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Nell of Old Drury, London

Operator: Stonegate (formerly Ei Group)
29 Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5JS (View on Google Map)
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Small cosy pub opposite the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Licensed in 1835 as the Sir John Falstaff and rebuilt in 1883. Renamed by 1965 after the orange seller and mistress of King Charles II, Eleanor "Nell" Gwyn, reputedly born in a coalyard in Drury Lane. She was witty, shrewd, saucy and sexy, and a magnet for the period's alpha male, Charles II. A tunnel used by the king to visit Nell is reputed to link the pub and the theatre.

The present-day clientele is a mix of locals, tourists, after-work drinkers and, of course, theatregoers (who need to cross the road, since the tunnel cannot be found!); there is an interval drinks service available for the latter. The first floor offers extra seating and can be hired as a function room. If you are lucky, you may be able to bag the ground-floor bow window seats overlooking Catherine Street.

Please note: no sports colours or large groups encouraged - it's a very small pub!

As at November 2021 planning app 21/06477/FULL "Construction of fourth floor roof extension and use of second, third and fourth floors as two residential flats (1x 1 bed and 1 x 2 bed flats) and associated external alterations" has been permitted,

Historic Interest

The pub featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1972 film “Frenzy”, along with evocative scenes of the old Covent Garden fruit & veg market which moved a couple of years later.

Information for this venue is provided by the West London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Westminster
Last updated
15/05/2023
Last surveyed
31/10/2017
Pub ID
WLD/15964
Asset of Community Value
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Opening
Monday
Noon - 11:30pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:30pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:30pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:30pm
Friday
Noon - 11:30pm
Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - 11:00pm
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Current beers

This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen

Nell of Old Drury, London

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Changing

Changing beers typically include: Portobello - Star

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Facilities
Live Music Live Music
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Children welcome upstairs
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Events Events
Comedy some nights
Function Room Function Room
Upstairs
Newspapers Newspapers
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Member Discount Scheme Member Discount Scheme
Sign on the bar advertising 10% discount for CAMRA members
Transport
Close to bus routes (150m)
various
Nearby Station (600m)
London Charing Cross
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (330m)
Covent Garden
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