Greenwich Tavern – Sightseers' Delight

Overview

Located at 1 King William Walk in Greenwich, London, The Greenwich Tavern is a pub with a deep history. It was previously known by several other names, including the Gloucester Hotel and Gloucester Arms.

Records show that in 1902, the Gloucester Hotel was built on land that previously housed a prison used to confine Protestant prisoners during the reign of Mary I in 1555. Later sources also mention a debtors’ prison in Greenwich in 1812, near a Court of Requests. This term may refer to a law court linked to the nearby Greenwich Royal Palace of Placentia or a small claims court created in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

The current building that houses The Greenwich Tavern dates back to the mid-19th century. In December 1851, a fire was reported at The Gloucester Hotel on the corner of Nevada Street (formerly Silver Street) and King William Street (formerly King Street). The hotel was rebuilt and later transformed into The Gloucester Arms, The Greenwich Park Bar & Grill and, today, The Greenwich Tavern.