Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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3 September 2009

Drink in the pub where Pepys watched London burn

Samuel Pepys is now best known for his diary, which recorded life in 17th Century London, and is particularly notable for its record of the Great Fire of London in 1666.


In it, he said that during the fire he took refuge in "a little alehouse on bankside ...and there watched the fire grow", and the pub in question was reputed to have been the Anchor on the South Bank.

Whilst it's not a particularly amazing pub, it has recently, along with the riverside terrace undergone a reported £2.6m refurbishment by Punch Taverns, and as the summer evenings slip away from us its another place best enjoyed now if you don't want to have to take a warm coat or wait 'til 2010.

Whilst Pepys was later to become a Member of Parliament and Chief Secretary to the Admiralty, the diary records the ten years from 1 January 1660, covering his life, love, friends and dealings. It is widely regarded as an important account of London in the 1660s, and is a particularly important first hand account of the fire.

For more on the Anchor click here and for more on Pepys click here.

^Picture by Jeremy Burgin

1 comment:

  1. Although the food is horrendous.

    Went with friends (6) and we left as the first dishes were served : frozen mussels (kind of dangerous, isn't it?) and cold fish pie!

    Would not recommend to eat there AT ALL!

    ReplyDelete