Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, Farringdon

pub details:

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location:

Farringdon

address:

1 Ely Court, EC1N 6SJ

phone:

0871 258 6150*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Chancery Lane London Underground station
(250m) - zone 1

Farringdon railway station London Underground station
(260m) - zone 1

City Thameslink railway station
(350m)

Barbican railway station London Underground station
(690m) - zone 1

Blackfriars railway station London Underground station
(780m) - zone 1

bus routes:

8, 17, 25, 45, 46, 242, 243, 341, 521

how to find it:

Out of Chancery Lane tube station, go east to Holborn Circus. Hatton Garden is the first road on the left and the Mitre is up an alleyway on the right of the start of Hatton Garden. There's a quaint little signpost indicating the alley.

click for directions to Ye Olde Mitre Tavern from wherever you are

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opening times:

Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00
Sat - Sun Closed*
* opening times can change, please check with the pub before organising important events.

nearby attraction(s):

Sir John Soane's Museum (710m)

Museum of London (750m)

St. Paul's Cathedral (820m)

additional pictures of Ye Olde Mitre Tavern

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This well-concealed pub (in a little yard just off Hatton Garden) can often be an oasis in a somewhat manic area. Of course, like any pub in the City, it gets overrun at the usual times - lunch and immediately after work - but outside of those hours it's a haven. Since it was bought by Fullers, we've seen little change - the beers are still well kept, usually a couple of decent real ales and a number of regular guests on the hand pumps. The food is honest pub grub, if a bit snacky, and the service is old-fashioned and excellent - many newer pubs should take note. There are a lot of rumours about this pub, particularly that it's not actually in London. The origins of the pub can account for some of the confusion. The original pub was built in 1547 for the servants of the Bishop of Ely from Cambridgeshire, who's London palace was just next door in Ely Place. And, as such the palace and its environs (including the pub) were his domain. The pub was demolished in 1772 and quickly rebuilt. From what we can ascertain, it stayed (officially) under Cambridgshire's aegis until sometime in the 20th Century - the City of London police, apparently, had no jurisdiction there. There's also a legend that the tree trunk preserved in the corner of the small bar was the original boundary marker for the diocese and that Queen Elizabeth I danced the maypole around it - but as we say, that's the legend. Nonetheless, this pub is historic, quirky and atmospheric, replete with the panelling and odd little nooks and crannies you'd expect in such a place - and we hope it stays this way for ever. By the way, if you don't spot the sign on the lamp post in Hatton Garden pointing into the alleyway, you will walk straight past it. Not one to miss. NOTE: this pub is closed at weekends.

reviewed:
07/06/2010

Eating at The Ye Olde Mitre Tavern ... we last ate here on 03/01/2007

A rather traditional array of bar snacks - pickled eggs may not be for the faint-hearted - and a range of toasties. Scotch eggs and sausage rolls too. Not somewhere to have a full meal at (there's no space for that, anyway), but reasonably priced and old-fashioned snacks that beat the usual round of crisps, etc.

- quality

- price

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

excellent real ales

small function room for hire

dominoes and cribbage

WiFi hotspot

second opinion:

Have your say! - 5 comments on this pub - click to add your own comment

posted by goblinhairdo - Wednesday 7th April, 2010, 1:07pm

This really is a lovely pub - great beer selection and good value pub grub. Beware tho it's only open weekdays except for the week of the Great British Beer Festival when it also opens on the Saturday. Definitely worth a visit, and don't worry you haven't had one too many beers, the ladies loo is actually on a slope!

posted by harryhotspur - Wednesday 2nd December, 2009, 7:04pm

made a long overdue visit to Ye Olde Mitre yesterday; the place hasnt changed a bit, still quite simply one of the best pubs in town! Had a pint of Rosey Nosey, i think its the first of 15 guest ales that are part of the pubs Xmas Ale Festival. As good as it was i had to have a pint of IPA next, as everybody knows, you dont get a better pint of Deuchars anywhere else! Deuchars, sausage roll with scottish mustard (brown sauce!), pickled egg, nice chat with old johnnie boy over the bar....fantastic!

posted by lordofmisrule - Friday 3rd April, 2009, 12:35pm

A popular pub where the Powers That Be seem to have a preference for Scottish ales, which is an interesting rarity in London. Unlike Ketsbaia above I've never had any issue with the quality of their ales or draught ciders and the service is usually spot on. If you want a table try upstairs, or hover around until the evening rush has started dying down at half eight. Unfortunately the pub has just been sold to Fullers so we'll have to see whether the good selection of beer takes a turn for the worse or not.

posted by Ketsbaia - Thursday 12th February, 2009, 1:41pm

I used to love this little boozer until very recently. A mate of mine was visiting from out of town, so we headed to the Seven Stars, The City Retreat and then here, which I thought would be a great way of rounding off the evening. My mate went for the Deuchars while I decided on the guest ale. Wish I hadn't. It was cloudy and off, a fact I drew to the attention of the barman. He casually explained that he didn't drink beer, so called the landlord to discuss the issue. Landlord arrived and commented that he'd had no complaints about it so far that night. He then also said he didn't drink beer and wouldn't try it to confirm what I'd told the barman. Instead, he held it up and asked if I could see his fingers through the (cloudy) pint. Ridiculous. The last think I wanted was to get involved in an argument, but I know what off beer tastes like, so I stood by my comment. Eventually, after much huffing and puffing, they agreed to change it to Adnams Broadside, but I was left highly unimpressed. Any real ale pub worth its salt would at least listen to a customer's complaint about their beer - if only to gather feedback. That's especially true if they don't even drink the stuff themselves. I won't be going again, which is a shame as I used to genuinely rate this pub.

posted by bobby - Thursday 19th July, 2007, 10:07pm

this is one of the best pubs in london! hidden down an ally way, its well worth searching out fot its fantasic ales(deuchars ipa and adnams always avalible). often having a guest ale rarely seen in london. this pub is full of character with enthuistic staff and serves the best toasted sarnies for miles, along with other great bar snacks!the manager informed me the other day that he has some scottish ales coming for the beer festival and will be open on 11th/12th august for the occation.

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