Our starting point, The Swan, EC3
For years CAMRA luminary Mr Ian White has been conducting an annual pub crawl for the club, each one focusing on a particular area or theme. This years crawl is a central London escapade featuring hidden boozers. “I have always been leading friends and drinkers up alleyways and other destinations that may not look at first glance appealing,” he says. “I have enough pubs in mind to do two crawls this year, one on a Saturday and another on a Friday evening in November time.”
Part 1 took place on Saturday 4th July, while part 2 will start at 5pm at the Swan:
5pm: The Swan Tavern, Ship Tavern Passage, EC3V 1LY
Edwardian Multi storey pub
5.40pm: The Crosse Keys (WetherSpoons), 9 Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0DR
Grade II Listed former bank and office block built 1919 for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. This will be an opportunity for a food stop
6.15pm: The Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill, Bank, EC3V 9DS
Grade II Listed; built in 1885 on the site of England’s first coffee house, established by Pasqua Rosee and in existence by 1654
7pm: The George & Vulture, Castle Court, Bank, EC3V 9DL
We may be able to get a drink in here if tables are available otherwise we will move on to next one. There has been an inn on this site since 1142. The current building dates fro the early 18th century. Charles Dickens drank there and it is mentioned in the Pickwick Papers. Also a meeting place for the Hellfire club!
7.30pm: The Cloth (formerly Simpsons), 38 1/2 Cornhill, Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 9DR
Grade II Listed has now reopened, possibly late a C17 pair of houses
8.15 The Old Doctor Butler's Head, 2 Mason's Avenue, EC2V 5BT
A traditional pub tucked in a narrow alley, originally established in 1610, its present building dating from after the Great Fire of London in 1666
9pm: Williamsons Tavern, 1 Groveland Court, St Paul’s, London, EC4M 9EH
Built shortly after the great fire of London, and said to hold the oldest excise licence in the City
10pm: The Samuel Pepys (Cannon Street), Stew Lane , 48 Upper Thames Street, Blackfriars EC4V 3PT
19th-century former Thameside tea warehouse