Plenty of history in this pub. Occupied by Lord Mayors of London until around 1740 when it was sold to Robert Williamson who turned it into a hotel, it was first granted a intoxicating drinks licence in 1851. The wrought iron gates at the entrance were a gift from William III who dinned with Queen Mary as the Lord Mayors guests, they are monogrammed with the letters WM. Tiles now seen on the fireplace in the smaller bar are Roman, found on the site during restoration work in 1939. Inset into the wall of the lounge bar there is an inscribed tablet (which is now covered by a mirror I understand from the bar staff) marking the exact center of the City of London

But what about it now, it's a lovely pub in the heart of the City of London, just off Bow Lane. Cask Marque accredited means you will get excellent beer, which is well kept and presented (although I do have one moan, the cellar must be a long way down, as it takes on average 11 pulls to fill a pint, this, inevitably causes a large head to form). The food is reasonible and there are plenty of places to sit and eat in lovely surroundings.