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why is it a secret?
It's not to be honest - it's more of an excuse....
As we live at different ends of the country, and we only seem to get together when the official event is on, it's nice just to go back to the time this all started - just Steve & James getting together for a bit of a beano, and to obviously conduct a little research into future events.
This meet up will be around March/April 2026 and will be centered on the most historical public houses in the capital. There may be pubs we miss - as it may prove too far considering we only have one day - travel can be a challenge in London especially on a Saturday. But, it will include some amazing venues, and will attempt to stay clear of pubs we have frequented during our previous events. We can't promise though!
PUB NO: 1 - spaniards inn
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
Built in 1585 by two Spanish brothers, our iconic Grade II listed London pub served as inspiration to the great Charles Dickens and John Keats. Close to Hampstead Village and Parliament Hill, you may still bump into a modern-day celebrity or two, enjoying a pint in our beautiful garden. You might even spot Dick Turpin roaming our hallways – we're one of the most haunted pubs in London.
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
Join us for a lazy brunch after a morning spent exploring Kenwood House or a dip in the swimming ponds on the heath. Our sumptuous Sunday roast is infamous and our exceptional range of cask ales, craft beers, fine wines and artisan spirits pair beautifully with our stunning food menu.
The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
Dick Turpin is thought to have been a regular at the Inn, as his father had been its landlord. What is certain is that highwaymen frequented this area and likely used the Inn to watch the road; at that time the Inn was around two hours from London by coach and the area had its fair share of wealthy travellers. Records from the Old Bailey. show that on 16 October 1751 Samuel Bacon was indicted for robbery on the King's Highway, and was caught 200 yards from the Spaniards.
PUB NO: 2 - the holly bush
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
Toby and the team welcome you to North London's go to gastropub. Nestled in the heart of Hampstead, The Holly Bush invites you to embark on a culinary journey like no other. Our menu is a symphony of flavors, from classic British pub fare to innovative, globally-inspired dishes.
We are delighted to be awarded The AA Rosette award for culinary excellence.
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
Today it benefits from a listed Grade II, awarded primarily for the pub’s interior; the ‘beamed ceilings, benches, plank paneling and engraved glass screen’ but also for its ‘group value and historical associations.’ Despite later changes,the pub has a distinctive atmosphere.
Come for a meal or just for a drink. Our seasonal food is freshly prepared for you, with a choice of traditional roasts on Sunday.
The Holly Bush, 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
We have four cask conditioned ales, hand picked speciality spirits and fine wines and Prosecco by the glass or the bottle.
Why not let us take care of you for a few hours? We’ll do the cooking and the washing up, leaving you to relax and unwind.
PUB NO: 3 - the devonshire
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
One of the hottest tickets in town, The Devonshire is a 'proper' London pub that's been restored to its former glory. On the ground floor, and spilling out onto the pavement, you find the drinkers seeing off pints of Guinness, with food served upstairs. Most of the cooking takes place on the first floor, in the aptly named Grill Room, with the top-floor Claret Room providing a little more calm. Dishes are traditional in style and robust in flavour, with the quality of the produce shining through. Highly personable service rounds out the experience.
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
The Devonshire, situated in a prime location, is celebrated by many travelers for its lively atmosphere and stylish décor. Guests frequently praise the quality and flavor of dishes like steaks and scallops, though some have noted inconsistencies in portion size and execution. Service is often described as attentive and welcoming, yet experiences can vary during busy periods.
The Devonshire, 17 Denman St, Soho London, W1D 7HW
As well as its reputation escalating for the food offer this is still a pub. The bar has the reputation for serving the best Guinness in London and if the rumours are true selling more pints of Guinness than any other pub in the UK or Ireland.
This is only the start of the awards and recognition for The Devonshire. It has already been cited as the Opening of the Year and Gastro Pub of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards.
PUB NO: 4 - sherlock holmes
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
One of London's original themed pubs, the Sherlock Holmes is an inn with a difference. With a history dating back centuries, it presents a little pocket of Victoriana in modern London. Just a stroll from The Playhouse Theatre, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, a visit here is a great addition to a day out in the capital.
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
Aside from the atmosphere created by its Victorian curios and rich woods, there's a meticulous recreation of Sherlock Holmes's Baker Street apartment. With your sleuthing done, take a seat and settle in. Serving a menu of refined, honest pub food, wines by the glass and craft ales, we've something for everyone.
Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street St James's Greater London, WC2N 5DB
Beyond the elegant exterior of the Sherlock Holmes pub, you’ll find a concealed curiosity - an upstairs recreation of Sherlock’s 221B Baker Street flat in 1894. Yet that is only the beginning of our pub’s intriguing treasures. Originally a Victorian-era pub, the building was renamed in 1957 and became one of London’s first themed pubs—now lovingly restored to celebrate its history.
PUB NO: 5 - jamaica wine house
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
The Jamaica Wine House, often called "The Jampot", is a historical pub located in the heart of London's financial district, the City of London. It's tucked away in a small courtyard off Cornhill, near Bank Station. The pub holds a significant place in London's history for several reasons.
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
The Jamaica Wine House is on the site of London's first-ever coffee house, which opened in 1652. Coffee was introduced to England through the trade routes, and this coffee house was one of the earliest places where Londoners could experience it.
Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS
The coffee house was established by Pasqua Rosée, who had brought coffee from the Ottoman Empire. Coffeehouses became key places for businessmen, politicians, and intellectuals to meet and discuss matters of the day, laying the groundwork for what would become London's vibrant pub culture
PUB NO: 6 - Old Doctor Butler's Head
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
One of the City of London’s most historic pubs, The Old Doctor Butler’s Head was originally established in 1610, with the present building dating back to just after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Nestled down an unassuming alleyway, our cosy pub transports you into Stuart-era London. With its black frontage and swan neck lamps lighting up the doorway, it exudes character - having welcomed people from all walks of life for the last four centuries
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
The pub takes its name from one Dr Butler, a 17th-century self-proclaimed specialist in nervous disorders. His 'miracle cures' included holding consultation on London Bridge, during which the unfortunate client would be dropped through a trapdoor into the torrent below.
As a cure for epilepsy, he would fire a brace of pistols near his unsuspecting patient, to “scare the condition out of them”. In cases of the plague, he’d plunge the poor soul into cold water.
Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, EC2V 5BT
So highly was he considered, that despite his lack of qualifications he was appointed court physician to King James I.
Around that same time, he developed a medicinal ale for gastric ailments, which was available only from taverns which displayed Dr. Butler's head on their signs. This led to him acquiring a number of ale houses in the capital - of which The Old Dr. Butler's Head is the last one standing.
PUB NO: 7 - The Blackfriar
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
A Grade II Art Nouveau masterpiece . Our historic building has stood proudly in the heart of Blackfriars since 1875 – just think of the things it must have seen… You won’t be able to miss our iconic, wedge-shaped building, with its mosaics, ornamental balconies, and famous guardian black friar above the front door.
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
Built on the site of a Dominican friary, the curious building was redesigned by architect Herbert Fuller-Clark in around 1905, with most of the internal decoration provided by artist Henry Poole and sculptor Frederick Callcott. Their commitment to the free-thinking arts and crafts movement can still be seen in our sculptures, mosaics, and relics, all depicting jolly friars. Added in 1917-21, the snack bar sits under the neighbouring railway line, proving a popular attraction with its barrel-vaulted ceiling.
The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG
With such a rich history, it’s hard to believe that we’re actually lucky to still be here after being saved from redevelopment in the 1960s. The demolition was prevented by a campaign led by Sir John Betjeman, so make sure you raise a glass to him when you visit us for a pint!
PUB NO: 8 - The Old bell tavern
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
The Old Bell stands on the site of an earlier tavern – the Swan – and in 1500 became the location of Fleet Street’s first ever printer’s. The aptly-named Wynkyn de Worde ran a workshop from the premises and his credentials were impeccable, having previously worked for none other than William Caxton himself. The current Old Bell (previously the Golden Bell and later the Twelve Bells) has been greatly renovated but was originally built in 1678 by London’s most famous architect.
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
Sir Christopher Wren knocked up the pub to accommodate the stone masons working on a nearby project (see Ye Old Watling). Not St Paul’s this time, but St Bride’s – the decorative church with the elaborately-tiered spire that has been the inspiration for many a wedding cake.
When Fleet Street became the centre for Britain’s national press, the local pubs became the haunt of journalists who were renowned for their (our) heavy drinking. Perhaps it was this predilection for the bottle that cost one hack the biggest scoop of his life. Back in the early days of the Cold War, one Eric Tullett of the Sunday Express had been given the top-secret details of a national code-breaking facility, later to become the GCHQ.
The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH
But he left his notebook at the Old Bell. It was later found by a barmaid who spotted the words “secret” and “Moscow” in Tullett’s notes and promptly alerted the police, who shared it with MI5. The Foreign Office eventually allowed part of Tullett’s story to go ahead, but all mention of the code-breaking facility had to be left out. This happened in 1951 and Tullett’s state secrets about the GCHQ only came to light in the 1970s some 20-odd years later. So it just goes to show, the humble pub can actually STOP history from happening.
PUB NO: 9 - ye olde cheshire cheese
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
Probably the most famous pub in the world, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is one of London’s few remaining 17th Century chophouses. The sawdust on the floor is changed twice daily, It is a pub and eating house offering unpretentious fare in wooden bays provided by high-backed church pews and served by waiters. The site formed part of the 13th century Carmelite monastery and since 1538 a pub has stood here. The medieval pub was rebuilt in about 1667 after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
“Yesterday, I looked in at the Garrick at lunchtime, took one glance of loathing at the mob, and went off to lunch by myself at the Cheshire Cheese.” PG Wodehouse, 1906
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is an historic gem of a pub on Fleet Street, on the edge of the City of London.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
The pub was rebuilt in 1667 after the original one was burnt down by the Great Fire of London. Over the past 355 years the Cheese has been frequented by numerous prominent literary figures: Dr Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats and Charles Dickens, who even featured it in his novel A Tale of Two Cities. Other prominent figures who were customers: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Volataire and Winston Churchill.
The pub is a delightful labyrinth of different rooms: front bar, Chop House restaurant, Cheshire Bar, Cellar Bar, Williams Room and Johnson Bar to name but a few.
Its location, on Fleet Street in the heart of London’s publishing district, has made it the favourite meeting place of literary types, and much has been written about it for hundreds of years. The Chop Room is the traditional dining room where you can find a long oaken table at which Dr. Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, Charles Dickens and others have dined over the years.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BP
Charles Dickens boasted of the food here as “a good plain meal with good wine.” Dr. Samuel Johnson, the author of the modem dictionary, lived a few steps away and his chair is in the pub. His house can be visited at the same time you visit the Cheese.
Oliver Goldsmith drank with him here and also lived in the next door Wine Office Court. Their experiences at the Cheese were described by Dickens as “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese” in A Tale of Two Cities. Pictures and artifacts throughout the labyrinth of rooms portray the people, events and times that shaped this famous eating and drinking establishment.
PUB NO: 10 - Old Bank Of England
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
The Old Bank is one of the most stunning pub interiors in the city of London. With a new lease of life, paired with honest pub grub and fantastic, Hertfordshire brewed beers.
Our pub resides in the old Law Court’s branch of the previous Bank of England which operated from 1888 to 1975, although you may not be able to get a loan with us, you are bound to receive attentive service, and a unique experience in the country’s capital. The location is also famously directly between Sweeney Todd’s barber shop and Mrs Lovett’s pie shop!
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
In a rapidly changing London its refreshing and a delight to see buildings that no longer fulfil their original purpose converted into public houses for the wider London community and visitors to gather in. With hundreds of pubs closing since the 1970s and witnessing changes of use to bookies, shops, churches, community centres and private dwellings it always feels a small victory when we the people ‘get one back’.
Built in 1866 and becoming a pub in 1994 it earns its name from being the Law Court’s branch of the Bank of England until 1975.
Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT
Directly under street level are old staff facilities and storage exist.
Next to the Royal Courts of Justice it’s a majestic sight. Being able to drink in such architectural splendour you just know you are in the beating heart of historic London.
One of four properties owned by McMullen’s the pub has undergone extensive redevelopment work over the course of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
PUB NO: 11 - the last judgement
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
Celebrating our third anniversary in May 2026, The Last Judgment stands proudly in the iconic former Union Bank building at the corner of Chancery Lane and Carey Street. We’re redefining the classic London pub experience — blending heritage with modern flair.
Located in the heart of historic ‘legal London,’ we offer more than just great food and drinks — we create unforgettable social moments.
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
From hearty, wholesome dishes to an impressive lineup of draft beers, bespoke cocktails, and fine wines, every visit is crafted to delight.
It’s not just what’s on the menu that sets us apart — it’s the atmosphere. Every detail of our venue has been thoughtfully curated to ensure a warm, welcoming, and memorable experience.
The Last Judgement, 95 Chancery Lane, Off Carey St, Fleet St, London WC2A 1DT
Our goal is simple: to raise the bar on what a London pub can be. Exceptional service, top-quality food and drinks, and an inviting ambience — that’s our promise.
A heartfelt thank you to all our guests who’ve made ‘The Judgment’ such a success.
Proposed Itinerary
Route and Link (Google Maps)
Route takes you from the 3rd featured pub to the last! Note: The route doesn't include The Spaniards Inn or the Holly Bush, which are located in Hampstead. Simply because the map would be unreadable, and you may not want to include the first 2 pubs in your tour - but we did!!