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[This crawl still stands as the best attended: in excess of 50 people came along. Totally unmanageable!]
Temple and the Inns of Court
In the twelfth century, the Temple was the headquarters of
the Knights Templar. After the order was supressed it became
a university for sons of the aristocracy, called Inns because
the students lived as well as studied here. Over the years it
came to specialise in the legal profession. Now there are four
surviving Inns of Court: Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Lincoln's
Inn and Gray's Inn; collectively known as Temple. Every barrister
in England and Wales must work from, and eat a number of meals
at, one of these Inns before he or she can be called to the bar.
#1
6.00pm - 6.40pm
The Seven Stars
53/4 Carey Street
London
WC2A 2JB
We started at this tiny, quaint and slightly smug
pub with its theatrical memorabilia.
Look around inside the Temple; there are maps on the
wall throughout; it is well worth a wander about. Walk down Middle
Temple Lane, turn right into Fountain Court (yes, the one with
the fountain in it. If you are tall you may pick ripe mulberries)
then right again into New Court. In the far left corner there
is a gate, signposted Essex St. Exit by this gate to pubs 2a
and 2b.
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#2a
7.00pm - 7.50pm
The Devereux
20 Devereux Court
London WC2R 3JJ
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#2b
7.00pm - 7.50pm
The Edgar Wallace
40 Essex Street
London WC2R 3JF
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These pubs are almost next door to one another. The Devereux
has fierce airconditioning and features legal appurtenances,
wigs etc as its decorative theme. Both serve food; the Edgar
Wallace advertises the strangely unappealing "British Tapas".
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#3
8.00pm - 9.00pm
The Old Bank of England
194 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2LT
This Fuller's pub on the corner of Bell Yard (above)
has outside seating at the back. It also does food. I approve
of a former temple of Mammon becoming a temple of Bacchus.
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#4
9.10pm - 10.00pm
Serjeant's
Old Mitre Court
London EC4Y 7BP
Old Mitre Court is tucked away on the south side of
Fleet Street, opposite Fetter Lane. This pub features Bombardier
and an extensive but pricy wine list. There are tables outside
and a downstairs bar.
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#5
10.10pm - 11.00pm
The Witness Box
36 Tudor Street
London EC4Y 0BH
Turn right off Fleet St into Bouverie St, then right
again into Tudor Street.
This pub is just outside the only Temple gate which stays open
late. For some reason the regulars like to stand
outside all evening but the downstairs bar features comfy sofas
and yet more legal paraphernalia.
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