In this episode of The Historic London Pubcast, we continue our London walking tour of Fitzrovia pubs, uncovering the untold stories behind some of the best pubs in London. Host Eric Blair guides us on a rich and raucous journey through London pub history, where pints were shared by poets, cultists, and the occasional ex-copper-turned-publican.
We begin with The Black Horse Fitzrovia, a pub that has lived many lives before reclaiming its original identity. Then it’s on to The Wheatsheaf, where Aleister Crowly sketched Dylan Thomas’s thoughts and freaked him out! Later, a drunken Dylan Thomas famously proposed to Caitlin at The Wheatsheaf and George Orwell, ever the purist, insisted friends drink only the darkest beer.
The tale continues at The Marquis of Granby pub, a late-night haunt rumored to attract rougher crowds—and even rougher legends.
We visit The Newman Arms Fitzrovia, once a brothel and now a pub with a blue plaque and Orwellian legacy. Finally, we step into the elegant yet storied Museum Tavern London, a Victorian gem possibly patronized by Karl Marx himself.
Throughout the crawl, we explore the vibrant chaos of bohemian London, guided in part by the vivid recollections of Sally Fiber, granddaughter of the founder of The Fitzroy Tavern. Her accounts of the original Fitzrovia pub crawl breathe life into a time when British literary pubs doubled as salons, sketchpads, and sometimes battlegrounds of wild personalities.
Whether you’re chasing London travel tips, planning your own London pub crawl, or simply thirsting for a good story, this episode is your perfect companion. Pour a pint and step back into the smoke-filled, poet-haunted world of historic London pubs.
So, grab your walking shoes, dodge the Soho-itis, and let’s get historical!
Show Map
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References
Intro Music
Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com
E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com
