The George Inn

Photos and First Impressions

Gates to The George from Borough High Street

Streetside View

Courtyard and Exterior

Main Bar on the Ground Floor

Ground Floor Dining

Chronicling from the Barstool

So there are a few pubs on my list I’ve actually been to before, and The George is among them. I thought it best to ease into this journey on familiar ground.

When I was last visited in 2018, it for a meal during a larger family vacation in the Britain. I vividly recall my father and father-in-law engaged in some good natured, back-and-forth ribbing with our waiter for the evening. Lots of snarky USA vs. UK comments, but all in good fun. Just “having a laugh,” or “taking the piss,” as the Brits would say.

With that personal history aside, on to the pub.

The George sits near London Bridge, just south of the Thames on Borough High Street. The large, gated entryway stands out amidst its more modern neighbors. When you pass through it, at first you feel as though you’re headed down a narrow alley, but you quickly find yourself in a good-sized courtyard—massive by the standards of central London.

Just to the right stands a two-story green a white building, the oldest part dating back to 1676. Today it plays home to variously named galleries and bars where patrons can enjoy a fairly wide selection of food and drink by pub standards. Its size is much greater than that of the average pub as well, and for good reason.

The George got its start as a coaching inn, and is today the last surviving one in London. As such, the grounds served not only as a spot for food and drink, but a place for travelers to book lodging and rest their horses. It still retains much of that welcoming charm, with a variety of seating from the cozy nooks pictured above, to balconies that overlook the courtyard, and standing tables near the main bar.

The George also boasts a rich literary tradition as well. Again, while the founding date is 1676, a coaching inn has stood here since 1542 (the original structure was destroyed by fire). During those earlier years, William Shakespeare was a frequent guest, and he’s rumored to have staged several plays in the courtyard before opening his Globe Theatre in 1599. Charles Dickens was also a regular visitor to The George, going so far as to feature the pub in his novel Little Dorrit.

Also in the pub’s founding year of 1676…

• Charles II rules Great Britain.
• Innocent XI elected pope.
• Feodor III crowned Tsar of Russia.
• Bacon’s rebellion begins in Virginia.
• Isaac Newton coins the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants.”
  

On Draught

George Inn Ale

Greene King

4% ABV

Reminiscent of your usual English cask ale, this beer is light an easy to drink. I’d say it’s a bit crisper and more flavorful than most of this style, and it’s not quite as flat either. Very well worth it.