GOING to the pub is a quintessentially British pastime enjoyed by people of all ages and identities.
Many pubs claim the title of Englands oldest pub, we may never know which pub is the oldest, but here are a few really old pubs worth visiting.
What is the oldest pub in England?
The Doomsday Book written in 1086 mentions quite a few pubs that are still around today.
But the official oldest English pub has been lost through time and the ever changing landscape of the country.
But one thing is for certain, going to the pub is one of the oldest traditions in England.
The Old Ferry Boat Inn
This picturesque thatched pub is situated in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, and overlooks the Great Ouse River.
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Many consider this to be the oldest pub in England.
This pub is mentioned in the Doomsday Book by name and, according to legend, has been serving alcohol since 560 AD.
However the foundation date on the site says 1400 AD.
It is believed to be haunted by the ghost of Juliet, a jilted teenage girl who hung herself.
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She was buried in 1050 AD and the pub was built on top of her grave.
A seance was held in the 1950s with participants claiming to have contacted her in the afterlife.
It is said Juliet is still haunting this ancient watering hole today!
The Porch House
The Guinness Book of Records authenticated this pub as England's oldest pub.
The pub is certified as dating from 947 AD.
Once known as the Royalist Hotel, The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds also has a strong claim to the title.
The 16th-century stone fireplace in the dining room is inscribed with symbols identified as “witch marks”, to protect against evil.
Today the pub is a five-star hotel but it maintains it's ancient heritage with original feature fireplaces, windows and oak doors.
The George Hotel
The George Hotel of Stamford stands on the site of a medieval inn and can trace it's history back 1,000 years!
It was once owned by the Abbots of Croyland.
In later years the George became an important stop on the coaching route from London to York.
While it has now been extensively modernised it still has some ancient features including the remains of an ancient chapel as well as its original gateway.
The Mermaid Inn
The Mermaid Inn in Rye, East Sussex, also known as the smugglers’ inn, with cellars built in Norman times and secret passageways in some of its rooms.
It was originally constructed in 1156 and rebuilt in 1420.
The notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers is said to have drank there in the 1730s.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham claims to be the UK's oldest pub, being founded in 1189.
The pub is built into the rock that Nottingham castle was built on, affording it little nooks and crannies to enjoy a pint.
Once inside you can have a drink in caves that have been carved out of the rock and peer at curiosities including a cursed ship which is said to kill anyone who cleans it, and a chair which is said to increase one’s chances of becoming pregnant.
The George Inn
The George Inn at Norton St Philip, Somerset, claims to have had a licence to serve ale from 1397 and also claims to be Britain’s oldest tavern.
It certainly has a fascinating history.
Diarist Samuel Pepys passed through here on his way to Bath from Salisbury. Later in 1685 during the Duke of Monmouth’s Rebellion, the inn was used as the headquarters of his army as they retreated from Bath.
After the failure of the rebellion, the infamous Judge Jefferies used the inn as a courtroom during the Bloody Assizes; 12 people were then taken and executed on the village common.
The Crown Inn
The Crown Inn was orignially built as a rest stop for pilgrims travelling from Winchester to Canterbury.
The Inn is 600 years old and has been receiving guests since 1383.
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Royals have visited the inn in the past. A 14-year-old King Edwards VI stayed the night here in 1552.
The medieval building has been update and modernised overtime, but has maintained the traditional Wealden crown post roof, stained glass windows, and cosy fireplaces.
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