Fitzrovia Pubs

A tour of Fitzrovia's pubs, an area known for writers and artists in the inter war period including Dylan Thomas, George Orwell, Nina Hamnett, Augustus John and surrealist poet Philip O' Connor. Includes a short recital of the latter's poetry, and correspondingly some measuring of the pavement with a pair of sugar tongs.
Featuring:
Fitzroy Tavern: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16539/fi...
Wheatsheaf: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16530/wh...
Champion: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16541/ch...
Green Man: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16579/gr...
George: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16003/ge...
Stag's Head: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16576/st...
Carpenter's Arms: whatpub.com/pubs/WLD/16542/ca...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro / Fitzroy Tavern
3:11 Wheatsheaf
6:40 Bricklayer's Arms (didn't go inside)
7:42 Champion
10:33 Green Man
12:31 George
14:46 Stag's Head
15:53 Carpenter's Arms
17:25 Outro

[@liberty_and_justice67]

Great commentary and locations! Live in San Diego USA. Miss pubs.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Yes pubs must seem like a distant memory in that part of California! I've never been to Southern California, but have been to the north a bit (San Francisco etc), and I recall there were some still surviving 19th Century bars there. When I travel to a new city outside the UK I often start by Googling for the oldest bar. It's usually somewhere at least interesting, although obviously not quite the same thing as a genuine English pub, it sometimes at least partly scratches that itch.

[@tentinquarantino2535]

This is fantastic! I used to circulate about these places and never had much historical context. Love this series, keep it up!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you very much for the kind words! Very pleased to hear I'm helping to colour in some old stomping grounds!

[@pbaquino]

Another great video! Charming style and very informative. I’ve seen nearly all your pub videos and am having a hard time narrowing down must sees for when I’m in London in a few weeks

[@DavidM2002]

We just got back from a 2 week stay in London and stayed just around the corner ( Rathbone Street ) from the Fitzroy and, had our first pint in there. The Marquis of Granby, which is just a few steps from the Fitzroy turned out to be our favourite though. In our experience, this neighbourhood is the absolute best in London if you're a foodie. I've never seen so many restaurants in such a small area. And good ones too. Very close to Carnaby Street which also was a great foodie neighbourhood.

[@TweedyPubs]

I noticed the Marquis of Granby as I was leaving the Fitzroy and feel like now I should have gone and taken a proper look! It does seem to be a very dense neighbourhood for all sorts of slightly under-the-radar businesses.

[@paulturner487]

Good stuff again!! I’ve stopped watching mainstream tv channels and find my entertainment from KZbin videos (mainly classic film noir and the like) Your channel is something right up my street! Classic pubs and good beer! I await the next one eagerly. Thanks, keep up the good work 🍺🍺

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks PaulI I too don't watch TV any more, there's just nothing for me there. I definitely have my fair share of quibbles about KZbin as well, but it does a great job of allowing nobodies like me make videos about things I'm interested in, which happily it seems other people are too!

[@paulturner487]

Agree 100%👍

[@johnhutcheson2047]

Hello Tweedy. I think the Scottish coats of arms on the Wheatsheaf may relate to Wm Younger & Co being in the stained glass on the main window as this was an Edinburgh brewery, perhaps they owned it at some point. Another interesting video, thanks.

[@secondcity11]

Thanks Tweedy for your very in depth reviews which I very much appreciate as you appear to have a similar taste to me. Not a Londoner but love to visit so your reviews are most welcome, always seems to be raining though🌧 I'm now more or less retired but have left my previous employment and have been working in pubs since 2021 and love it!

[@paulc.2418]

Thumbs up for the effort put forth in the poetry reading and sugar tong measurement! LOL.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Paul! I'm guessing you won't find that anywhere else on KZbin. ...whether or not anyone actually wanted it is perhaps a different issue!

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

The door mosaics of the Fitzroy and The George are perfection. I wonder how many other pubs have them? The windows of The Champion are spectacular, even if quite contemporary. As always thank you for another wonderful, entertaining and educational video. 👏👏😀👍

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Andrew! Yes there are some lovely features in the pub buildings in this part of town. I'm constantly surprised and delighted by how much skill and effort went into the design of these places where ultimately people would just be sinking pints!

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

@@TweedyPubs Oh to have been a fly on the wall when the designs of these pubs were discussed. A time when good design was as important as the function of the building. Even when I first began to visit pubs I was attracted by the look of the pub and immediately had some favourites. Sadly though many did not feature in my CAMRA guides and were shunned in the then difficult quest to find real ale.

[@askl23]

The sugar tongs, the granite identification -the attention to detail is unparalleled. CAMRA should hire you to scope out these places for their guides.

[@TweedyPubs]

I am a CAMRA member, and I owe them a big thank you for the work they do, particularly on their Pub Heritage website, which I tend to lean on heavily in making these videos.

[@Thefisherman27]

The king and Queen on foley Street where bob Dylan did an impromptu set and is immortalised in Don maccleans American pie.

[@johnsharp8632]

I have been to the King and Queen and it is very nice pub.

[@SimonStamenkovic]

Fantastic again.. thanks.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you Simon, I really appreciate the positive feedback!

[@Albert_O_Balsam]

I'm very pleased to have discovered your channel on my KZbin recommended, you speak very eloquently and your mix of both history and beer leaves me surprised that you have less than 1000 subs, but you've gained a new one today, best wishes from Ireland.

[@chrisdecoste3097]

Love your videos… they are giving us such a long list of places to stop for a pint when we are in London in November. Since we are staying near Paddington Station, we hope to see something in that area before we go …. BTW don’t suppose you have visited any on the Island of Jersey (that is our first stop…) then back to London for 10 days… cheers 🍻

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Chris! Several people have, like you, mentioned Paddington in the comments, and so I have just made a video covering that area. Albeit I just stuck to the south of the station. I think there are also some interesting pubs to the north of the station (including the Prince Alfred and the Warwick Arms), albeit I'd call that area Maida Vale. I might cover that area in a future video. As for Jersey - no I haven't really explored the pubs there. I've only been to the island once and it was a short visit so I didn't really get time unfortunately!

[@Oscartherescuedog]

I was astonished at the sight of an open fire in the Fitzroy Tavern - I thought open fires were illegal in London. You can’t beat a ‘real’ open fire so good on the Fitzroy 👍🏻 (another great video Tweedy!)

[@TweedyPubs]

Yes I thought the same! Perhaps they have some special licence for historical reasons? I'm very likely to go back now almost entirely for the open fire.

[@DovidM]

@@TweedyPubsI was told by a hotel near Paddington that they light the wood fire in their lobby for about an hour at a time because if left burning longer, their neighbors complain about the awful smoke.

[@JEFFERYSJOHNSON]

Fine tour Sir Tweedy. I feel like I am getting overloaded with future assignments for next September. Well, I take all these as a challenge. 😊

[@TweedyPubs]

One of the great things about many of the areas of London I've featured in these videos is that they're next door to each other! You could easily combine the most appealing pubs of, say, Marylebone, Fitzrovia and Soho in a single crawl.

[@JEFFERYSJOHNSON]

@@TweedyPubs You are correct. So, now I will try to cover all these on one day. What does the inside of an English drunk tank look like? :-) Your paying my bail. Really enjoy these. Actually watching the wine channel right now.

[@Rush-Fan2112]

I truly enjoy watching your videos. I've been watching for a little while and you are getting much better at presenting - much more confident. I'm from Georgia, USA. Hopefully I can get over your way sometime soon and visit several of these pubs. Great job!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you for the kind words! I've been trying to do more research beforehand in recent videos, and perhaps that helps a bit with the presenting, as hopefully I have a clearer idea of what to say about each pub. I don't exactly have a script, but I make notes with all the key points I want to cover. I probably spend as much time doing the research beforehand as I do on the day itself when I'm filming, then a similar amount of time again doing editing... but I actually enjoy all those stages.

[@bluu_ice6554]

That pub looks amazing!

[@CyclingSteve]

Not in this area, but I'd love to see your review of The Pride of Spitalfields. It's a very 70s/80s style pub just off Brick Lane.

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

Nice stained glass at The Champions. On a sparkling holiday Saturday mid-morning would be gem-like. I shall go there one sunny day.

[@TweedyPubs]

Yes it was good in there even on a grey rainy day, so must be spectacular on a sunny day!

[@DavidM2002]

PS, the Fitzrovia pub is just one block north to Goodge Street and about 100 feet to the east to Whitfield.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks David!

[@johnsharp8632]

Thanks for another well researched tour Tweedy. I recognise all the pubs from my walks, but the only one I have visited is The Carpenter's Arms. Interestingly, the Wenlock Brewery was just off the City Road in Hoxton. Though the brewery is long closed, their brewery tap, the Wenlock Arms remains and is a must visit for real ale enthusiasts as it always features a goodly selection. The lovely stained glass windows in the Wheatsheaf are typical of the former Wm Youngers pubs in London. Incidentally, the name Fitzrovia was coined by Tom Driberg in his 1930s newspaper column. He was well acquainted with the Bohemian set that you mentioned. He was a rather nasty piece of work and was often entertained by the Kray twins and other criminals.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks John, and some very interesting additional tidbits there. Yes I have been to the Wenlock Arms, albeit over a decade ago now I think, and therefore definitely due a revisit!

[@TweedyPubs]

See my latest video for a visit to the Wenlock Arms!

[@gregoryharris4547]

Top work.again sir....Definitely a book there somewhere...

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks!

[@ysgolgerlan]

Thanks for the nice video 👍

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Ysgolgerlan!

[@liamkatt6434]

Fitzroy Tavern, Brendan Behan visited many times.

[@mitchelluk1445]

Another great video mate, really enjoying these episodes 👍 Your slowly running out of areas 😂

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks! Yes I am definitely getting to the point where I'm having to rack my brains a bit to think of the next area to cover! Might have to start venturing out of London a bit more in future...?

[@bl00dhoney]

There's bloke in Fitzrovia with a giant rabbit that hangs about on Whitfield St

[@Nils_Martin]

Swedish yeah.. 🇸🇪 I have to visit the Green Man soon 🍺🍻

[@TweedyPubs]

As mentioned in the video you might also like my Westminster video, featuring the Albert which has similar Swedish granite.

[@Nils_Martin]

@@TweedyPubs Yes, i did put it on my to-do-list 😃 Thank you sir!

[@SlurpyDave254]

Interesting area, Fitzroy looks a Gem...i think Boltmaker is better than Landlord( what u think John)...filming can be a challenge, i was t"other day when a coach party pulled up with 50 people on it😅. Good vid mate👏👏

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Dave! Yes I've only had Boltmaker a few times (quite a rarity still in these parts) and it does seem to have a bit more substance to it than Landlord.

[@chancebrown614]

Hi Tweedy, Just wondered if you're a CAMRA member? A vast amount of pubs in London offer members a 10%, and sometimes 20% discount on ales, when you show your membership card. As you're a regular visitor of pubs, you could save yourself a small fortune! Love your videos, and long may they continue!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks! Yes I am a CAMRA member, although I hardly ever think to show my card. My local pub has a discount for members, and I think the bar staff there just remember and apply it for me without asking, but apart from that I haven't really taken advantage of it.

[@johnrob6132]

Hi, another interesting pub tour. The excerpt of poetry you read out seemed really weird.( not the way you read it but the content!) I think you said it was Philip O Conner. It seems they were the words of a man that was on a substance or who had mental problems, or was I missing something?.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks John Rob! Yes I think your assessment of what motivated Philip O'Connor's poetry is spot on (a bit of both as I understand). There was a short film made based on the poem in the 1960s, you can watch it for free on the British Film Institute website, although to me at least it's the stuff of nightmares.

[@johnrob6132]

I think I might give that a miss!@@TweedyPubs

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Well, for once I can add some value - subject to subjective judgement, of course... Back in the 1980s and 1990s, The Fitzroy Tavern had another claim to 'fame', and indeed may still do. For, on the first Thursday of every month, Doctor Who fans would travel far and wide to congregate there in order to swap pirate copy VHS videos from Australia, sell crappy little fanzines and argue pointlessly about which actor gave us the best Davros. I must admit to having been one of that number, but categorically deny any accusations regarding anoraks or paper carrier bags rammed full of autographed Target novels. In fact, I may have been ejected on a number of occasions for my refusal to comply with fan consensus. 35 years on, my main recollection is the Sam Smith's hangovers at work the following day, though. I did like the look of The Wheatsheaf and The Champion. If I am ever in the area again, I will check them out and leave The Fitzroy Tavern very firmly in my past. Thanks for another great video.

[@TweedyPubs]

That's a wonderful image you conjure up there! I particularly love the idea of the quarrels over the different portrayals of Davros. I only have very limited recollection of Dr Who but that particular role certainly doesn't linger in my memory as one full of depth and nuance. Perhaps I've instantly alienated thousands of Whovians with that ignorant assessment!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@TweedyPubs I wouldn’t worry about it - easily done - they’re a touchy bunch! I suspect they’re still there - so best avoid on the first Thursday of the month.

[@martinkillick5437]

Loving these videos! Currently living in Texas I miss the pub (the Harrow was my local as a boy). Are you up for ideas? I’m thinking Richmond upon Thames, or further afield Portsmouth and Southsea. Where ever you go please keep up the vids.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Martin! Do you mean the Harrow in Steep? Very envious if you grew up with that as your local, it's a magical pub! Thanks for the suggestions - yes I should definitely head down Richmond way at some point. Portsmouth is a place close to my heart as some of my family were from there originally. I'm not very familiar with the pubs though, so this seems like a good opportunity to explore!

[@martinkillick5437]

@@TweedyPubs yes that Harrow - a proper pub! Actually Petersfield has quite the pub landscape even though about 6 or 7 have closed since I was a boy. Looking forward to your next sortie…

[@lindenthornton9277]

Have you considered doing a tour of Yorkshire?

[@TweedyPubs]

I have definitely been considering a trip up to York recently - but just like London and some of the surrounding countryside are vastly different in terms of pub offerings, I'm guessing the rest of Yorkshire vs York itself are also two entirely dissimilar kettles of fish...?

[@lindenthornton9277]

@@TweedyPubs yes Yorkshire as a county is like a small country, North Yorkshire alone is the largest county in England. I would suggest starting in York then exploring the Dales and North Yorkshire National Park especially the coast eg. Robin Hoods Bay, loads of fantastic pubs. I would be happy to help!