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The Two Chairmen is thought to be one of the oldest pubs in Westminster and is named for the porters who carried sedan chairs in the 18th century for the gentry to and from the cockfighting near Cockpit Steps, virtually opposite the pub. It is very handy for the Houses of Parliament and St James's Park and tends to be less crowded than the pubs closer to Trafalgar Square.
Westminster
The Turf Tavern is one of Oxford’s favourite pubs, located down an alley near the ‘Bridge of Sighs’. Its website says, “The Turf Tavern has opened its doors to serve ales and appetisers to England’s literary elite, politicians, presidents and movie stars since 1831. The only one who never left is our Rosie, the resident ghost who still waits for her lover to return.” The foundations of the Turf are actually said to be medieval and it is claimed that it was established outside the city walls in order to be beyond the jurisdiction of the colleges.
The pub is also where future Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a Guinness World Record for knocking back a yard of ale in 11 seconds in 1963. Other celebrity drinkers have included (in no particular order) Thomas Hardy, Oscar Wilde, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemmingway, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Blair, CS Lewis, Stephen Hawking, David Cameron and Mike Biles (the author of A Bit About Britain’s History).
Oxford
One of London’s most famous pubs, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (not to be confused with the plain, common or garden, 'Cheshire Cheese' nearby) has allegedly been supped at over the centuries by the likes of Pepys, Wren, Johnson, Dickens and Wodehouse. It was restored after the Great Fire of 1666, so its heritage goes back beyond that. It’s a bit of a labyrinth and needs to be explored – the lower vaults are probably extremely old – as well as basic and sometimes rowdy, but generally friendly. In days gone by, it had a resident parrot (Polly), whose stuffed remains are apparently still there somewhere. T’is also said that, once upon a time, selected visitors were offered a free pipe of tobacco. None of that these days – and mobile phones are actively discouraged.
Other 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' pubs are available.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is generally accepted to be Britain’s oldest pub, dating from 793AD although the current half-timbered structure dates from 11th C and was once a dovecote located close to St Albans Cathedral, moving to its present site after the abbey was dissolved in 1539. It’s said that its foundations incorporate part of the Palace of Offa, King of the Mercians – hence the 8th C date – and that tunnels stretch from the beer cellar to the abbey, allegedly once used by the monks. At one time known as ‘The Round House’, the story goes that some kind of cock pit, measuring about 8 x 10 feet, was brought down from the abbey site – hence the pub’s name, though this was apparently changed to ‘The Fisherman’ when cock fighting was banned in 1849. However, it has been known as 'Ye Olde Fighting Cocks' since 1872. To cap it all, it is said that Oliver Cromwell spent a night at the inn during the Civil War of 1642-1651.
All of the above information was gleaned from the pub’s website. The image is from Wikipedia.
St Albans
Nottingham's Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is one of several pubs in Britain claiming to be the oldest - but it probably isn't. Known locally as 'the Trip', it is built into the rock beneath Nottingham Castle and reputedly dates from 1189. Legend has it that this was a place of rest for pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. The pub is steeped in history, with a touch of spookiness and, inevitably, gets very crowded.
Nottingham
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