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Bloomsbury Tavern, London

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Real ale discount scheme
Operator: Shepherd Neame
236 Shaftesbury Avenue, Bloomsbury, London, WC2H 8EG (View on Google Map)

Said to date from 1856 and Grade II listed, it was called the Black Lion until rebuilt in 1905 to the design of C Fitzroy Dell. Half-way between Holborn & Tottenham Court Road Underground stations, the pub is handily placed for visiting the British Museum, Covent Garden and Theatreland. Legend has it (and is claimed by various local pubs - take your pick!) that the Tavern was the last drinking spot between Newgate Prison and present-day Marble Arch for condemned criminals before being hanged at Tyburn Tree. A resident ghost is also claimed.

Bank Holiday opening times: 12:00 - 20:00 food served 12:00 - 18:00.

Historic Interest

Grade II listing:- Public house. 1904. By C Fitzroy Doll, surveyor to the Bedford Estate and the local District Surveyor. Red brick with white terracotta decoration, slate roof hidden behind parapet and with massive banded stacks. EXTERIOR: 4 storeys and cellars. Prominent corner site dominated by 2-storey oriel with copper dome over entrance, with single window to Shaftesbury Avenue and 4 to West Central Street. Oriel of white terracotta with hefty mouldings and decorated panels; other windows above ground floor mullion and transom, those to first floor in continuous white surround; the upper windows linked by bands and those in centre of West Central Street composition lowered. Restored ground floor with late C20 fenestration having heraldic glass set in black polished granite surrounds featuring columns with lion capitals. INTERIOR retains 1904 Arts and Crafts style fireplaces to ground and first floors. Open-well staircase with turned timber balustrades and panelled walls. Some panelling to first floor bar and to rear of ground floor bar, which has original cornice behind later bar back but where the bar counter and the fixed seating has been renewed in historicist style.

Information for this venue is provided by the North London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Camden
Last updated
04/06/2024
Last surveyed
20/08/2023
Leasehold owner
Shepherd Neame
Freehold owner
DAM Investments Ltd
Pub ID
WLD/16055
Asset of Community Value
Monday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm
Monday
Noon - 9:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 9:00pm
Friday
Noon - 9:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 6:00pm

TasteMatch

Unlock TasteMatch and all of CAMRA’s online tools from just 99p/month with our Explorer Pass, or join as a member to get the best of pubs, beer and breweries plus discounts at the bar.

Current beers

This Pub serves no changing beers and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Shepherd Neame - Master Brew TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Session Bitter • 3.7% Spotted twice.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew

This beer is served regularly and Spotted twice. at Bloomsbury Tavern, London.

ABV 3.7%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Shepherd Neame - Spitfire TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Spitfire good summer and winter
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire Session Bitter • 4.2% Spotted 5 times.
Spitfire good summer and winter
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 5 times. at Bloomsbury Tavern, London.

ABV 4.2%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale Session Pale Ale • 3.9%
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale

This beer is served regularly at Bloomsbury Tavern, London.

ABV 3.9%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Your scores

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Not Sunday
Function Room Function Room
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Member Discount Scheme Member Discount Scheme
Shepherd Neame are offering an exclusive 20% discount for card bearing CAMRA members on cask club beers at participating pubs of which this is one
Transport
Close to bus routes (25m)
1, 8, 14, 19, 10, 14, 24, 29, 38, 55, 73, 98, 134, 171, 242, 390
Closest station (1000m)
London Charing Cross
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (350m)
Tottenham Court Road

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