Pubs and Inns

Britain, places to visit, attractions, heritage
Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.

This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in the North of England, including Yorkshire.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in England’s East Midlands are currently being moved to ABAB’s Places.

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Atlantic Bridge

This is the Bridge over the Atlantic, also known as the Atlantic Bridge; I daresay someone’s referred to it as Atlantic Crossing too. You’ll find it in Argyll, about 10 miles south of Oban. Atlantic Bridge’s real name is Clachan Bridge and it joins the Hebridean island of Seil with the mainland, spanning what is technically a section of the Atlantic Ocean, albeit a very narrow one. We Brits are known for our sense of humour; just look at how we still agree to pay our politicians.  The bridge was designed by Robert Mylne (1733-1811) – who also designed Blackfriars Bridge in London - and was built in 1792.

Nearby on the island side is the Tigh an Truish Inn - the house of trousers. The name allegedly comes from the time after the 1745 rebellion, when the Government banned the kilt. So islanders travelling to the mainland for work would change into trousers at the inn before crossing the bridge, and back into traditional plaid when returning home.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Clachan
Seil
County
Argyll
Post Code
PA34 4TJ
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Slate Islands and Heritage Centre. Oban 10 miles to the north.
Primary Management
Historic Scotland
BAT and BALL, Hambledon

The Bat and Ball, Hambledon, sits on a junction between the villages of Hambledon and Clanfield, though is marginally closer to the latter. It is a wonderful location and the pub, as well as serving excellent ale, is famous as being 'the cradle of English cricket'. This is the place where the modern rules of the game were drawn up by Hambledon Cricket Club, which played on Broadhalfpenny Down, opposite the pub, in the 18th C. The captain of HCC was one Richard Nyren (1734-97), who was also landlord of the pub. 'Tis said that the 'formidable' Hambledon team played All England elevens on 51 occasions, winning 29 of the matches. I wonder how they'd have got on against Australia?

Photo: Courtesy of The Bat and Ball.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Hyden Farm Lane
Hambledon
County
Hampshire
Post Code
PO8 0UB
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Winchester Hill, Butser Hill Ancient Village
Primary Management
Other
EAGLE and CHILD, Oxford

Popular 17th century pub known for its associations with regulars , the writers RR Tolkien and CS Lewis. The pub is also known as 'the bird and baby'. It is owned by St John's College, but leased out.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
49 St Giles
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Post Code
OX1 3LU
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Oxford City Centre and colleges. Lamb & Flag is opposite.
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
GEORGE & VULTURE

There has been an inn on the site of the City’s George & Vulture since the 15th century, but it burnt down in the Great Fire of 1666. Originally called ‘The George’, the vulture bit was added because (allegedly) the rebuilt inn was partly leased to a wine merchant whose sign was a live vulture, tethered above the entrance. These days, it is known as a favourite watering-hole of Charles Dickens, who mentioned it several times in ‘Pickwick Papers’ and whose descendants sometimes meet there. It is not a pub, but a restaurant with varied reviews. This writer has no personal experience of it, but from the outside it looks like a public lavatory.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
3 Castle Court
County
London
Post Code
EC3 9DL
Main Historic Period
Stuart
Tip/Nearby
Between Bank and Leadenhall Market
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
GEORGE INN, BOROUGH

The George, Borough High Street, is the last remaining galleried coaching inn in London. There were once many such inns in the area, catering for travellers on their way south from the City, or heading north and pausing before crossing London Bridge.  They included the famous Tabard, where Chaucer's pilgrims met, which used to stand just south of the George.  By Dickens' times, the number of such inns had been reduced to half a dozen.  The current George Inn building dates from the 17th century, but there has apparently been an inn on the site since medieval times. And it serves a good pint. The property is owned by the National Trust, leased to a tenant.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
75-77 Borough High Street
Southwark
County
London
Post Code
SE1 1NH
Main Historic Period
Stuart
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
London Bridge
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
LAMB and FLAG, Oxford

A tavern since 1695, the Lamb & Flag is owned by St John's College and was voted Oxford's best pub by CAMRA members in 2016. It has some association with JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis and was apparently where Thomas Hardy wrote most of his last novel, Jude the Obscure.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
12 St Giles
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Post Code
OX1 3JS
Main Historic Period
Stuart
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Eagle and Child is opposite
Primary Management
Educational establisment
SKY GARDEN

Sky Garden is a bar and restaurant complex on the top 3 floors of the 'Walkie-Talkie' - 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. This controversial 38-storey office block was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly - the footplate actually increases in size as you ascend the building. It cost £200million and was constructed between January 2009 and May 2014. Sky Garden, which has restricted, but free, public access, was opened in 2015. Here you can enjoy an expensive drink or a meal with some fabulous views over Britain's capital city. You need to book in advance via the website (see below).

Region/Nation
Location/Address
1 Sky Garden Walk
20 Fenchurch Street
County
London
Post Code
EC3M 8AF
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
All City of London sites
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
SPANIARDS INN

One of the oldest pubs in London, said to date from 1585. Full of legends, it was either named because it was once the home of the Spanish Ambassador, or because it was owned by two Spanish brothers, who quarrelled over a woman. Dick Turpin is said to have been a former customer and there are several ghosts. It has appeared in work by Charles Dickens and Bram Stoker - and it has been claimed that Keats wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale' in the garden. The garden, incidentally, is great. A busy, but must visit, kind of place - situated close to Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Spaniards Road
Hampstead
County
London
Post Code
NW3 7JJ
Main Historic Period
Tudor
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Kenwood House, Keats House, Hampstead Heath
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
STILL & WEST

The Still & West is an iconic early 19th century pub (greatly restored) in Old Portsmouth, right on the harbourside where you can sit and watch the ships go by while enjoying a drink and fish 'n' chips. At time of writing (2017) it is a Fuller's pub serving their version of HSB, the Horndean Special Bitter once brewed by the defunct Gales brewery.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
2 Bath Square
Portsmouth
County
Hampshire
Post Code
PO1 2JI
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Spice Island Inn opposite
Primary Management
Other
The Clarence, Whitehall

A fairly traditional London pub, though undeniably targeted at the tourist trade, the Clarence's location on the corner of Whitehall and Great Scotland Yard makes it very convenient for central attractions, including Westminster. Easy to find, it's a good place to arrange to meet - and, as it's handy for 10 Downing Street, you never know who you'll spot supping a pint there. The beer can be really good, as can the food. Often crowded - inevitably.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
53 Whitehall
County
London
Post Code
SW1A 2HP
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square - you name it.
Primary Management
Private - open to the public

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch. 

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