PubsandBeer

History: Home > Elephant

Elephant (Young's)

We believe this building is NO LONGER a pub

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at WychwoodAcceptable1
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)Not Tried0

Visits Details

28 Aug 2014 (Stephen Harris)
In a timely reminder of how naff the 1970s were, my 1973 pub guide tells me that this is a large, light, modern tavern with upholstered seating, laminated plastic-topped tables, vinyl flooring, and multi-coloured walls. All that has gone and the overriding impression now is of dark wood, in the ground floor bar at least.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at Wychwood3.70AcceptableWhatever it was I thought this beer had a couple of years ago it seems to have lost. A very lacklustre bitter.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)4.50Not Tried

About the Elephant

The pub sign. Elephant, City, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent-
Good-
Acceptable1
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in City, Central London, EC3M 5BA.

Although it is not immediately apparent, this pub has a long and interesting history. It was present in the 17th century and, being built of stone, survived the Great Fire of 1666. It was not fully rebuilt until 1826, with a late-Victorian frontage added in 1898. This version of the pub did not survive the attentions of the Luftwaffe and the pub was again rebuilt in modern style in 1957 at the foot of an office development. The pub is best known as having been frequented by the artist William Hogarth, who is said to have paid outstanding debts to the landlord in the form of artwork to adorn the walls – these were sold off when the pub was rebuilt in 1826 and experts of that time believed them to be of dubious authenticity, but the legend survived and Hogarth prints are still to be seen in the pub today. Historically this was a Meux Brewery pub, passing to Allied Breweries and now with Young’s. Has a small bar at ground floor level and a much larger and more comfortable one at basement level, plus a couple of pavement tables. ** Closed October 2014 and demolished in early 2015. **

We have visited this pub once, seen 2 different beers and tried 1 of them.

Map location

Postcode: EC3M 5BA