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Ye Olde Mitre, EC1
EC1
EC1N 6SJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
Like the reviewer below I paid a return visit to this historic Inn yesterday for the first time in many years. Yes this is a great piece of London drinking history and visitors to London really should search it out. But be sure to pick your time if you are interested in seeing and enjoying that history because, as Mr Scrumpy eludes to below, this is not the most comfortable pub to have a pint in.
Apart from the couple of occasions when I have visited in that mid afternoon time slot between the end of the lunchtime period and the start of the after work one I too have never managed to get a seat in one of the two small rooms either side of the small central serving area, and have also been confined to the passageways outside. There are additional tables in the two main passageways leading from Charterhourse Street and Hatton Gardens, but these are the main thoroughfares into the pub, so sitting here is usually not relaxing. The trick is to search out the third one, the dead end passageway behind the gents toilets, where if you are lucky to get a table you will be largely undisturbed, except for the odd first time gentleman visitor who has walked straight past the unmarked door to the small gents and now stands in the middle of this corridor looking completely confused.
I first visited here over 40 years ago and the pub itself remains completely unchanged from that time which, as another reviewer comments below, is the point of the place.
However what has changed has been the beer range and choice and I have to say full marks to Fullers in that respect and especially to the progressive guest ale policy. Last night there was a very good stout, a mild and a New England IPA alongside the Pride and the Seafarers. And a good team of staff squeezed into the central jump we’re doing an excellent job at serving the after work throng in quick succession.
The point of this pub is to serve the working population of this part of London and it has been doing so for several hundreds of years. I will totally support the comments of Mr Scrumpy below. If you want to see the pub then come during the day after the lunch session, but you won’t get the atmosphere. For that come here on a weekday at 6PM, especially on a Thursday or Friday. It won’t be quiet and it won’t be comfortable but you will be standing in the shoes of many a working Londoner before you.
And definitely do not come on a Saturday or Sunday as the pub is closed at weekends.
On 26th August 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
Yesterday was my first visit to this pub in over 7 years. It was also my first daytime visit, which made it feel like an entirely different pub. On previous evening visits, it's been packed out. Whilst I'd managed to squeeze into the front bar once, I'd normally be relegated to the quaint alleyway outside.
The atmosphere is not quite as good as normal during the day, but the quietness allows you to appreciate the history and surroundings.
Fuller's London Pride & Gale's Seafarers Ale are still the regular ales. Guests were Five Points Best Bitter, Dark Star Hophead & Oakham JHB. They no longer appear to stock a real cider.
Certainly worthy of a visit to experience a step back in time.
On 29th June 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
Must visit pub for those with an interest in pub architecture and history.
Pay attention when looking for it - its hidden down a little alley off either Charterhourse Street or Hatton Gardens.
Once inside you have a two roomed (three if you include Ye Closet), restaurant upstairs. All wood paneled and furniture not out of place from a medieval banquet.
You are in a different world, at a different time.
Fullers house but ESB not on draft and amazingly, the London Pride had gone.
Worth a revisit.
On 1st March 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
An iconic pub tucked down an alley between Hatton Garden and Ely Place,it's difficult to find but a joy once you do.
There has been a pub on site since 1546 but the current building is Georgian and is full of nationally important CAMRA listings.The bar nearest Ely Place is the smaller,with more a public bar feel despite being named as a lounge.There are a few benches,low tables and bar stools while the fireplace has a coal affect gas fire.Ceilings covered with whisky water jugs in both lounges.Lots of wood panelling and obscured glass in the windows with the enclosed cherry tree trunk being the boundary of the Bishop of Ely's land.
The rear lounge is larger,square with some bench seating,fine carved wooden chairs around the periphery and a central oval table with stools.This carpeted room is more opulent and the lighting more classic.There is a charming side snug with one large table called Ye Closet,while up a very steep stairway is the Bishops Room,which can be hired,but is an overflow drinking area otherwise with high tables and drinking shelves but fewer features.Naturally a lot of punters spill out into the narrow alley ways which help relieve any internal crush when busy.
Owned by Fullers but offering genuine guest ales the line up on my visit was Fullers London Pride,Adnams Broadside,Deuchars IPA,a real cider,Pig & Porter Percy Percy (a Green Hop Dubbel 6%),Tiny Rebel Stay Puft (NBSS 4.5) with a clip for Dark Star APA reversed.Thats a very decent line up and it's rightly in the 2020 GBG.
This is a proper boozer with the only food items being nuts or toasted snacks,and with a choice of superb guests ales,this pub is now a must visit .Beware of the weekend closure.It's one of the great London pubs,a timeless classic.
On 11th November 2019
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
a very cosy little pub hidden away... well as hidden as it is possible to be in central London. the Fullers corporate touch is all over it though and the Americans within quickly started to grate on me. The waitress got irritated when I had to reorder as my half was brought out as a pint... i’m being economical because of your prices, don’t forget that!
On 16th May 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
Fullers pub tucked away down a narrow alleyway. A characterful old interior with some guest beers served.
On 19th October 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
Update, best visit I've had here, no service issues, room to sit and a very good Thornbridge Jaipur, now up couple of notches to 8/10
April 2013
An iconic London pub, but a pub I have always struggled to take to.Nowdays a Fullers pub, which doesn't help my particular cause beer wise ,although guests are available.A great looking pub in a great location, but I always seem to have had service issues on the four times I have made a visit. not enough staff on (usually one)when the bar's two or three deep. Maybe I've been unlucky and will try again,but it hasn't done it for me to date.
On 4th August 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
A historic pub with a history going back to 1546, rebuilt in 1772 and extended in 1782. Naturally as with all pubs of this ilk, the 'Ye Olde' prefix is a relatively modern affectation; the pub was originally called The Mitre.
Well described below, naturally this is the kind of pub where little if anything changes. Staff were friendly, doing their best from the cramped bar. This is a Fuller's house and there were 5 ales on offer though 3 were double clipped, so what was on offer is unknown. My half of Oliver's Island (£2.03) was a decent price considering the area and was on good form.
This is a great little pub - by far the best in Hatton Garden - but be warned that it gets pretty rammed in the evening - especially Fridays - which means that service can be rather slow. A better choice of ales would garner a higher mark.
Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
On 7th April 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
This is a small pub tucked away down an equally small alleyway, and certainly not somewhere you’re going to stumble across by accident. In fact we were actively looking for it and still had a bit of trouble tracking it down. It’s certainly worth making the effort though. The landlord was a friendly chap and welcomed us to his pub as soon as we got to the bar.
It’s an attractive looking pub from the outside with leaded windows and an unusual wood panelled exterior. The front bar is quite tiny, something of a snug perhaps, and was a cosy space with dark wood panelling all around and a few black beams on the ceiling, from which were hanging a good selection of old jugs. A small fire-place was off to one side and there were a few old black and white photographs on the wall. Bench seating was around much of the perimeter, and the floor was carpeted whereas I might have expected flagstones in an establishment such of this. On sign on the wall said that it had been built by some bishop or other back in the 1600’s, if I recall correctly. There was a further bar at the rear which from a quick glance looked as though it may have been a little more elegant. A chalk board on the wall advertised a selection of snacks such as sausage rolls, scotch eggs, pork pies, etc.
There was a good choice of beers on tap with Sambrook’s Session, London Pride, Windsor & Eton Red Eye and Windsor Knot, Seafarer’s Ale, Adnams Broadside and Oliver’s Island. Ciders meanwhile were Cornish Orchards and Friels which I’ve only ever previously come across in bottles. All in all, a cracking little pub and well worth taking the trouble to seek out.
On 7th April 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Ye Olde Mitre
A long-overdue visit found (thankfully) almost no change to this iconic London pub. Despite being packed service was swift and friendly. Sampled the upstairs room for the first time, which was enjoyable and had a pseudo Gentleman’s Club feel. Couple of the Fullers range sampled, though I fail to recall which but I do remember they were both quite drinkable…
October 2010
A pub that anyone visiting London should try. It’s a little gem, hidden down an alley linking Hatton Garden (look for the Bishop's Mitre) with Ely Place. This is a small, multi-roomed pub that can trace its origins back to 1546 (look out for the Queen Elizabeth I cherry tree which can be found in the front bar – she apparently used this as a maypole when a child). The two main downstairs rooms have dark wood, low ceilings, are heated by fires and are separated by the bar. There’s also a room upstairs and the alleyways outside have some upturned large barrels acting as standing tables. The ale selection is good (Fuller’s acquired the place a couple of years back so expect to see Pride and Seafarers but have kept up the guest range of 2-3 ales as well as the two old 'house beers' of Adnams Broadside and Deuchars IPA). The quality is usually quite solid and prices are reasonable given the location. There used to be a bit of an issue with short measures but that appears to have been addressed. Food is available – usually toasted sandwiches, pickled and scotch eggs. The wine selection is also fairly extensive given the pubs size and reputation for beer. Being located in the heart of the City area, expect it to get rammed post-5pm with office workers. Note that the pub is closed on weekends and bank holidays, so it’s best taken on a quiet weekday afternoon. Highly recommended. Rated 9
On 18th November 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]