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This special Remembrance Sunday episode of The Historic London Pubcast takes us into the lesser-known wartime history of British pubs. From the cellars of London to the beaches of Normandy, discover how these beloved local landmarks became unlikely heroes during World War II.

We revisit The Black Horse in Marylebone, where D-Day plans were floated over pints, and tell the Spitfire beer story that led to the legendary Flying Drays - aircraft ferrying beer to troops during the Normandy beer run.

We hear how the Wenlock Brewery became a lifesaving shelter, and how pilots like Robert Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader made The Chesterfield Arms/The Shepherd’s Arms in Mayfair their wartime HQ.

We also honor lost pubs - The Hare and Hounds in Hampstead and The White Horse Hotel in East Ham - and explore the enduring symbolism of pubs like The Douglas Bader Pub in Ipswich. With research drawn from Martin Cornell’s Strange Tales of Ale, this episode pays tribute to the resilience, spirit, and community found in pubs across the UK.

Whether you're a history buff, pub lover, or planning a walking tour of London, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Cover Image Source

https://www.spitfires.com/post/ale-delivery-spitfires

Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com

E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com

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An unforgettable journey through Chelsea – from Bohemians to Billionaires!

Discover how this exclusive London neighborhood transformed from a riverside "Village of Palaces" into the ultimate bohemian quarter, then morphed into one of the world's poshest postcodes.

We're pub crawling through four historic Chelsea establishments representative of Chelsea’s eclectic historical journey.

The Pig's Ear with its Cockney rhyming slang heritage.

The Cross Keys. Chelsea's oldest pub and scene of an unsolved 1920s murder and where Agatha Christie once drank.

The Phene. Favorite local of football legend George Best.

The Chelsea Potter on the iconic King's Road where Jimi Hendrix hung out.

Along the way, we'll explore the artistic legacy of Oscar Wilde, J.M.W. Turner, and the Pre-Raphaelites on Cheyne Walk, discover how Mary Quant invented the mini skirt and Vivienne Westwood sold punk to the world, meet the Sloane Rangers who made Chelsea synonymous with posh living, and uncover why this neighborhood became the playground of rock stars, aristocrats, and billionaires.

Whether you're fascinated by London pub history, celebrity haunts, true crime, or the cultural revolution that turned a royal escape route into Swinging London's beating heart, this episode serves up art, influence, and intrigue in one nicely wrapped package – groovy, baby!

Show Map

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1xXDGJSfJIUy2gw_6uCASi-C45FpOg_M&usp=sharing

References

• Ted Bruning -- Historic Pubs of London (ISBN 978-0658005022) and London By Pub (ISBN 978-0658005022)
• Wikipedia
• https://londonspubswherehistoryreallyhappened.wordpress.com/ by Ann Laffeaty

The Pig’s Ear

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/pigs-ear.html

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d26855684-Reviews-The_Pig_s_Ear-London_England.html

https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs//Chelsea/BlackLion.shtml

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/pigs-ear-chelsea-128740

https://www.pigsearpub.com/

The Cross Keys

https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs///Chelsea/CrossKeys.shtml

https://www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=931

https://pubnames.co.uk/index.php

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/cross-keys-chelsea-129021

https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54757/

The Phene

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/time-called-on-george-bests-local-7266815.html

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/phene-chelsea-128697

http://www.phenecricket.com/news/phenearms.html

Chelsea Potter

https://bispm.co.uk/bio.php?id=509

Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com

E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com

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Join us on a pub walk London won’t let you forget. In this episode of The Historic London Pubcast, we take a leisurely but legendary London pub crawl from the iconic Battersea Power Station through the historic backstreets of Wandsworth, exploring the city's Victorian pubs, quirky local legends, and centuries of London beer history.

Our pub tour kicks off at the Grade II-listed Battersea Power Station — a marvel of London industrial heritage now home to high-end shops (and a beautifully theatrical Marks & Spencer Simply Food). Along the way, we relive the bizarre tale of the Pink Floyd Battersea pig balloon that made Heathrow air traffic control sweat.

Next, we raise a glass at the Prince Albert pub Battersea, salute the ever-evolving Woodpecker pub (jazz lounge, Creole kitchen, and now live music haven), and visit The Woodman, saved by 4,000 loyal locals. This walking tour London detours to riverside gems like The Waterfront and The Ship, each boasting a different take on pub architecture and atmosphere.

In Wandsworth, the history gets deeper (and boozier). Discover the roots and revival of Ram Brewery Wandsworth, where 500 years of brewing tradition meet craft beer comebacks. Sip in style at the Spread Eagle pub Wandsworth, dripping in stained glass and Victorian glam, and finish at The Cat’s Back pub, a charming relic with one very elusive feline.

This episode is a must-listen for fans of:

• London travel guide inspiration
• Hidden London history
• Quirky London pubs
• Off the beaten path London
• And of course, anyone planning the ultimate London pub tour

Whether you’re into London podcast adventures, love a good history podcast UK style, or just want solid UK travel ideas, we’ve got your pint poured and your path mapped.

Cheers, and mind the pink pigs.

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Show Map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1xXDGJSfJIUy2gw_6uCASi-C45FpOg_M&usp=sharing

References:

• Ted Bruning -- Historic Pubs of London (ISBN 978-0658005022)
• Wikipedia

Battersea, Prince Albert, Woodpecker, Woodman

https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/about/heritage-history/

https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs///BatterseaEast/PrinceAlbert.shtm

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/prince-albert-battersea-140365

https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/BatterseaNorthWest/HighStreet42.shtml

https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/london/sw11_battersea_originalwoodman.html

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/woodpecker-battersea-140315

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/woodman-battersea-140457

https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/BatterseaNorthWest/HighStreet42.shtml

Ship & The Waterfront

London’s Riverside Pubs by Time Hampson ISBN 978-1–5048-0021-1

Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com

E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com