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Home > London >
EC1 > British Queen
British Queen
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Picture source: Darkstar |
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The British Queen was situated at 167 Whitecross
Street. |
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This was a Whitbread pub and was renamed the Drum and Monkey after a
refurbishment in the late 1980's. It was closed in April 2000 and the site
is now part of a YMCA building. The Whitbread brewery in nearby Chiswell
Street in EC1 ceased brewing in 1976 although the building is still there
and is now used as a conference and events venue. |
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Colin Price (June 2011) |
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I remember this pub in the early 1990s it was
'run' in name only by Tony Dunn. In actuality, it was being run by the
customers most of whom seemed to have slates (Auntie Kates) which Dunn would
never collect. It suited him as he was a hopeless and hapless alcoholic who
had fled Lewisham leaving behind several creditors and recipients of cheques
drawn on closed accounts .
The pub was used by Dunn as a means to satisfy his desire for alcohol and
his comedic but vainglorious attempts to attract women half his age.
On more than one occasion, so scant of any actual cash to bank and knowing a
stock take was due, Dunn would borrow barrels and kegs from nearby pubs to
balance the books. However, due to his almost constant state of inibriation
and general irresponsibility he failed to adequately keep track of missing
stock and that by implication, the pub had been open for a week without
selling any ale. On the eve of stock taking the market traders of White
cross St would regularly sing "Roll out the Barrel" as kegs were transferred
from other local pubs to make good for deficits in cash receipts.
Eventually, the owners ran out of patience and Dunn, now also pursued by
several creditors from Southeast London was thrown out with a new manager
installed. Dunn however continued to linger around the area using local pubs
as accommodation addresses and dispensing advice to his replacement, neither
of which were welcome and he faded away to resurrect his career in the
Mitford Tavern, Hackney where he carried on in much similar vein until that
too was closed down.
He disappeared to resurface in Ampthill where, after a lifetime of alcohol
abuse he succumbed to lukaemia. |
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Paul Gaston (January 2025) |
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Contacts |
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You can also make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page. |
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Other Photos |
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Picture source: Darkstar |
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