VICTORIA
The Albert
52 Victoria Street, Victoria, London SW1H 0NP
Tel 020 7222 5577
Nearest tube station: St James’s Park: Circle & District lines
Built between 1845-1852 and originally known as “The Blue Coat Boy”.
In June 1862 the freehold was purchased by the Artillery Brewery in Victoria Street from the Dean & Chapter of Westminster for the sum of £978. It was then a workshop and two adjoining cottages.
The property was rebuilt between 1865-1867 and renamed “The Albert”.
The renowned carvery restaurant on the first floor is frequented by British royalty, Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentarians of note. The latter being recalled to Parliament by means of a “Division Bell”, featured in the restaurant.
The ground floor bar features the original Victorian hand-cut windows, together with gas lighting.
Bag O’Nails
6 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP
Tel: 020 7828 7003
Nearest tube station: Victoria: Circle & District lines
Historical records provide information dating back to 1775, when a tavern known as the “Bacchanals” stood at the corner of Kings Row and lower Grosvenor Place. The original sign showed a satyr of the woods and a group of jolly dogs called bacchanals, but as the satyr was painted black and had cloven feet was called the Devil by common people.
The name of the tavern was only formally changed from the “Devil & Bag O’Nails” as late as 1905.
Duke of York
130-134 Victoria Street, Victoria, London SW1E 5LA
Tel: 020 7834 4522
Nearest tube station: Victoria: Circle & District lines
A classic-looking pub, with pillars, glazed wooden enclave dividers and red walls, with odd but interesting lamp fittings, old prints on the walls and a yard of ale above the bar.
This pub was built in 1821, the end of an elegant and expensive row of properties – the rest have been pulled down long since.
It was originally called The Royal Standard and once served as a music hall as well as drinking establishment.
The Shakespeare
99 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RP
Tel: 020 7828 4913
Nearest tube station: Victoria: Circle & District lines
Built in 1826 and named by landowner, John Shakespeare – no relation to William the poet.
The basement was once used for dog fights and the original flagstones are still in the basement.
There is a ghost of a Victorian lady dressed in black that is often sighted by staff and visitors.
Stage Door
3 Allington Street, Victoria, London SW1E 5EB
Tel: 020 7834 7055
Nearest tube station: Victoria: Circle & District lines
In 1888, Mr William White established a coffee house on this site which thrived until Mrs Eliza Gingel obtained a licence to open a beer shop on the premises, which she named the Victoria Stores. It was taken over in 1958 by Cecil Barwood whose successor was granted a full licence. At the time, it was one of only two taverns in London bearing the name of a retail shop.
Renamed the Stage Door in 1963, because of its close proximity to the stage door of the Victoria Palace, it’s now firmly associated in theatre-goers’ minds with this great variety theatre.
Today the Stage Door is a favourite watering hole for actors, theatre-goers, tourists, business people and a whole host of others.
send to a friend
