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Edgar Wallace WC2-1 Feb 2018. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 18-02-2018

Edgar Wallace, London

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Opens at 12:00pm
Operator: Independent
40 Essex Street, Aldwych, London, WC2R 3JF (View on Google Map)
(020) 7353 3120
Email
Website

Just off Fleet Street near the Royal Courts of Justice, the barristers' chambers in the Temple and the Aldwych, this is a real gem of a one room pub, with an additional drinking and eating room upstairs. The ceiling is packed with the landlord's collection of beer mats, and the walls and back bar - and more! - can only be described as a mecca of advertising signs for beers, sherry, port, cigarettes, tobacco and cigars of the past. There is also a shelf of Edgar Wallace crime novels, pub guides and other books that will make you want to linger.

The choice of cask ales, sourced nationally, may be more limited post-pandemic but two to three should be available. Good value pub grub is served at weekday lunchtimes. It's a "quiet" pub with no music; laptops, mobiles and so on are not allowed. Please note that, in this legal area, it does not open at all at weekends.

Historic Interest

There has been a pub here since at least 1777. Past customers of the Essex Head Tavern (known as Sam's for the publican Samuel Greaves, an old servant of Mr. Thrale - of H. Thrale & Co., brewers at the Anchor Brewery Southwark) included Dr. Samuel Johnson and Richard Brocklesbury who are said to have founded the Essex Head Club here in 1783. Rebuilt in 1891 as the Essex Head, it took its present name in 1975 to celebrate the centenary of the famous crime writer's birth. Edgar Wallace himself was born Richard Freeman the illegitimate son of an actress and grew up adopted by a fishmonger. He took the name Wallace when signing up for the army, moved on to become a star reporter for the Daily Mail, and finally became a hugely successful author. His ambition was money, and he was said to have used it to gamble extravagantly on horses and cards.

Information for this venue is provided by the West London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Westminster
Last updated
23/01/2025
Last surveyed
12/08/2021
Pub ID
WLD/15919
Asset of Community Value
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Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - 11:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Noon - 3:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 3:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 3:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 3:00pm
Friday
Noon - 3:00pm
Saturday
No Service
Sunday
No Service

Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

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Edgar Wallace, London

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Changing beers typically include: Southwark - Bankside Blonde , Timothy Taylor - Landlord , Wainwright - Gold

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
not weekends
Garden Garden
pavement tables in fine weather
Family Friendly Family Friendly
until 5pm, but only if eating
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Function Room Function Room
upstairs
Smoking Smoking
outside the front of the pub
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (75m)
TfL: 11, 15, 4, 23, 26, 76, 172, 341
Nearby Station (700m)
London Blackfriars
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (200m)
Temple

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