The Olde Wine Shades is one of
London's oldest
public house
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...
s, having been built in 1663 in Martin Lane there is an oft quoted claim that it somehow survived the
Great Fire of 1666. Its origins were as a
Merchants house, which had a tunnel river entrance like many larger riverside properties in London at the time. The tunnel was sealed after bomb damage during the Blitz in 1940, but its entrance is still visible today. The architectural and historic significance of the Olde Wine Shades is recognised in its status as a grade II listed building.
El Vino was purchased by Davy's Wine Merchants in 2015 and it had a major refurbishment in the summer of 2017, restoring many original features and allowing the cellar bar area to be opened to the public once again.
Martha Grimes
Martha Grimes (born May 2, 1931) is an American writer of detective fiction. She is best known for a series featuring Richard Jury, a Scotland Yard inspector, and Melrose Plant, an aristocrat turned amateur sleuth.
Biography
Grimes was born i ...
named one of her Richard Jury novels after the pub.
See also
*
List of buildings that survived the Great Fire of London
This is a list of buildings that survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 and are still standing.
See also
* Great Fire of London
* List of demolished buildings and structures in London
This list of demolished buildings and structures ...
References
External links
The Olde Wine Shades– official web site
Grade II listed pubs in the City of London
1663 establishments in England
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