Step out of central Holborn and back in time. It’s well worth scouting out this cosy, ultra-historic pub with a colourful past dating back to 1546.

The Venue
Ye Olde Mitre is a bit of a secret drinking den. Look out for a little passageway marked ‘Old Mitre 1546’ full of verdant greenery, which leads to a tiny yard and the entrance. Inside, you’ll find a cosy pub, with a comfy if claustrophobic lower half, featuring plenty of dark wood panelling, low ceilings and a thick red carpet. Pictures and knick knacks crowd the walls, and eager punters crowd the floor. Upstairs is lighter and emptier, but less intimate or atmospheric. And gents heading for the loo will find it outside – a quirk that some find endearing, others less so (especially in winter!).

Ye Olde Mitre has been around for a while - it was built in 1546 for the servants of The Bishop of Ely. A stone mitre from the palace, built into the pub’s wall, gives it its name. However, the pub you see today was re-built in the eighteenth century, following the demolition of both palace and original pub in 1772.

The Atmosphere
They pack them in tight at Ye Olde Mitre, especially downstairs, so finding a table and then shoehorning yourself in can be quite a task, especially just after office hours when the place fills up. A low buzz of conversation sets the background in the thankfully music-less venue, in keeping with its old-time atmosphere. Punters are a mixture - there’s a fair number of City workers mixed in with less suited and booted visitors, a few who make the pilgrimage especially to sample its fine atmosphere and beer, and just a sprinkling of American tourists looking bemused at seeing Britain’s drinking culture in the flesh. Though it’s unequivocally in the centre, there’s a certain feeling of the county pub about Ye Olde Mitre and you could easily be in a throwback boozer of an English village.

The Food
There’s no sign of nouvelle cuisine here. Instead, you’ll find big portions of hearty pub grub with an emphasis on meat and two veg - think sausages, pies and steaks. Vegetarians may find there’s not too much choice for them, but that doesn’t put off a sizeable lunch crowd. Prices are reasonable, especially considering the central location.

The Drink
Proper booze, nothing fancy, but real ale drinkers will be delighted with a choice of Teleys, Adnams and a guest ale. There’s lager on tap too, and a limited choice of spirits and wines.

The Last Word
Ye Olde Mitre is the best place in London for pretending to be a sixteenth-century servant while supping a pint of fine ale - and how many places could hope to claim that honour?

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