Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Historic London Pub
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of London’s best historic pubs or just another tourist trap, that was the question I was asking myself prior to my visit on Saturday night.
I had previously attempted to visit the “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese” on Fleet Street in London not so long ago. But unknown to me Fleet Street comes to a virtual stand still on a Sunday and the place was closed. It would hopefully be second time lucky, well there cant be many or any pubs that close on a Saturday night.
I had just finished a meeting at the Renaissance Chancery Court hotel in Holborn, when I thought why not head to Fleet Street and visit Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. I of course never knew the way, it was also dark and I had difficulty reading my little map. So I headed into an interesting looking pub I had earlier walked past called the Princess Louise to find my bearings.
As much as I was tempted to stay at the Princess Louise, which is a also a historic pub, I was on a mission to finally visit the holy grails of historic London pubs. It was fortunately only a wee stroll away.
As soon as I walked in the door of Ye Old Cheshire Cheese I loved the look of the place and not only that, but even more importantly there is a fantastic atmosphere inside.
The cold weather and lager don’t mix well for me and I had to head straight to the toilet, which is down a flight of stairs. I off course banged my head straight off the roof, which has been done by many thousands before me.
I had a wee wander around to see what Ye Old Cheshire Cheese pub was all about. I can safely say that in my humble opinion it is a pub that oozes character, it is full of atmosphere and people enjoying themselves. As far as I’m concerned that ticks all the right boxes for me. And the booze tasted pretty dam good as well.
I here people bemoan the fact that it is a tourist trap, admittedly there were quite a few tourists in the place when I was in, but there was also plenty of Londoners in there as well. I think it is a good mix. What’s wrong with being in a bar with people from all around the world. It adds to the atmosphere and the place was fairly busy, as well, which beats being in bar with one man, his dog and a 90 year old bar tender.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is owned by Samuel Smith Brewery, which means they only sell their own branded drinks. They don’t sell any mainstream brands of drinks, whether that be alcoholic or non alcoholic. Earlier in the evening at the Princess Louise, which is another Sam Smiths pub, I had tried out there Alpine Lager, which isn’t the best, but it sure isn’t the worst either and at around £2.65 a pint, it is a bit of a bargain in London. One thing that I always like to see in a bar is staff that know who is next to be served and I’m glad to say that the bar tender there was quality.
The young loons next to me, one of whom said the bitter was good, but his friend didn’t like it, but being a Scotsman bitter just doesn’t work with my taste buds. I did think about the Stout, but ended up having of all things, Cherry Organic Beer, which was delicious. It was my first foray into fruits beers and it wont be the last. It was I think £3.40 a bottle and it was worth the price. I had to have another 2 in the aid of research. The loons also told me the Single Malt Scottish whisky was excellent.
I suppose I should say a wee a bit about what makes the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese a so called historic pub. Well there has seemingly been a pub on the present location since, 1538, which of course was burnt down and rebuilt shortly after the fire of London in 1666. I guess that makes it fairly old.
It does feel almost like you have stepped back in time when you enter the place. It is atmospherically gloomy much like it would have been way back in the day when the famous and illustrious names who have drank there before frequented the hallowed walls of one of London’s best known bars.
The famous people who have drank in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese include Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, Charles Dickens, Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, Oliver Goldsmith, Alfred Tennyson, James Boswell and William Wallace, not the Scottish freedom fighter but the Scottish blogger and many more.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a quality pub, it is maybe not the best pub in London but in my mind it is definitely up there with the best of them. And a wee message to all those moaners that complain there are too many tourists in the place, get a life and get real. That’s what helps to give the place its unique and amazing atmosphere.
The good news for me is that there is only a travel time of around 45 minutes from my door to one of London’s best historic pubs. I cant wait to sample that Cherry Beer again, it is impressive stuff. I have one small gripe, I think the place would be better if they had at least one better known lager on tap!
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This review is very personal – I this, I that, me, me, me. And yet the reviewer doesn’t give his/her name!
Also, he/she needs to pay attention to spelling. “I here people bemoan …”
But anyway, the review would be more helpful, sir/madam if we had some idea of who you were (other than ” a Scot”).
NBW, ‘London Is Cool, is a very, very personal, blog I guess that’s why it is more successful than 95% of all the other blogs out there on blogosphere. And that is the way it is going to continue…apart from I plan on making it even more personal. To find out who the me, me, me is, click on ‘About’. Seek and ye shall find!
Don’t worry NBW I won’t lose any sleep over my bad spelling or grammar. Now wish me luck on my journey to get ‘London Is Cool’ into the top 99% of all blogs in the world this year, from me, me, me William K Wallace, the host of my, my, my blog…’London Is Cool’. Do you dig it!
Lang may yer lum reek!