Lamb & Flag Pub

This is undoubtedly one of London's best looking traditional pubs both outside and in. Situated on two floors, one has the feeling that little has changed for many years and indeed the pub has been in the present building since 1623- making it the oldest tavern in Covent Garden. The upstairs room has a very fine view of Rose Street and is used as a restaurant where excellent home cooked fayre is available, such as lamb stew and roast beef served in large quantities by cordial staff.

Cordiality, however, may have been in short supply in this area in days gone by. The pub had close associations with prize fighting and was at one time called the Bucket of Blood. John Dryden, poet and satirist in the era of Charles II, also had a bout of fisticuffs with hooligans sent by the King to uphold the honour of the Duchess of Portsmouth, mistress of Charles and whom Dryden called rude names in some of his verse.