Whitechapel drinking establishments....

[PC2267]

After weeks of planning I finally visited Whitechapel only to discover that Durwood Street is a building site... I fear that Nichols's murder location will be harder to locate in the future. Mitre Square isn't a square anymore... but you can still see where Eddowes met her end, but only just. I knew all the other locations are long gone. But I did find Swallow Gardens , you can't actually get to it mind (like a little time capsule in there I imagine). I think I'm right in saying that Mitre Square will be only place still in existence that you can actually stand on... Interestingly there's no plaque or anything. Thought they'd have marked it somehow for the tourists.......?


So putting all that aside, I went to the pub.

10 Bells..... loved the atmosphere in there, don't know if it's changed much since the day. Are the tiles behind the bar original? Surprised how small it was (didn't go upstairs). On a negative point found the beer bl**dy awful. Had a pint of 3 Weiss Monkey, then moved onto Shoreditch Triangle. Then gave up and went to the White Hart.

Whitehart...again liked the atmosphere, but felt it was trying to hard to be Ripperish. Two pints of watered down London Pride, saw me moving onto the Blind Beggar.

The Blind Beggar..... Best one by far, if I lived in the area this one would be my local!!

[kensei]

I made the rounds this past July. There was construction going on around the Nicholls site then but you could still stand on the spot where she was found (hope that's still the case). Chapman's is of course under a car park. I didn't go to the Stride site this time but when I was there in 2008 I think you could stand more or less on the spot, it's just not the original structures. Mitre Square is as you said, and Kelly's site you could stand on if the passageway to it wasn't blocked off now. (It's up against the fruit exchange, not under it.) Plus the landing Tabram was found on is no longer there but you can stand directly under where it used to be, and you can still stand in the doorway (much altered now) where Jack dropped Kate's bloody apron and (maybe) wrote the graffiti.

So what made you think the White Hart was trying too hard to seem Rippery? Could it be the big sign on the side of it that advertises the Ripper and how George Chapman once lived in the basement there (and gets some of the details wrong by the way)? It's certainly not subtle. I didn't go inside there, but I did at the Ten Bells and I was also struck by how small it is. Couldn't comment on the beer- I only had a soda.

[chrismasonic]

10 Bells toilets...look like the ripper was in there a few minutes before you

[PC2267]

lol thanks for the replies guys!

One thing I did omit was I was went to the Frying Pan (Shaad restaurant). I would recommend there if you like a good curry (no beer available mind). Again it's really small along the same lines as the 10 Bells I imagine back in the day.

On my next trip I'll try some of the other drinking establishments. I've heard the Alma is worth a visit? Came across one called the Duke of Wellington, but didn't go in. Would be interested to obtain a list of all the pubs from the era that are still in existence and work my way round them all. Perhaps I could write a book about it and jump on the White Hart's band wagon lol

[kensei]

Interestingly there's no plaque or anything. Thought they'd have marked it somehow for the tourists.......?

Apart from those who specifically capitalize on the Ripper like the tour guides, London doesn't seem to want to commemorate the whole thing, understandable from a certain point of view. Even the gravestones of Nicholls and Eddowes which used to say "Victim of Jack the Ripper" have been changed and now just say "City of London Cemetery Heritage Trail."

[John Malcolm]

[I] Are the tiles behind the bar original?

The blue tiles to the left and straight ahead (if your back's toward Spitalfields Market) date from the 1880's, the tiles that make up the mural "Spitalfields in Olden Times" have been rumored to be older.

[John Malcolm]

lol thanks for the replies guys!

On my next trip I'll try some of the other drinking establishments. I've heard the Alma is worth a visit? Came across one called the Duke of Wellington, but didn't go in.

The Alma has been shut since about 2001. The Duke of Wellington seems to me like a cozy little place. Had more than a couple of pints there last time we visited (back in November).

The Blind Beggar strikes me as about as close to a "local" as there is in the area. The Pride of Spitalfields (off of Brick Lane) has a nice vibe (if you can squeeze yourself in there). The Urban Bar (formerly the Hospital Tavern) in Whitechapel Road is open late (3am on the weekends); and behind the London Hospital (Thomas St.) the Good Samaritan is an unpretentious place for a quiet pint.

http://www.pubology.co.uk/indexes/e1.html

[PC2267]

Apart from those who specifically capitalize on the Ripper like the tour guides, London doesn't seem to want to commemorate the whole thing, understandable from a certain point of view. Even the gravestones of Nicholls and Eddowes which used to say "Victim of Jack the Ripper" have been changed and now just say "City of London Cemetery Heritage Trail."

That is interesting!!

[PC2267]

The blue tiles to the left and straight ahead (if your back's toward Spitalfields Market) date from the 1880's, the tiles that make up the mural "Spitalfields in Olden Times" have been rumored to be older.

I thought this might be the case, they really add to the vibe of the place. Just a shame about the ale lol. They don't even serve London Pride, I mean what's all that about lol.

[PC2267]

The Alma has been shut since about 2001. The Duke of Wellington seems to me like a cozy little place. Had more than a couple of pints there last time we visited (back in November).

The Blind Beggar strikes me as about as close to a "local" as there is in the area. The Pride of Spitalfields (off of Brick Lane) has a nice vibe (if you can squeeze yourself in there). The Urban Bar (formerly the Hospital Tavern) in Whitechapel Road is open late (3am on the weekends); and behind the London Hospital (Thomas St.) the Good Samaritan is an unpretentious place for a quiet pint.

http://www.pubology.co.uk/indexes/e1.html

Gutted about the Alma, sounded really cool in there. Will certainly check out the others you've mentioned on my next trip!!

I see the London Hospital has closed down!!

[barnflatwyngarde]

The Blind Beggar..... Best one by far, if I lived in the area this one would be my local!

Is this the same "Blind Beggar" where George Cornell was shot by Ronnie Kray?

[John Malcolm]

It certainly is.

With regards to the tiles at the Ten Bells, I forgot to mention that the ones on the curved back wall, including "Spitalfields in Modern Times" are very recent. The pub itself has undergone several makeovers (some relatively major) in the twenty years I've been patronizing the place. Like quite a lot of the area, it has lost a good deal of its old grimy charm...

[John Malcolm]

I thought this might be the case, they really add to the vibe of the place. Just a shame about the ale lol. They don't even serve London Pride, I mean what's all that about lol.

Back in the day they didn't even serve Guinness. I've seen people walk out because of it. Only stout was Murphy's...and I've drained a keg or two of it over time. And I enjoyed every pint (at least the ones I remember!).

[Hutch Orris]

You might want to be quick if you want to drink in The Duke of Wellington. http://www.savetheduke.info/index.html

This is a good old fashioned pub and perfectly sound building that has been here since the mid-nineteenth century.

Yet another example of the modern "make more money for me" brigade moving in with the help of the short sighted Tower Hamlets planners.

I know it's ridiculous but I lose sleep over this type of thing.

[PC2267]

You might want to be quick if you want to drink in The Duke of Wellington. http://www.savetheduke.info/index.html

This is a good old fashioned pub and perfectly sound building that has been here since the mid-nineteenth century.

Yet another example of the modern "make more money for me" brigade moving in with the help of the short sighted Tower Hamlets planners.

I know it's ridiculous but I lose sleep over this type of thing.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's outrageous, why do they do this sort of thing!!!!!!

I walked past this pub but didn't go in "Shame, eternal shame, and nothing but shame!"

I imagine it'll be long gone by the time I get down there next, if Transport for London or whatever there called get involved!!!!!