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Shakespeare's Local
A history of Britain told through the story of one very special pub, from "The Beer Drinker's Bill Bryson" (Times Literary Supplement)
Welcome to the George Inn near London Bridge; a cosy, wood-panelled, galleried coaching house a few minutes' walk from the Thames. Grab yourself a pint, listen to the chatter of the locals and lean back, resting your head against the wall. And then consider this: who else has rested their head against that wall, over the last six hundred years?
Chaucer and his fellow pilgrims almost certainly drank in the George on their way out of London to Canterbury. It's fair to say that Shakespeare popped in from the nearby Globe for a pint, and we know that Dickens certainly did. Mail carriers changed their horses here, before heading to all four corners of Britain—while sailors drank here before visiting all four corners of the world.
The pub, as Pete Brown points out, is the 'primordial cell of British life' and in the George he has found the perfect example. All life is here, from murderers, highwaymen, and ladies of the night to gossiping peddlers and hard-working clerks. So sit back and watch as buildings rise and fall over the centuries, and 'the beer drinker's Bill Bryson' (UK's Times Literary Supplement) takes us on an entertaining tour through six centuries of history, through the stories of everyone that ever drank in one pub.
Welcome to the George Inn near London Bridge; a cosy, wood-panelled, galleried coaching house a few minutes' walk from the Thames. Grab yourself a pint, listen to the chatter of the locals and lean back, resting your head against the wall. And then consider this: who else has rested their head against that wall, over the last six hundred years?
Chaucer and his fellow pilgrims almost certainly drank in the George on their way out of London to Canterbury. It's fair to say that Shakespeare popped in from the nearby Globe for a pint, and we know that Dickens certainly did. Mail carriers changed their horses here, before heading to all four corners of Britain—while sailors drank here before visiting all four corners of the world.
The pub, as Pete Brown points out, is the 'primordial cell of British life' and in the George he has found the perfect example. All life is here, from murderers, highwaymen, and ladies of the night to gossiping peddlers and hard-working clerks. So sit back and watch as buildings rise and fall over the centuries, and 'the beer drinker's Bill Bryson' (UK's Times Literary Supplement) takes us on an entertaining tour through six centuries of history, through the stories of everyone that ever drank in one pub.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
42 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Pete Brown
18 books62 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Pete Brown is an English writer who has written extensively on the subject of beer and drinking cultures around the world. He has written three books; Man Walks Into a Pub, Three Sheets to the Wind, and Hops and Glory. Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and now lives in London.
Above bio is from Wikipedia. Photo is from Flickr user epicbeer.
Pete Brown is an English writer who has written extensively on the subject of beer and drinking cultures around the world. He has written three books; Man Walks Into a Pub, Three Sheets to the Wind, and Hops and Glory. Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and now lives in London.
Above bio is from Wikipedia. Photo is from Flickr user epicbeer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 6, 2015
A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but it was a con job calling this book "Shakespeare's Local" when no one even knows if he ever had a single pint in The George in his life and if I'd known that, I don't know if I would have shelled out for the book.
That said, the book was a quite interesting history of a real-life medieval pub over 600 years from the time of Chaucer, through the Elizabethan age, the brief times of the fast mail coach where the horses were changed at the pub to the modern day.
In fact, it is the only remaining coaching inn in London. The George was rebuilt in 1666 after the Great Fire of London and nothing remains of the medieval structure. I'm not sure how much of the present builing is original, probably the galleried portion and maybe some of the glass.
Here are some pictures of the George. http://www.goodbeergoodpubs.co.uk/pub...
Note for Americans: it isn't a big deal to have a 400+ year-old pub as your local, there are loads of them about. I don't think pubs go bust all that often and so are continually occupied. My local when I was growing up was the Murenger, which dates from Henry VIII's time. It wasn't really my local as I lived in a village, but in the nearest town where us kids would gather of an evening and it didn't care if you were 18 or not.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explor...
It is a good book for the history of a pub through the ages, very light reading, and quite a nice present for someone going to London who likes history and beer.
That said, the book was a quite interesting history of a real-life medieval pub over 600 years from the time of Chaucer, through the Elizabethan age, the brief times of the fast mail coach where the horses were changed at the pub to the modern day.
In fact, it is the only remaining coaching inn in London. The George was rebuilt in 1666 after the Great Fire of London and nothing remains of the medieval structure. I'm not sure how much of the present builing is original, probably the galleried portion and maybe some of the glass.
Here are some pictures of the George. http://www.goodbeergoodpubs.co.uk/pub...
Note for Americans: it isn't a big deal to have a 400+ year-old pub as your local, there are loads of them about. I don't think pubs go bust all that often and so are continually occupied. My local when I was growing up was the Murenger, which dates from Henry VIII's time. It wasn't really my local as I lived in a village, but in the nearest town where us kids would gather of an evening and it didn't care if you were 18 or not.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explor...
It is a good book for the history of a pub through the ages, very light reading, and quite a nice present for someone going to London who likes history and beer.
July 27, 2013
A fantastic read! And I love how the author uses footnotes to add a witty remark and wink at the reader.
P.S. To everyone complaining about the "misleading title" - when you first went to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, did you think you were going to see a play about Virginia Woolf?
P.S. To everyone complaining about the "misleading title" - when you first went to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, did you think you were going to see a play about Virginia Woolf?
December 3, 2012
A very enjoyable book on... well, pretty much anything even peripherally related to the George Inn, a pub in Southwark. The author's writing style is akin to that of Bill Bryson: chatty, humorous, informative, and occasionally very tangential. Whether comparing the George Inn to the Sugababes (a comparison that work, surprisingly) or discussing the astonishing amount of plagiarism in a certain (deceased) author's book about the George Inn, Brown manages to entertain and engage the reader.
August 5, 2019
Well written and just good fun!
November 13, 2016
I loved this book - which is very odd! Why? Well, I don't drink, I'm not British, I've never even been to England, and I've been significantly disillusioned with Shakespeare since I realized he likely demonized Richard III in his play as political rhetoric for a friend of his family, Henry VII....but that's a whole different story.... I guess I AM interested in history, which explains why I picked up the book to read in the first place.
So, when I got to the halfway point of this funny, tangential little book and read the following passage, I laughed out loud (harder than you might expect) and thought, "I hope you like feeling used to promote another's agenda, Shakespeare! You had it coming!"
"If you bought this book in the hope of finding lots of detailed accounts of what the Bard got up to with the lads on a Friday night, with details of his favourite pints, salty snacks and cheesy chat-up lines, approaching the halfway point I have to confess that there are no such stories. That's because there are no records at all of what pubs Shakespeare went to, or what he did while he was there. And that, obviously, means there are no records of Shakespeare ever having visited the George Inn.
Sorry." - Pete Brown
I love the author's sense of humor and need to come clean. Well done.
Technically, he could have titled the book "Dicken's Pub:...." ....maybe....
Up till that point, the paragraph about Jesus and Inns pre-14th century was my favorite "chuckle", however the footnotes are also pretty entertaining!
This book is full of funny quips, interesting side stories, and in the end, a pretty good romp through London's history from an atypical perspective - a coaching inn, and all the peripheral issues from brewing, to land use issues, to the effects of ever-evolving transportation means. Reading the book was like sitting on a barstool (with a pint) listening to charming, funny guy share stories and trivia in a bar - entertaining and refreshing.
Love how he organized and ended it.
So, when I got to the halfway point of this funny, tangential little book and read the following passage, I laughed out loud (harder than you might expect) and thought, "I hope you like feeling used to promote another's agenda, Shakespeare! You had it coming!"
"If you bought this book in the hope of finding lots of detailed accounts of what the Bard got up to with the lads on a Friday night, with details of his favourite pints, salty snacks and cheesy chat-up lines, approaching the halfway point I have to confess that there are no such stories. That's because there are no records at all of what pubs Shakespeare went to, or what he did while he was there. And that, obviously, means there are no records of Shakespeare ever having visited the George Inn.
Sorry." - Pete Brown
I love the author's sense of humor and need to come clean. Well done.
Technically, he could have titled the book "Dicken's Pub:...." ....maybe....
Up till that point, the paragraph about Jesus and Inns pre-14th century was my favorite "chuckle", however the footnotes are also pretty entertaining!
This book is full of funny quips, interesting side stories, and in the end, a pretty good romp through London's history from an atypical perspective - a coaching inn, and all the peripheral issues from brewing, to land use issues, to the effects of ever-evolving transportation means. Reading the book was like sitting on a barstool (with a pint) listening to charming, funny guy share stories and trivia in a bar - entertaining and refreshing.
Love how he organized and ended it.
August 25, 2019
Let's get this out of the way: The title may be a bit of an exaggeration. Nobody knows if Shakespeare ever visited the George Inn, Southwark, London, but if you like Shakespeare and pubs, you'll like this book.
Southwark is across the river from the old City of London. Historically, it was a meeting place for travelers to or from southeastern England (and by extension, continental Europe). Where there are travelers there are places to eat, drink, and sleep (i.e., pubs). Because it wasn't part of London proper until much later, you could get away with doing things there like producing plays and putting on bearbaiting exhibitions.
Where there are a variety of people engaging in drinking and other fun activities there are often literary associations. In a small area of Southwark there was the Tabard Inn (from which Chaucer's pilgrims set off in his "Canterbury Tales"), the White Hart Inn (where a rebellion was hatched which is chronicled in Shakespeare's "Henry VI, part 2" and where Dickens' characters Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller meet), and most of all the Globe Theatre (where many of Shakespeare's plays were presented).
The George Inn is none of those places, but it's nearby. It dates from as early as 1452. Shakespeare may have gone there, and Dickens definitely did. And unlike the Tabard, the White Hart, and the Globe, it has been continuously in business for over 500 years.
Pete Brown, a writer on beer based in London, makes an engaging story of the George Inn. In addition to the literary associations, he manages to work into his story the history of pubs, beer, London society, architecture, transportation. It's like listening to great stories from the man on the barstool next to you.
Southwark is across the river from the old City of London. Historically, it was a meeting place for travelers to or from southeastern England (and by extension, continental Europe). Where there are travelers there are places to eat, drink, and sleep (i.e., pubs). Because it wasn't part of London proper until much later, you could get away with doing things there like producing plays and putting on bearbaiting exhibitions.
Where there are a variety of people engaging in drinking and other fun activities there are often literary associations. In a small area of Southwark there was the Tabard Inn (from which Chaucer's pilgrims set off in his "Canterbury Tales"), the White Hart Inn (where a rebellion was hatched which is chronicled in Shakespeare's "Henry VI, part 2" and where Dickens' characters Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller meet), and most of all the Globe Theatre (where many of Shakespeare's plays were presented).
The George Inn is none of those places, but it's nearby. It dates from as early as 1452. Shakespeare may have gone there, and Dickens definitely did. And unlike the Tabard, the White Hart, and the Globe, it has been continuously in business for over 500 years.
Pete Brown, a writer on beer based in London, makes an engaging story of the George Inn. In addition to the literary associations, he manages to work into his story the history of pubs, beer, London society, architecture, transportation. It's like listening to great stories from the man on the barstool next to you.
June 9, 2013
This is a fascinating local history book, all seen from a pub window.
Brown has done lots of research into the George Inn, in Southwark. There is documentary evidence for the pub being on sight in 1542 and it has bee there is one iteration or another ever since. It is suspected that it had been there before, but there is no hard evidence to prove this.
In the book he looks at the way that the function of the building has changed from pub to coaching inn and as it now owned by the National Trust, into a working historical building. There is a lot of history of the Southwark area, mainly to put the pub and inns into a better context. This was one of the main routes int London for many years, and lead to one of the few bridges that crossed the Thames, and the early maps show that the George was one of several hundred pubs in the area.
Where he can he write about the characters linked or loosely associated with the pub. The pub was in existence when Shakespeare was alive, and whilst they cannot prove one way of the other if he every frequented the place, they cannot rule it out. Some of Dickens work mentions the and neighbouring pubs, so he speculates again on his attendance.
Really good local history book, but if you are expecting lots on Shakespeare, you'll be disappointed.
Brown has done lots of research into the George Inn, in Southwark. There is documentary evidence for the pub being on sight in 1542 and it has bee there is one iteration or another ever since. It is suspected that it had been there before, but there is no hard evidence to prove this.
In the book he looks at the way that the function of the building has changed from pub to coaching inn and as it now owned by the National Trust, into a working historical building. There is a lot of history of the Southwark area, mainly to put the pub and inns into a better context. This was one of the main routes int London for many years, and lead to one of the few bridges that crossed the Thames, and the early maps show that the George was one of several hundred pubs in the area.
Where he can he write about the characters linked or loosely associated with the pub. The pub was in existence when Shakespeare was alive, and whilst they cannot prove one way of the other if he every frequented the place, they cannot rule it out. Some of Dickens work mentions the and neighbouring pubs, so he speculates again on his attendance.
Really good local history book, but if you are expecting lots on Shakespeare, you'll be disappointed.
December 30, 2012
Loved it!
A history of The George, the last galleried inn left in London, and the area around it that once was home to many similar establishments.
It's clear that whilst there was an inn of varying types on this site from 1475, the existing structure dates from around 1676. Or does it?
As in Triggers broom from Only Fools and Horses which he'd had for 20 years with only 7 new handles and 3 new brushes, how much is left of the original?
The author has been to a lot of effort in attempting to obtain as much as possible information about The George, more so than it seems The National Trust who owns it, has done.
I found it fascinating, and regret that I was unable to meet the author at a reading of the book at a local micro brewery, The Windsor & Eton.
It also has many plans and photo reproductions of the building and surroundings.
I borrowed it from the library but will now buy it
A history of The George, the last galleried inn left in London, and the area around it that once was home to many similar establishments.
It's clear that whilst there was an inn of varying types on this site from 1475, the existing structure dates from around 1676. Or does it?
As in Triggers broom from Only Fools and Horses which he'd had for 20 years with only 7 new handles and 3 new brushes, how much is left of the original?
The author has been to a lot of effort in attempting to obtain as much as possible information about The George, more so than it seems The National Trust who owns it, has done.
I found it fascinating, and regret that I was unable to meet the author at a reading of the book at a local micro brewery, The Windsor & Eton.
It also has many plans and photo reproductions of the building and surroundings.
I borrowed it from the library but will now buy it
December 21, 2012
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Shakespeare's inn-yard theaters take off in Southwark's taverns, against stiff competition from the far less lofty pursuits of bear-baiting and cockfighting.
Shakespeare's inn-yard theaters take off in Southwark's taverns, against stiff competition from the far less lofty pursuits of bear-baiting and cockfighting.
January 6, 2022
Fascinating, funny. Wonderful detail and a great journey through the history of Southwark. The George is of course still standing, through some incredible twists of fate.
Great read.
Great read.
April 5, 2017
A fascinating look at the George Inn in Southwark.
There has been an inn on the site since the 14th Century, and Pete Brown looks at the history of Southwark through the focus of the George.
The George Inn sits next door to the site of the Tabard, with the White Hart next door. Both famous inns in English history/literature.
This books is rich in history, trivia, and humour. Pete Brown frequently wanders down byways following odd little thoughts.
If you are interested in Southwark, history, pubs, oh and Shakespeare, this is the book for you.
Highly recommended.
There has been an inn on the site since the 14th Century, and Pete Brown looks at the history of Southwark through the focus of the George.
The George Inn sits next door to the site of the Tabard, with the White Hart next door. Both famous inns in English history/literature.
This books is rich in history, trivia, and humour. Pete Brown frequently wanders down byways following odd little thoughts.
If you are interested in Southwark, history, pubs, oh and Shakespeare, this is the book for you.
Highly recommended.
May 8, 2013
Pete Brown writes in a 'blokey' fashion, so OK if you like your history kinda casual. The pub, incidentally, attracts coach-loads of footie supporters, plus police in vans. This is a pity, given the building's long history - but typical of previous centuries' London apprentices & their rowdy behaviour!
March 29, 2019
As I dipped into this non-fiction title from the time It was given to me as a birthday gift, thanks Gaynor, and that was about 4 months ago, I have had various reactions to it. Covering six centuries of Southwark history through the lens of The George Inn, there were sections which I found a bit repetitive in the author’s attempt to justify ‘Shakespeare’ in the title. However, the later, more recent century chapters captured my interest more. Exceptionally well-researched and written, this writer becomes even more pleasurable to read when including his footnotes and humorous judgments of various ‘characters’ along the way. If you have an interest in London’s history and how pubs have continued to evolve over time, then this is will be an entertaining read for you. My preference for fiction perhaps prevented me rating it higher than three stars.
June 25, 2023
As always, Brown is a joy to read, and this book is no exception. It feels less like reading a history book than it does being trapped with a manic tour guide who jumps rapidly from topic to topic as the mood strikes him. In addition to The George itself, this book discuses Southwark, London Bridge, the Thames, watermen, coaching inns, taverns, alehouses in general, the Canterbury Tales, Charles Dickens, the British justice system, beer and breweries, theaters, bear baiting, cockfighting, stagecoaches, freight wagons, railroads, highwaymen, the British postal service, parliamentary elections, the National Trust, the National Front, the BBC, the Blitz, ghosts, and hipsters. Be warned that this book has little to do with Shakespeare (if, in fact, he ever actually drank in the George at all). 4 stars.
March 19, 2018
The book is mainly about "The George" inn but expands to cover much more. It gives a bit of history about other pubs in the area, about Southwark, Bankside, the London Bridge and a bit of London in general.
The George starts out as an inn but over time it adapts to being a coaching inn with large courtyard that can also be used to put on plays or be used by merchants. It also is used as a gathering place to sell hops, then as railways replace coaches and industry moves into Southwark it must downsize and adapt again back to being a pub and also a tourist attraction based on The George being a local for Shakespeare and Dickins.
Lots of information and history written in an easy, rather humorous style. A fun book for fans of pubs or history.
The George starts out as an inn but over time it adapts to being a coaching inn with large courtyard that can also be used to put on plays or be used by merchants. It also is used as a gathering place to sell hops, then as railways replace coaches and industry moves into Southwark it must downsize and adapt again back to being a pub and also a tourist attraction based on The George being a local for Shakespeare and Dickins.
Lots of information and history written in an easy, rather humorous style. A fun book for fans of pubs or history.
April 22, 2021
Originally intrigued with the idea of Shakespeare’s local, I really appreciated how this book had little to do with Shakespeare overall. It was a fascinating and engaging social history that entertained and informed.
I was a little wary at the beginning as the author was not a professional historian and seemed to be trying to be ‘funny’ and ‘witty’ to such an extent it felt forced. But I felt he soon hit his stride and limited the humour to a few footnotes, which worked a lot better.
Obviously a book spanning as many centuries as this does can only cover so much, even with a limited scope of focus. But rather than feeling unfinished or sparse, it makes the reader want to select the periods of history most of interest to them and do further reading and research.
I was a little wary at the beginning as the author was not a professional historian and seemed to be trying to be ‘funny’ and ‘witty’ to such an extent it felt forced. But I felt he soon hit his stride and limited the humour to a few footnotes, which worked a lot better.
Obviously a book spanning as many centuries as this does can only cover so much, even with a limited scope of focus. But rather than feeling unfinished or sparse, it makes the reader want to select the periods of history most of interest to them and do further reading and research.
October 3, 2018
It was just okay. A lot of the theories put forward in this book felt too speculative and offended my inner historian. Felt more like a travel guide than an accurate or detailed history, points felt remembered (he mentions losing his laptop with all first draft original material at the end). Parts did feel weak and rushed. Parts concerning the history of beer and brewery were strong but otherwise meandering and missed the advertised point of the book without any convincing summary of the book's purpose. Lots of secondary sources, would have benefited from primary material to avoid feeling like a gimmick.
June 6, 2022
A really good read. Detailing a chunk of English history, based on a notorious London Inn and it's surrounds, all told through the "fact" that it may possibly have been somewhere that Shakespeare, perhaps, could have, conceivably, frequented on a regular bases and even presented his plays at, or if not, at least popped into once in a while for the odd pint, or known someone who did.
This is a lovely story based on stuff that's known and stuff that we'd really like to know.
Loads of local architectural and social history to chew over, all wrapped up in the Shakespeare stuff, adding up to make a really readable book.
Most enjoyable.
This is a lovely story based on stuff that's known and stuff that we'd really like to know.
Loads of local architectural and social history to chew over, all wrapped up in the Shakespeare stuff, adding up to make a really readable book.
Most enjoyable.
October 14, 2022
A light hearted history of The George pub in Borough, the authors informal style, makes for a funny and accessible read.
Focussing on The George, the book covers a potted history of inns, Borough, Shakespeare, Dickens, Coaching and a lot more besides. Many of the local history myths are challenged and put in their proper place, all of which adds to the character.
As someone who has spent many enjoyable hours in the George and it’s neighbours this was of particular interest and the style made it easy to immerse oneself in the story, picturing easily the places described.
A fun read, that is guaranteed to teach the reader something they didn’t know about this old pub and London life.
Focussing on The George, the book covers a potted history of inns, Borough, Shakespeare, Dickens, Coaching and a lot more besides. Many of the local history myths are challenged and put in their proper place, all of which adds to the character.
As someone who has spent many enjoyable hours in the George and it’s neighbours this was of particular interest and the style made it easy to immerse oneself in the story, picturing easily the places described.
A fun read, that is guaranteed to teach the reader something they didn’t know about this old pub and London life.
January 5, 2019
Finally finished this book after a few years. A good read, overall. A bit meandering at times, but of the sort you might get if you asked someone about the George to you at a pub and they spent the next hour holding forth on the topic.
Also, it's interesting to think about coaching inns, the coaching industry in general, the difference between waggons and coaches, the process of travelling in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the changing history of Southwark over that time, Dickens, Dickens enthusiasts, and the nature of nostalgia in general.
Also, it's interesting to think about coaching inns, the coaching industry in general, the difference between waggons and coaches, the process of travelling in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the changing history of Southwark over that time, Dickens, Dickens enthusiasts, and the nature of nostalgia in general.
January 12, 2019
I listened to the audiobook and I think I'm going to pick up the Kindle edition as well. This is a fascinating history with lots of great details on the George (my favorite pub in London) and its history as a coaching inn.
The author has a great sense of humor which really makes what could be dull-at-times history amusing and enjoyable. The audiobook narrator was able to absolutely capture the right tone in reading to make it come off well.
Really enjoyed this!
The author has a great sense of humor which really makes what could be dull-at-times history amusing and enjoyable. The audiobook narrator was able to absolutely capture the right tone in reading to make it come off well.
Really enjoyed this!
July 9, 2017
A quick and light read. This is lively, chatty colloquial social history of Southwark, based on the George Inn. It is quite humorous. The links to Shakespeare and to Charles Dickens are tenous but I found it informative as to how Southwark developed and how the George itself has developed over the years.
July 28, 2019
I find it difficult to review this book as i hated his writing style but was rapt in all the information he has given us. When he wrote about hop porters i really felt at one with my hop porter ancestors. But the best part was the chapter on roads, travel and transport in the 18th century. If you have been a Georgette Heyer fan you should try to read this.
January 7, 2023
Listened to this as an audiobook, and it was really well delivered. Gave a great in depth history of the George Inn, not just about the place itself, but also in the context of the wider area of Southwark and how when society and places change and get redeveloped, the role of the inns and pubs also change.
April 30, 2019
Charming and rambling, rather like the pub itself. It's the sort of book that I find myself recounting to people, usually over a pint in my local, and insisting I'll pass onto them when I'm done. It's about more than the pub, but then the George is more than a pub.
June 23, 2019
Loved it!! Pete Brown’s love of pubs and the history of them and the camaraderie that meeting in one, shines through in his words whilst he gives us the history outside the windows and within the George itself. He has ensured that the George will have yet another visitor through it’s doors when I find my way down there - as will a few of the other old pubs he references in the pages. I may need to go on a countrywide pub crawl 😉
June 22, 2019
The back cover of this book describes the author as “the drinking man’s Bill Bryson,” which was great news for me as I love Bill Bryson and histories of old buildings. Very much enjoyed this book, and will definitely check out the George should I ever be in London!
June 23, 2019
This is a good look at a properly historical pub that has no evidence that it is Shakespeare's local, but nevertheless is a good catch-all view at the pub in British culture, and how it's changed with the country. It's a very good read; enjoyable.
February 20, 2020
A weird and wonderful romp through the history of pubs, inns, hotels in London and Surrey. The author meanders through history and is willing to wander off downside alleys following his fascination with history into unexpected spaces.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews