National Pub Week: links with the past

February 18, 2006: CAMRA is marking National Pubs Week, which starts today, by revealing hostelries across the country that can claim to have played a pivotal role in historical events.

After months of delving into the history of the nominated pubs, CAMRA, assisted by London School of Economics academic Simon Davies, has shortlisted 14 pubs that it feels are worthy of being awarded a specially-designed 'Pubs in Time' plaque.

Through meticulous research CAMRA has discovered many of the so-called facts around pub histories are little more than mythology and found that many significant pubs had been lost to demolition or change of use.

CAMRA research and information manager, Iain Loe, said: “No-one would believe how much nonsense and mythology there is around pub history. Even the celebrated dispute over which pub the Great Train Robbery was planned in turns out to be fiction - the robbery was planned in a safe house in Oxfordshire.

“The great poet John Dryden was supposedly nearly killed in an alleyway next to one London pub, but CAMRA discovered the alley was not built until 71 years after his death.

“The second issue is the number of pubs of historical significance that have been either demolished or converted to restaurants. For example, The Roebuck, in London’s King’s Road, where Johnny Rotten auditioned for the Sex Pistols, is now a restaurant.”

CAMRA hopes this first round of plaques will inspire pubgoers and licensees to nominate their pub to be recognised with one of these exclusive awards.

CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said: “We are delighted to be able to present these plaques during National Pubs Week, an event dedicated to getting more people interested in visiting their local and realising what an important part pubs can play in the identity of an area.

“Hundreds of pubs across the country have a great story to tell, and these first 14 are only the beginning. We want to encourage more licensees and their customers to come forward and apply for Pubs in Time accreditation, which we expect will soon be considered as a stamp of authenticity for the incredible events surrounding pubs handed down through the years."

Each of the Pubs in Time plaques will feature a brief synopsis of the event that took place for each visitor to the bar to see.

Mr Benner added: “CAMRA’s Pubs in Time highlights the significant events have taken place within pubs across many different aspects of British life.

“This includes the arts and popular culture, with pubs playing host to writers, poets and musicians. Momentous scientific discussions such as the discovery of DNA took place in a pub. As well as pivotal military events with pubs hosting meetings between luminaries such as the Duke of Wellington and the Emperor of Russia.”

l National Pubs Week runs from today (February 18) until February 25. Events have been organised at many pubs up and down the country - check out your local!