This is a cool and nostalgic book on some of the pubs that once existed in London. The ones in the book are all filled with character, many of them with long histories. None of them are the cookie cutter modern pubs. I loved some of the little bits of trivia about the atmosphere or the clientele or any number of fascinating facts. It is the kind of book that the reader could nip in and out of. It was a fun read.

Four purrs and two paws up.

I love visiting London and have only done so more recently so this was great to see the history of the pubs that are no longer around.

This informative & interesting book looks back at around 200 London pubs which closed (& were either mothballed or demolished) within the last 25 years. From pubs reputedly dating back centuries to those rebuilt after World War II, this book gives the reader a snapshot of their history & why/when they eventually closed.

This was an interesting read & well-researched with some great photographs which makes you wish you had had the chance to visit the pubs. At the end of reading it I found myself equally both sad & annoyed at the history we have lost in London. Some of the buildings had irreplaceable interiors (like the art deco one) whilst others had important links to the early careers of artists like David Bowie, yet were bulldozed for flats & mini-supermarkets. I think the most irritating was the thriving pub closed down, over local objections, for HS2 work which then was scaled down & the pub would have been safe. Such a shame but this book can stand as a record that they existed.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword/White Owl, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Brilliant! A wealth of information, packed full of facts and anecdotes. Pubs have such a rich history and atmosphere, particularly in the not so distant past. This book carefully charts some of these locals in enjoyable detail and with a sense of reverence and respect. There are some vastly different backgrounds to the pubs in question, from former hunting lodges of Henry VIII to drug dens, to hubs of the local community. I was particularly moved by the gentleman who’d been using one of them as his local for the past thirty years and who cried when he was told it was closing and I loved the tale of the pub which boasted to be the only one with a swimming pool (what could possibly go wrong there?!). Some great references to famous people too, notably musicians and the part these premises played in their bands’ creation.
The only problem is that I now want to go and visit all of these boozers, with their rich tapestries of history but, of course, they’ve all ceased existing in the form of pubs which is kind of the point. It’s also quite thought provoking that there is a demise of pubs in general when they can be such a big part of our social history and community. Very enjoyable, entertaining and informative, thank you.

I enjoyed learning about Pub’s in England, it had that concept that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall atmosphere and how everything had that historical feel. I enjoyed the way Sam Cullen wrote this and can’t wait for more.

Loved this book
Wondering which of the many pubs that no longer with my dad who no longer with us would have gone to
It brought back memories