Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

With a name like this you do stop and wonder what on earth could be the attraction to a name which sounds more like a 1940’s North Western Cheddar Factory than one of the oldest surviving taverns in the City of London. This pub is a very ancient network of old medieval rooms and bars in a complete throwback to the times of the Great Fire of London and the rich history in this part of the world in that era. In fact very little looks to have changed. Authenticity follows you around this multi-story maze as wood-chippings on the floors, aged black oak panels, underground wine cellars, Tudor windows and that tingling feeling that you are sitting among the ghosts of the past. Upon entrance one finds a diners bar to the left and up the stairs two more bars and a bar to the right. Further down the pub is a narrow staircase which leads to the toilets then a larger room, more steps and then a large bar. The place serves good value hot food, London priced drinks and the sound effects of groups talking in distant passages puts cherries on this museum of a cake.

Outside the pub we are told of his historical connections to writers of the past, Dickens, Peeps, Twain and even Jackie Collins find the inspiration in this network of what is apparently 2 restaurants and nine bars. The bar to visit for brave tourists and even Londoner’s would be surprised by its rich offerings- unfortunately different parts get closed off during the day so the full experience is never felt - 8/10

Tags: type famous pubs, more 8 out of tens , type ancient bar, , ,