We certainly aren’t thin on the ground when it comes to pubs in capital city. They’re actually one of the very few things that we Londoners have managed to get absolutely spot on (along with avoiding eye contact at all costs and always standing on the right, of course). We’ve got huge pubs, tiny pubs, floating pubs, good-looking pubs, eye-wateringly expensive pubs, and (of course) some outrageously old pubs.
One that’s particularly old is – as the name may suggest – Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. This legendary London watering hole is nestled down a surreptitious side street, and has truly stood the test of time. A favourite amongst some of London’s most notable literary bigwigs, the Cheese has seen its fair share of famous faces over the years. And it’s really not too hard to see why. It’s cosy, characterful, and crammed to the brim with history; a trio of traits that make for a pretty perfect pub, don’t you think?
The history of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
There’s been a pub in this very spot since 1538, but the original boozer was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1966. Fear not, though: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was rapidly rebuilt the following year (confirming that our priorities really haven’t changed all that much since then), and the rest is – quite literally – history.
Located on the iconic Fleet Street, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is well-known for its literary links, having been frequented (and written about) by some of London’s most well-known writers, publishers and literary figures. It’s said that the likes of George Orwell, Samuel Johnson, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Charles Dickens all enjoyed a tipple or two in the Cheese. It even got a mention in Dickens’ novel, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese nowadays
Very little about this well-trodden tavern has changed over the past 350 years. That’s the charm of it, really. Stepping inside its maze of different rooms really does make you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. It’s got a distinct lack of natural light, so it’s not the place for you if you like your pubs with a side of people watching out of the window. It’s absolutely for you, however, if you like your pubs cosy, interesting, and completely old-school.
Sawdust covers the floor as a nod to the pub’s old age, and the food and drink offering is classic, traditional, and unpretentious. Plenty of pictures and artefacts can be found around the pub, paying homage to the people and the events that have helped form its rich history. And if you still need more convincing to pay Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese a visit; it also features on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. It’s a true historic jewel in London’s crown of blooming brilliant pubs.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese here.
📍 145 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BP.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Chancery Lane.