The Nell Gwynne, London

Posted on 09. Aug, 2011 by Robert Gale in Pubs

The Nell Gwynne, London

The Nell Gwynne is a small traditional pub tucked tucked away down an alleyway between the Strand and Maiden Lane. Despite its location The pub was quite devoid of tourists.

Brief History

The pub is named after Nell Gwyn (or Gwynn/Gwynne) who was a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England. She lived between 2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687 and may have been born in nearby Covent Garden. This is not confirmed and she may well have been born in Hereford or Oxford.

Interior

The dimly lit interior consists of a single room split over two levels. To the right when you enter is a small raised section that consists of stools and tables and a tiled fireplace. The rest of the pub is slightly larger with more seating and a big screen TV. The bar runs down the majority of the rear of the pub and there are some interesting spirits ‘dispensing vessels’ on the top shelf.

If you require the toilet, you may want to use the facilities at the start of the night rather than at the end. The steep stairs and large wooden beam are tricky to navigate even when sober.

The Beer

Four ales were available when I visited in June. Judging by reviews on Pubs Galore, the Courage Best, Bomardier and Deuchers IPA are regulars. The guest ale was Cwrw Haf from the newly established West Wales brewery The Kite Brewery.

More Photos of the Nell Gwynne

Venue Location

The Nell Gwynne

1-2 Bull Inn Court

Strand

London

WC2R 0NP

Tel: 020 7240 5579

View on Google Street View

Robert Gale (Twitter: @awv)

Beer Taster, Pub Attendee, Photo Taker

Robert Gale likes beer, pubs and beer festivals. He also likes to take photos of beer, pubs and beer festivals. Most weekends of the year you can find him travelling around the UK (and sometimes beyond) photographing and reviewing good quality pubs and beer festivals. He also has a day job in the form of a web developer for Ozum.