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Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street, EC4
EC4
EC4A 2BU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Cant add to Johns extensive review below but agree it is a pub you should see ,an impressive and historic interior, the beer doesn't impress for me though however cheap it is , I find Sam Smiths OBB rather ordinary. I have been here a couple of times but that's about it for me, an enhanced beer selection would make it a more attractive proposition for me despite the tourist aspect, for the building its an 8/10 but for beer 4/10 so I'll settle on overall a 6.
On 14th September 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Hidden away down a narrow alleyway off Fleet Street is one of the capital’s most famous and historic pubs, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.
Easily missable by the first time visitor walking down Fleet Street, an old unusual circular pub sign tells us that we are about to enter “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – A D 1667”. The history books tell us that an inn has stood on this site since 1538, but that the original building was destroyed by The Great Fire of London. On the wall outside, an old board gives a list of sovereigns since 1667, pointing us that there have only been 15 in total since that date.
It’s an atmospheric old inn with, in particular the Chop Room on the left ( a famous restaurant serving a wide selection of steak and kidney pies, roast beef steaks etc ) and the small main bar on the right reeking of ancient history and retaining much olde worlde Dickensian charm. There’s wood panelling, fine framed paintings, old wooden benches, subdued lighting, sawdust on the creaking floorboards, and a log fire all contributing towards a fine traditional atmosphere, unspoilt by modern embellishments apart from the rather garish Sam Smiths keg beer dispensers ( “man in a box” etc ) on the bar counter, which really do jar somewhat.
Behind the bar here, we see, in a glass case, a stuffed parrot – Polly – who entertained customers to the pub for many years until her death in 1926. Her fame was such that obituary notices appeared in national newspapers. Some of these have been reproduced and framed and can be seen on the wall leading to the rear part of the pub.
The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
Dr Johnson is among the famous customers who frequented the pub, as was Charles Dickens, who mentioned the pub in “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Since my first visit to this pub in the late 70’s, it’s been considerably enlarged towards the back. A less atmospheric Cheshire Bar with a high ceiling and greenish painted brick walls and a downstairs Cellar Bar, with a number of different nooks and crannies do at least have the benefit of providing much needed additional space as, like The Blackfriar nearby, the pub is very much on the tourist circuit.
As well as these newer rooms, a narrow winding wooden staircase leads up to additional bars, which I vaguely remember from the 70’s, but which, on my recent visits, have been roped off and not in use. I suspect they are now principally used for functions or group bookings.
I remember the pub when it sold Marstons Beers, then a real rarity in the capital and long before they had the Wolves and Dudley brands. It’s currently owned by Sam Smiths, who, of course have an excellent record of respecting the tradition and history of ancient inns such as this, although I do think that all the colourful and bright beer dispensers ( man in a box etc ) do jar somewhat when set against the dark woodwork and subdued lighting of the front bar. Sam Smith’s OBB is served on handpump – at £ 2.90p per pint – a price which, unsurprisingly, often causes unsuspecting visitors to believe they’ve been undercharged.
If you haven’t been here, you should definitely pay this one a visit when you get the chance
On 28th February 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
It was good to visit here in winter as all the coal fires were lit. The main entrance was a bit smoky when we entered the pub, which added some historical atmosphere, so too was the dim lighting. I noticed there was a large cheese board in the dining room, with some stilton, brie and Shropshire blue, I didn't see any old Cheshire cheese though, quite disappointing.
On 11th January 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Loved the multi roomed interior of this old Sam Smith's pub we visited yesterday. Great to explore round while we had their Old Brewery Bitter. The place is quite a maze as they had rooms upstairs and downstairs too which we didn't explore. The pork pies went down well with a number of folk in our party and they had an interesting menu we didn't have time to sample. Toilets downstairs.
On 16th November 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Rambling historic inn with various rooms on four levels (although not all of them are always open). Main wood-panelled bar at ground-floor level, with the larger rear Cheshire Bar in the covered courtyard beyond. Numerous handpumps on the different bar counters; but, as a Sam Smiths house, they only dispense OBB (£2.90) unfortunately. Definitely a place to visit, but not for the beer...
On 23rd August 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
This historic old Sam Smith’s pub has been nicely preserved and retains a real sense of times gone by as you sit and drink in one of the many dimly lit rooms available. The entrance to the pub is reached via a short alleyway from Fleet Street and is signposted by an excellent lamp pub sign. The sawdust covered corridor leads to a number of different rooms, all of which are worth exploring. The front bar, immediately to your right on entry, is perhaps the most striking room of all and certainly worth spending a bit of time in to soak up the atmosphere and think about all those who drank in here before you. Opposite is the Chop Room, which on my recent visit was well lit and set up for diners, which I’d not remembered it being used for in the past. Following the winding corridor, you pass another room to the left which has some great old photos in it documenting various events in the pub’s history. At the end of the corridor is a newer room with a larger bar and I was surprised to find this place very busy compared to other rooms, given the fact that it’s got a lot less character than the rest of the building. A sign next to the staircase explained that there are two restaurants and a private dining room upstairs, whilst anyone able to squeeze down the low ceilinged staircase leading to the basement, will discover a whole maze of rooms to further explore. The alleyway outside used to be a decent spot for summer drinks but signs now suggest that this is no longer permitted. Boards outside show old pub menus and a list of monarchs who have been on the throne since the pub first opened.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that this well preserved interior comes courtesy of Sam Smith’s and therefore it is their limited range of drinks that faces you at the bar. The Old Brewery Bitter is mercifully from the cask and clocks in at £2.90 for a pint. The barman seemed personable enough and was happy to top up my pint, but only when prompted.
The pub is well worth a visit for all of its literary and historical connections and its location means that it is also a bit of a hit with tourists, but thankfully the sheer size of the place means that it rarely gets overcrowded and you should be able to enjoy a good wander around to do the place justice.
On 18th June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
An historic rambling, low-ceilinged tavern built behind Fleet Street in the wake of the Great Fire in 1666, and still has an historic atmosphere about it helped by the strange lack of natural lighting that adds its own gloomy charm. There are six drinking rooms including a courtyard converted for the purpose in recent times. It was frequented by Dr Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, Mark Twain, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Yeats, Wilde, Voltaire and Thackeray. Charles Dickens, known to use the establishment frequently, referred to it in A Tale of Two Cities. Not a huge range of beers but, at around £2.20 a pint, who's arguing? The food is simple pub grub but well cooked and very reasonably priced. A little gem well worth seeking out especially during the day as it gets packed once the offices start to turn out in the early evening.
On 5th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
The main bar is so dimly lit I had difficulty counting out my change to pay for my pint but once the eyes became accustomed there are lots of old features of interest including a few portrait paintings. Over the door to the bar adjacent to the corridor hatch it says in faded writing "Gentlemen Only in this Bar". I would doubt that rule is still upheld today!
The Chop Room and Cheshire Bar were both locked on Tuesday afternoon but as the fire was lit in the Chop Room and tables set I suppose the room had been hired.
Nevertheless the cellar bar and its catacomb like passages were open. The floors are stone flagged down here and the ceiling beams are exposed. There is a seperate bar in this area but this too was closed at the time. The spiral stair leading down is quite treacherous and the headroom is limited, be warned.
There is a glass fronted case on Wine Office Court, the alley leading to the entrance, containing pub menus from 1928. The signature dish was rump steak, kidney, lark and oyster pudding, known as Ye Famous Pudding. Nowadays you have to make do with steak and kidney or steak and ale presumably down to a shortage of larks.
As said by others the beer choice won't drag you in here even if it is cheap at £2.05 but for the history and the experience it is a must visit pub.
On 19th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
I have mixed feelings about this pub, but usually because I get dragged in there on an early eveing crawl when it is usually crammed, standing room only and not a totally comfortable place to drink. But was back in the other day in mid afternoon and managed to get a place in the Chop room and was able to experience the full pleasure of having a pint in this piece of history.
So will fully agree with previous viewers, probably not the place to dwell for an evening (unless you've hired one of the top rooms), but a must visit for a great piece of London pub history if you haven't been before.
On 13th December 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
I doubt whether this pub has changed much over the past 350 years or so since it was rebuilt soon after the Great Fire in 1666 – except I suppose for the addition of some more drinking space at the rear, and the cellar bar. The main rooms – i.e. the Chop Room on the left, and the small bar on the right as you enter really do have the aura of age about them. There certainly haven’t been any changes since Roger’s review back in 2005, except that the late Polly the parrot has been removed from the Chop Room to perch at the top of the bar back in the small bar on the right. I wouldn’t bother visiting this pub for the ale selection – unless you are a fan of Sam Smith’s beer – but it is a must visit pub on any tour of London’s most historic pubs.
On 22nd July 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]