Ye Olde Pub Lunch

H&Grapes Vaults
@Ronrybs (17795)
London, England
March 27, 2017 1:47pm CST
Having finally found where the Rolling Stones broke into the big time and escaped death by cupcakes, I decided on lunch and set off for the City and the Hoop and Grapes, one of the pubs I like, which claims to be the oldest licensed house in the City. I settled on bangers and mash, with plenty of English mustard and to knock it down a half of Landlord bitter. The picture shows the ancient brickwork of the vaults, where the facilities are. Needless to say, I made sure no one was around when I took the pictures - don't want people getting the wrong idea! There is also a speaker tube from the bar down to the cellar, so the landlord could hear what the bar flies were up to. The foundations are thought to date to the 13 century, and the surviving building from the 17 century. The pub was lucky to survive the 1980s and was in danger of being demolished having sheared sideways some 18 inches. The structure suffered a bit and the front door looks somewhat wonky, but it is all supported by a steel frame. There are some more pictures on Based on previously published article on Persona paper
Front of the Hoop and Grapes on Aldgate High Street. Originally called the Hop and Grapes, as it sold beer and wine.
9 people like this
11 responses
@JudyEv (323673)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Mar 17
That's amazing that it survived the Great Fire. We went into a pub in London somewhere where prisoners were kept in the cellar before being taken down the hill to be hanged. I've forgotten the details now.
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
28 Mar 17
I wonder which one that was. The fire got to some 50 yards from the Hoop and Grapes, so a pretty close call
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
31 Mar 17
@Lupita234 Off the top of my head, there weren't that many killed in the fire, building damage, on the other hand, was immense
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (72527)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Mar 17
Sounds interesting I love exploring old buildings and wow the pub still functions.
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
27 Mar 17
The most fascinating bit is the bathrooms, but even there modern equipment gets in the way.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
1 Apr 17
I will check your other photos out
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
1 Apr 17
Think I have just worked out how to get the link working!
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
28 Mar 17
Have you ever been to a pub called The Leather Bottle in Earlsfield? It's a name I remember.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
28 Mar 17
@Ronrybs No, only that I remember it from many years ago. It belongs to Camra and real ale is served there.
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
28 Mar 17
No, that is one I've not heard of. Anything special about it?
@paigea (35511)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
So, interesting to see and read about buildings that old. We may have some buildings in Alberta that are just over 100 years old. :(
1 person likes this
@paigea (35511)
• Canada
31 Mar 17
@Ronrybs it is nice to see some things that have lasted for centuries. Interesting.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
31 Mar 17
@paigea Hope they make it another five hundred years!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
31 Mar 17
I like modern buildings as well, well some of them, but there is something about old buildings that fascinates
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
27 Mar 17
Sounds like quite the adventure. I love reading your traveling posts. Makes me really wanna take a trip out there and explore for myself.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
27 Mar 17
The member doesn't travel to London. He lives there.
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
27 Mar 17
I am lucky as I only live a short distance outside the city, but I do like a good explore of the history and quirky bits
• China
28 Mar 17
I guess you lunched there just for drinking in the atmosphere.It is indeed a building of great antiquity.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
28 Mar 17
It was pleasant and I had timed it so that I finished as the lunch rush started!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
27 Mar 17
When I think of an English pub, the term 'cosy' comes to mind. Not here, though.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
27 Mar 17
No cosy is not the word! It is nice, but seems to be designed for meals. Still, not the worst pub I have been to, not by a long chalk!
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Mar 17
Too bad they don't strip away the years and refurbish with the original brick.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
27 Mar 17
I guess it is still there, but well hidden under the refurb!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43451)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Mar 17
What a great pub! I've seen nothing like that over here.
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
30 Mar 17
I don't know that I've even seen brickwork exactly like that. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
31 Mar 17
I can roughly date from brickwork, but some people are very good at it