The UK is all to famous for its Pubs but why the UK pubs have to compete with one another on age is quite amusing if not slightly embarrassing.
How many of the UK’s Pubs claim to be dating back to the 14 century and then tack on to the end – perhaps Britain’s oldest pub should be taken ever so lightly.
Maybe its a secret joke amongst the Publican profession, or are they really a group of historians unearthing the local knowledge to prove there was a pub in the village before man arrived.
The claims to be the oldest pub in Britain stretches from County to County. Practically every other town and village in the same County claims to have one of the oldest pubs. Not only do they claim to be the oldest pub they have had at one time or another the most influencing people in histroy stop off for a pint and rest over night. From Guy Fawkes to King Richard the III there isn’t a single pub in the UK that can’t tell a good story.
So, how do we know which is the oldest pub and should we be too concerened. If the pub is still open why should we care. All we want is a good pub with good pub food right? Maybe the pubs marketing train of thought is focused on the quirky nature of intrigue. Knowing that Jack the Ripper frequented the Queen Victoria pub along the river Thames provides fascination. It certainly makes good material for every pub in the UK to ask just how far back it goes in histroy and who has enjoyed the food and drink. It will be interested to know what they would have said on Trip Advisor had it been around a few hundred years ago and more interesting what records will be around in 200 years from now. Will pubs still be opening their doors as the same venue they are today.
Each County’s pubs keep jockeying for position and staking their claim to be the oldest.
It sounds good to be old, it has all the sugestion of authority. Being te oldest is being the wisest but with age comes memory loss. So, here is where we question the authentcity of those pubs claiming to be the oldest.
History has been recorded as best it can, scrolls remain with local archives that can indicate certain events at any given point. Most of the pubs that were popular venues at the time will unquestionably have been open for parties and local trade, local gentleman and businesses would have used pubs in the same way we use them today. Including the coaching inns.
It’s small references that stake claim to houses being used as drinking places and subsequently the pub being a pub dating back to the said date. However, the more credible claims lie with associations with breweries and the travel trade. Old coach houses were more likely to have been places where a beer could be bought during a stop over but this is different to a house being used as a place where locals would gather to socialise and plot the next days events and business.
The George & Dragon is one of the oldest pubs in Sussex with parts dating back to the 13th century! It proudly boasts that King Charles II reputedly stopped here in 1651 when fleeing the country after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester.
It’s the historical evidence that we have now needs to be kept and stored.
Today we don’t need to know who stayed in the pub 200 years ago, we want to know who stayed there last night, we want to know who ate there last year and was the wedding good or bad. Celebrating a wedding needs to be right so why do we need to know how old the pub is.
We need to know if the pub is still open and still providing great food ect ect. The best pubs are not alway the oldest but be sure of one thing, the oldest pubs that are still open will have plenty of character and stories to tell. Visit a pub or make a pub the next venue for a party.
