London's Lost Pubs (Hardback)
Imprint: White Owl
Pages: 208
Illustrations: 130 colour illustrations
ISBN: 9781399038263
Published: 31st January 2025
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| Other formats available | Price |
|---|---|
| London's Lost Pubs ePub (103.0 MB) Add to Basket | £14.99 |
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
This is a cool and nostalgic book on some of the pubs that once existed in London. The ones in the book are all filled with character, many of them with long histories. None of them are the cookie cutter modern pubs. I loved some of the little bits of trivia about the atmosphere or the clientele or any number of fascinating facts. It is the kind of book that the reader could nip in and out of. It was a fun read.
NetGalley, Susan Johnston
Richmond and Twickenham Times
Five lost London pubs including one that hid secrets of daring £6,000,000 armed heist
London Metro
Robert Elms Show, BBC Radio London
Featured [https://www.ec1echo.co.uk/londons-lost-pubs/]here[/link]
EC1 Echo
Featured here
South London News
Featured here
The Cartoonist's Club of Great Britain
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, A D
I love visiting London and have only done so more recently so this was great to see the history of the pubs that are no longer around.
This informative & interesting book looks back at around 200 London pubs which closed (& were either mothballed or demolished) within the last 25 years. From pubs reputedly dating back centuries to those rebuilt after World War II, this book gives the reader a snapshot of their history & why/when they eventually closed.
NetGalley, Gayle Noble
This was an interesting read & well-researched with some great photographs which makes you wish you had had the chance to visit the pubs. At the end of reading it I found myself equally both sad & annoyed at the history we have lost in London. Some of the buildings had irreplaceable interiors (like the art deco one) whilst others had important links to the early careers of artists like David Bowie, yet were bulldozed for flats & mini-supermarkets. I think the most irritating was the thriving pub closed down, over local objections, for HS2 work which then was scaled down & the pub would have been safe. Such a shame but this book can stand as a record that they existed.
As seen in 'Book Mourns London's Lost Pubs'.
Londonist
Read the article here!
As seen in '10 of London's greatest lost pubs — and the stories behind them'.
The Standard
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As seen in 'Croydon's beloved lost pubs we’ve waved goodbye to'.
This is Local London
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As seen in 'Two beloved Sutton pubs that we've lost over the years'.
Your Local Guardian
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As seen in 'Croydon's beloved lost pubs we’ve waved goodbye to'
Your Local Guardian
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As seen in 'London’s lost pubs in Bexley and Greenwich'.
News Shopper
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As seen in 'Bromley and Lewisham’s lost pubs we’ve said goodbye to'.
News Shopper
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As seen in 'London's Lost Pubs: Havering pubs with a 'colourful history'.
Romford Recorder
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As seen in 'London's Lost Pubs: East End pubs with links to The Krays'.
East London Advertiser
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As seen in 'London's Lost Pubs: East End pubs with links to The Krays'.
This is Local London
Read the article here!
As seen in 'London's Lost Pubs loved by The Beatles and Freddie Mercury'.
This is Local London
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Ham and High
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.
NetGalley, Helen Frost
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.
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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