Fleet Street, London
The Pub That Survived Three Hundred Years on Fleet Street
The Old Bell Tavern was built in 1670 by Christopher Wren during the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. He used it as a workmen's pub during the construction of nearby St Bride's Church. It has been pouring beer continuously since, making it one of the oldest London pubs still operating.
The interior is preserved Victorian — original mahogany bar, etched glass screens, brass fittings. The cask ale programme rotates eight beers from regional British breweries. The Sunday roast is reliable.
The crowd was newspaper journalists for two centuries when Fleet Street housed the British press. After the papers moved out in the 1980s, the regulars are now City professionals and visiting tourists. Pair with The Old Bank of England down Fleet Street for a heritage Fleet Street pub crawl.
