a really special place - best enjoyed if you can get there when it's quiet! Hopefully February will still be quiet for your visit. Yes I have been to the Dove, albeit not for quite a few years now. I love that tiny bar room! I am thinking about doing a video out that way at some point.
Will you be venturing further north anytime soon Tweedy? Taking in some splendid Chester and Liverpool pubs.
The Olde Cock looks to be a little more narrow than the Frog and Frigate in Southampton.
That's quite an achievement.
Yes it almost looks slightly ridiculous! It actually doesn't feel extremely narrow once inside, perhaps it's the fact it's also a fairly tall building that adds to that effect.
Looks a great pub crawl Tweedy! Would the nearest tube station to these pubs be Temple, or Chancery Lane? There doesn't look much in it, thanks!
A right shame about the Tipperary, was wondering if you would visit there as it was always on my list over the years whilst doing a pub tour of Fleet Street. This area deserved a second visit indeed Tweedy, good call and I've always enjoyed this area. The Cheese was always a good standby simply for it's history. I enjoyed when they would have a proper fire going in the front room, not sure if they do that anymore, sadly. Best from the Jersey shore in America, off for a pint shortly..
Thanks Al! There were fires burning in both rooms on the ground floor on this occasion I can assure you! I find that fascinating because I thought the "Clean Air Act" (or some similar legislation) prohibited open fires in central London. I am not complaining, of course, the atmosphere that creates is really magical.
I hope you enjoy your Thursday evening pint!
I will indeed, sadly there is nowhere to have a pint of Harvey's Sussex Best in America, they don't export here.@@TweedyPubs
Chanticleer. Stealing pub property after drinking more than is good for us then returning them later in a fit of remorse. We've all been there.......or is it just me?
Excellent , now I best get back to work you are going to get me sacked !
Any pub with a stuff parrot should be avoided, it could lead to a Monty Python sketch, about a stuff parrot!
I really like the look of the pubs but I am appalled by the prices.
Yes that's a fair comment! As mentioned in the video Sam Smith's London pubs no longer seem to be the bargain they used to be, although I think prices do vary from pub to pub, and the Cheshire Cheese is obviously a very famous location where they probably feel they can get away with higher prices.
As you can see when making the videos I usually drink halves (mainly in an attempt to remain coherent!), and this did feel unnatural to begin with, but actually I think there's something to be said for it. You can still enjoy the interiors and the atmosphere but only spend half as much!
Wetherspoons aside, gone are the days when a working man could go down the pub and have a few pints, which is a way of life lost. Although its partly cultural, price has got a lot to do with it.
Who was Dr Johnson?
He wrote the first dictionary of the English language, published in 1755.
I must say say Sam Smith's Stout is a lovely drink, I may have to plan a trip to the Cheshire Cheese when time permits.
It's absolutely beautiful if you're fortunate enough to catch it when it's not too busy! ...and thanks for the reminder about Sam Smith's Stout - I find the Old Brewery Bitter to be drinkable, and tend to order that out of habit, but I suspect these days I'd prefer the stout where it's available.
The Corporation called The United States 🇺🇸 is controlled from this street.📠🤦🏽♂️🇲🇦
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