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London's Lost Pubs (Hardback)

P&S History > Food & Drink P&S History > Social History World History > UK & Ireland > England > London

By Sam Cullen
Imprint: White Owl
Pages: 208
Illustrations: 130 colour illustrations
ISBN: 9781399038263
Published: 31st January 2025

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The humble pub has played a central role in London's history across centuries. Over time, many old favourites have been lost because of the ever-evolving landscape of the city and changing trends and habits.

For the first time in print, Sam Cullen looks back at a selection of 200+ London pubs which have closed in the last twenty-five years. Thanks to extensive research taking in newspaper articles, historic books and even conversations with former patrons of these establishments, this book presents some of the most memorable London boozers we've lost in recent years.

London’s Lost Pubs leads readers on a borough-by-borough guided tour of the city, visiting everything from the old haunts of Chelsea bohemians and City workers to favourites on legendary London streets from the Old Kent Road to Fleet Street.

Each featured pub’s listing includes interesting facts and quirky trivia which will bring a smile to readers’ faces, while also reminding just how much London pubs can reveal about the city’s history. Along the way, readers will encounter pubs which boasted pets, pools and even pythons! The book is also illustrated throughout with both archive and current photos.

London’s Lost Pubs is an essential read for fans and scholars of local history as well as honouring and celebrating countless colourful pubs which have played a pivotal role in the city’s life.

‘A fascinating directory of the all-too-many pubs this city has lost’ - Londonist

‘Despite the sad subject matter, this story of London pubs now gone is a thoroughly absorbing read. The accounts and anecdotes are wittily told and bring to mind just how varied, diverse and wonderful London pubs are.’ - Jane Jepchote, Chair of London Pubs Group, CAMRA

Brilliant! A wealth of information, packed full of facts and anecdotes. Pubs have such a rich history and atmosphere, particularly in the not so distant past. This book carefully charts some of these locals in enjoyable detail and with a sense of reverence and respect. There are some vastly different backgrounds to the pubs in question, from former hunting lodges of Henry VIII to drug dens, to hubs of the local community. I was particularly moved by the gentleman who’d been using one of them as his local for the past thirty years and who cried when he was told it was closing and I loved the tale of the pub which boasted to be the only one with a swimming pool (what could possibly go wrong there?!). Some great references to famous people too, notably musicians and the part these premises played in their bands’ creation.
The only problem is that I now want to go and visit all of these boozers, with their rich tapestries of history but, of course, they’ve all ceased existing in the form of pubs which is kind of the point. It’s also quite thought provoking that there is a demise of pubs in general when they can be such a big part of our social history and community. Very enjoyable, entertaining and informative, thank you.

NetGalley, Helen Frost

About Sam Cullen

Sam Cullen grew up in Brighton but has lived in London for nearly twenty years. He has a passionate interest in London's pubs and their history. He has previously written about pubs for both Londonist and Time Out, contributing to the Londonist Mapped and Londonist Drinks books. In 2022 he co-authored What's in a London Pub Name? with his good friend James Potts.

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