What happened to the 37 pubs of Old Kent Road?

In the 1890s there were 37 pubs lined on the just under two miles of Old Kent Road. Today, only two pubs remain. I went down a probably ill advised rabbit hole trying to find out about those 35 pubs - what were they called, how old were they, when did they close and why...?

Chapters:

0:00 Intro
0:25 Warning!
0:48 Methodology / acknowledgements
2:09 Bull
2:57 Brighton
3:35 City Arms
4:38 Bricklayer's Arms
6:44 King's Arms
7:10 Magnet
7:47 Unknown
8:19 Horseshoe
9:13 Kent Brewery Tap
9:47 Swan
10:24 World Turned Upside Down
11:37 Brunswick Tavern
11:54 Castle
12:35 Green Man
13:46 Dun Cow
14:34 Thomas a'Becket
15:57 Duke of Kent
16:32 Lord Nelson
16:52 Oxford Arms
17:35 Lord Wellington
18:20 New Half Way Inn
18:55 Alexandra
19:35 William IV
20:50 Bridge House
21:20 Britannia
21:54 Shard Arms
22:29 Horse and Groom
22:54 Half Moon
23:23 Manor House Tap
24:11 Turks Head
25:00 Kentish Drovers
26:22 Suffolk Arms
26:38 Rising Sun
26:57 Elephant and Castle
27:09 Railway Stores
27:46 Canterbury Arms
28:15 Windsor
28:52 Conclusion / Summary

[WCUKProductionsLtd]

I loved this. Phenomenal amount of work.

The key thing I take from it is that in every single instance of the buildings no longer being there, they’ve been replaced with absolute tat! Such ugly and disjointed development that makes the area look so unappealing. It must be heartbreaking for people born, bred and still living there. Little evidence of our supposedly restrictive planning permission regime here.

This is an important piece of work and I imagine the video will stir some memories for viewers who know the Old Kent Road.

[eddavis]

Two videos in one day…what an amazing treat! As someone who appreciates both history and architecture, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time and labor to share your findings with us. Made my day…CHEERS!!!🍻

[stanleyward]

Thank you for your time and effort. As an ex Londoner it is interesting and sad to see how many of the pubs I knew in the 70s and 80s have closed. Times change its good to remember them in their hay day.

[mranti]

Thank you for posting. Gonna show it to the Ol Man, see what he remembers. He's lived 76 years in Bermondsey.

[keithcaldwell]

If only we had a time machine to whisk us back to sample a few of those old pubs. As someone with an infinite fascination and curiosity for old pubs, their history, culture, architecture etc. I found this interesting and informative.

[SCT]

I used to frequent a few of these pubs in the late 80’s, early 90’s, especially The Gin Palace. The World Turned Upside Down, and the Dun Cow too. Nice video Tweedy 🍻 You’re a legend and one of the best things on YouTube. Keep it up!!

[jovanweismiller]

I loved this video! My Grandad, a soldier in the Royal Field Artillery in the Great War, used to show me a map of London and point out the good pubs. Of course, many of them had been destroyed in the Blitz.

[andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Hi John. The amount of effort you put into this video deserves all the plaudits you have received. The level of research is exceptional and will serve as a historical record. A fascinating look at how one London road has changed, and sadly by the look of it, not for the better. Thank you for doing what you do, 👏👏👍😀🍺

[greybeardmodels]

I have been in a few of these, and my late father would have known more! It almost brought me to tears 😢Great piece of research. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Bob 👍

[alankilroy]

This is You Tube gold Mr Tweedy. Fascinating stuff 🤟

[TonyMe-yt]

Used to drink in the Gin Palace when I worked at Bermondsey telephone exchange in 1990. Very extravagant bar with very ornate decorations and a upper mezzanine.

[WalksInCamera]

Well it would have been quite a pub crawl! Being served a beer by George Duck might have been quite an occasion too! Sad to see so many pubs gone, but it sees there are a variety of reasons over quite a period. A really interesting tour of this main route to London. Thanks!

[stashedawayman]

Hello Tweedy, I really enjoyed that as my grandparents lived at No. 23D, New Kent Road circa 1914, and later moved to Harper Street. My father's two older brothers were christened in St. Matthews Church in July 1916, one of whom started a market stall contracting business from 41, Harper Street, with the lorries and market stalls garaged in railway arches at Jarrow Road Bermondsey. Your video may explain how John Thomas my grandfather (1864-1955) a ships fireman, spent his free time, (or when often out of work) and thus the context of the inter-war period. My father finally moved our family out to Hertfordshire in 1953, when I was three years old, leaving his parents, three brothers and a sister behind in south London. My younger sister lived for a time in Aulay Street, (now the site of the Asda store), and in the mid 1970's, I would go with her to The Lord Nelson, where her then husband, Mark from Co. Mayo would stand and sing in the public bar. A few years ago in passing the Thomas a Becket, I was shocked to see the state of the interior of the pub with the plaster removed from the walls to expose the bare damaged brickwork, and the adjacent car tyre depot next door completely spoiling the setting of the building.

[kevinhouse]

I wish you were getting more attention and clicks for these videos Tweedy. Reading the comments here certainly gives me hope that yes there are people who care about this stuff. Anytime we are in London or the UK in general we always find the pubs a huge highlight of our visit. That may be because we live in Canada where real, good, pubby pubs with a sense of history are few and far between and we really appreciate them when we are there. Soldier on wearer of Tweed, you are doing important work and know that there are many of us eagerly waiting your next upload! 🍺🍺

[gregoryworth]

No need for the Warning at the start of this video, an interesting, informative and thoroughly enjoyable half-hour spent. Thank you Tweedy !

[terrymartindale]

Great video. Love it. Bitter sweet.
Brought back many happy memories.
Although living in Holloway, we used to alternate between Stepney, Bethnal Green & the Old Kent Rd 5 days a week from 1975-80. Lord Wellington, and quite a few just OFF the O.K Rd.
The Barnaby in Ilderton Rd, The Prince of Wales, by the Gasometers. We nicknamed this ‘The Face on the wall’ as there was one sprayed on a wall for years. Apples & Pears, one called the Victoria at the Elephant end of the O.K. Rd. again, just off.
Early 80’s, again top end, was a newish done up pub. Something like Frog & Nightgown or similar. We started winding down going over East & Sarf’ London then.
Started seeing fights in the pubs which were a rarity in the 70’s but common in Holloway & The Angel Islington, unfortunately.
I felt more at home in South & East London than I ever did in North back in the day.

[DamoSuzuki]

You have created, clearly with astounding efforts, a very important document of social history. You are very much appreciated. Well done Tweedy!

[billyo]

Great work Tweedy. What a show. I can well understand the need to reduce the amount of ale houses and public houses aver the years. The building of new flats and houses had to happen. What is sad about some of your video is the profusion of pound shops, pizza joints and lonely looking shopping centres, making parts of London look like the shitholes we commonly associate with the USA.

[thea]

Thank you. Remember frequenting the Gin Palace, World turned Upside Down and Le Connisuerrs late 80's. Very lively times back then, shame we have lost so much of our history, but I really enjoyed that time😍

[duncankelman]

I used to work for AFG Nissan at 777 Old Kent Road and our after work pub was the Rising Sun. Thanks for the reminder!!!