Andy's Beer Corner

Unusual Pubs and Pub Names

This page is named after my other half who has generously volunteered to try out any pubs of interest I happen to come across in my research for this site. Below you'll find some of our recommendations, based on funny names, interesting decor or lots of history; and below that, some other historical pub-related titbits

Argyll Arms

18 Argyll Street
W1F 7TP
Tel: 020 7734 6117

Argyll This pub, being very close to Oxford Circus and Regent Street, gets very busy so try visiting at a quiet time of day. The inside is magnificent - a warren of Victorian booths, etched glass screens and mirros. The name of the pub and street come from the Duke of Argyll who had a mansion where the Palladium now stands.

The Pineapple

51 Leverton Street
London, NW5 2NX
Tel: 020 7284 4631

You'll find the Victorian pub the Pineapple at Leverton Street, Kentish Town. Worth visiting just for the pineapples decorating the outside of the pub. It was very nearly closed in December 2001, but for an admirable campaign run by locals and luminaries such as Rufus Sewell, Ken Livingstone and Andrew Motion to keep it open. The full story is told on CAMRA at Saving the Pineapple

The Only Running Footman

5, Charles St
London, W1J 5DE
Tel: 020 7499 2988

Formerly known as I Am The Only Running Footman, this one's in Mayfair, named after the poor dears who ran in front of wealthy men's carriages in the 18th century. Decent gastropub food in the Mayfair area (Charles Street, just off Berkley Square).

Prospect of Whitby

7 Wapping Wall, Wapping
London, E1W 3SJ
Tel: 020 7481 1095

Prospect Named after a ship docked nearby, this Wapping pub was formerly known as the Devil's Tavern because of the smugglers and villains who used to gather there in the 18th century. It actually dates back to 1543 and as such is the oldest pub in London. You'll find it at 57 Wapping Wall. A 400 year old stone floor, nautical bric a brac, noose hanging outside and former regulars Dickens and Pepys it's a must-see.

The Bleeding Heart Tavern

off Greville Street
London, EC1N 8SJ
Tel: 020 7242 2056

Featuring in Little Dorrit, this restaurant/bar near Chancery Lane tube station in the City has a long and strange history. It featured in Little Dorrit - Dickens found some relish of ancient greatness about it and has a fascinating murder mystery attached to it. Lady Elizabeth Hatton was supposed to have danced with the devil on the premises (or the European ambassador - much less interesting) and was found the next morning dead, her heart pumping blood. You can see more of the story on the Bleeding Heart's own web page. The restaurant specialises in contemporary french cuisine, but don't go if you're in a rush - service can be a tad slow.

The Black Friar

174 Queen Victoria Street
London, EC4V 4EG
Tel: 020 7236 5474
Nearest Underground: Blackfriars

Friar A pub that looks like an arts and crafts version of a church. Georgeous mosaics and lots of cheerful monks. This pub fills up with city workers on weekday evenings, but any other time is a lovely haven not far from St Paul's Cathedral. Some pictures of the interior are at pubs.com. And they do very nice fish and chips.

Pub-Related Titbits

The Grand Union, Camden, Grand Junction Arms in Acton and the Great Northern in Hornsey are all named after canal or railway companies.

Five stations on the London Underground system are named after pubs: Angel, Elephant & Castle, Manor House, Royal Oak and Swiss Cottage.

Have a read of this lovely bit of history from British History Online about The World Turned Upside Down (145 Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5UT). The oldest of the inns in the Old Kent Road, perhaps, is one near the Bricklayers' Arms Station, which rejoices in the somewhat singular sign of "The World Turned Upside Down." The house is supposed to be upwards of two hundred years old, and down to about 1840 its sign-board represented a man walking at the South Pole. It may have been first set up after the discovery of Australia, Van Diemen's Land, or Terra del Fuego; but Mr. Larwood, in his work on "Sign-boards," interprets it as "meaning a state of things the opposite of what is natural and usual: a conceit in which," he adds, "the artists of former ages took great delight, and which they represented by animals chasing men, horses riding in carriages, and similar conceits and pleasantries." The old sign-board was blown down many years ago; and in 1868 the house itself was in great part rebuilt and wholly new-fronted.

The Punch Tavern, (99 Fleet Street, City of London, EC4Y 1DE) was named after the magazine Punch which was conceived in a nearby pub. It's thought that the name was inspired by the Punch and Judy shows that were held in the Ludgate Circus area. The pub is decorated with tiles which feature the two characters, and Punch magazines used to decorate the space. The decor is a an eccentric mish-mash these days.

The story of Dirty Dicks (202 Bishopsgate, City, London, EC2M 4NR) is the story of an English eccentric Nathaniel or Richard Bently upon whom it's said Dickens' Mrs Haversham is based. At one time it contained the belongings of a man who, after his bride-to-be died on the eve of their wedding, stopped washing himself or his clothes, and stopped cleaning up. The landord of the Old Port Wine Shop bought Dick's belongings after he died - these included dead cats which he had left to rot where they fell, and cobwebs from the now infamous city trader. The name of the establishment was changed accordingly. The grubby contents (including dead cat) are now to be seen behind glass in the pub which was completely rebuilt in 1870.

More Information

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E-mail: mcnamee.j@googlemailcom