Since we reopened as the Albion, we have attracted the attention of many a former newspaperman who, returning to reminisce about the glory days of Fleet Street, have popped in to wish us good luck and tell us a story or two about the old days.

Back when the original Albion was open, it was run by Mick and Rhona Barnett – legendary characters in their own right amongst their regulars – with a griddle behind the bar from which Rhona would cook steaks to order. Occasionally, we are told, the grill would catch fire and ‘Auntie’ (purportedly the mother-in-law) would be called upon to dash out the flames with a wet tea towel. A recent visitor to The Albion, who married an Albion barmaid and held their wedding reception right here in 1970, reminisced fondly about those days.

When boxing in the city was prolific, allegedly Billy Walker trained above the pub!

A little history…

Blackfriars was named for the black capped Dominican Friars who in 1276 built their priory between the Thames and Ludgate Hill, where the Albion now stands. The building, used for Parliamentary meetings and occasions of state, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Just around the corner from the Albion is the former home of the British press. The once bustling Fleet Street has calmed since the departure of the presses in the 1980’s and now houses law firms and financiers.

Fleet Street was once the road connecting the two separate cities of London and Westminster and was named for the River Fleet which still flows for four miles underneath the city to join the Thames.

Fleet Street is also famous for its ‘Demon Barber’ – the probably fictional character Sweeney Todd, the barber-cum-butcher whose patrons became pie fillings.

St Paul’s Cathedral is a mere two minutes away. Sir Christopher Wren’s opus was completed in 1708, on his 76th birthday, and over 30 years after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. It contains the tombs and graves of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Alexander Fleming and Sir Henry Moore. Known as the first protestant church in the world, it is one of the most visited sites in London. Pictured still standing in a smoking city reduced to rubble in the second world war, St Paul’s provided inspiration and solace to Londoners during that time of great hardship.

The Tate Modern, a short walk across the river, was opened in 2000 in a disused power station and houses some of the finest examples of post-1900 art in the world. An utterly compelling piece of modern architecture, containing some utterly compelling pieces of modern art. Take a look to see what’s on… www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/future/

Other local attractions:

Bridewell Theatre – just around the corner from the Albion is the Bridewell Theatre offering quick-stop lunchtime performances at 1pm, and evening and weekend matinee productions. As one of the few pubs open on a Saturday and Sunday in the city, we are ideally located for any theatre-goers for a bite to eat beforehand or a drink afterwards. See the link for details of their programme. www.stbridefoundation.org/bridewelltheatre

St Bride’s Church – reconstructed by Wren and destroyed again in the blitz, the steeple survives as the only original feature of his work on this church – and was the inspiration for the tiered wedding cake. Frequented by Milton, Alexander Pope and Samuel Pepys, and associated with the press – so much so that the newspaper proprietors funded the rebuilding of the church after the war – this little church and its courtyard bear forth much history.

Smithfield Market – trading fresh meats for the last 800 years, Smithfield is one of the oldest markets in London. Referenced by Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens, these beautiful buildings are worth a look and if you’d like to see them in operation, trading hours are 4am-noon weekdays. Smithfield was also the site for many a historic happening not least the death of William Wallace.