Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
About Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Rebuilt in 1667 after the Great Fire of London, this warren of dark wood-panelled rooms was a favourite of Dr Johnson, Dickens, and Mark Twain.
History & Heritage
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was rebuilt in 1667, immediately after the Great Fire of London destroyed the previous tavern on the site, though there has been a pub here since 1538. Tucked down a narrow alley off Fleet Street, it became a favourite haunt of writers and journalists working in what was once the heart of the British newspaper industry.
Its literary roll-call is unrivalled: Dr Samuel Johnson, who lived nearby while compiling his famous dictionary, is strongly associated with the pub, while Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, W. B. Yeats, and Alfred Tennyson are all said to have drunk here. The vaulted cellars are believed to belong to a 13th-century Carmelite monastery that once occupied the site.
What to Expect
The pub is a warren of dark, low-ceilinged rooms spread across several floors, lit by open fires in winter and full of creaking historic charm. Run by Samuel Smith's brewery, it pours their distinctive and keenly priced ales, and serves traditional British pub fare. With no music and no modern intrusions, it offers a genuine step back into old London.
Known For
Features & Facilities
- Historic interior
- Open fires
- Real ales
- Food served
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese?
- The current building was rebuilt in 1667 after the Great Fire of London, though a pub has stood on the site since 1538.
- Which famous writers drank at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese?
- The pub is linked to Dr Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, W. B. Yeats, and Alfred Tennyson, among many literary figures.
- What beer does Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese serve?
- It is a Samuel Smith's brewery pub, serving their range of traditional and reasonably priced ales.
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