Nell of Old Drury, London

Small cosy pub opposite the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Licensed in 1835 as the Sir John Falstaff and rebuilt in 1883. Renamed by 1965 after the orange seller and mistress of King Charles II, Eleanor "Nell" Gwyn, reputedly born in a coalyard in Drury Lane. She was witty, shrewd, saucy and sexy, and a magnet for the period's alpha male, Charles II. A tunnel used by the king to visit Nell is reputed to link the pub and the theatre.

The present-day clientele is a mix of locals, tourists, after-work drinkers and, of course, theatregoers (who need to cross the road, since the tunnel cannot be found!); there is an interval drinks service available for the latter. The first floor offers extra seating and can be hired as a function room. If you are lucky, you may be able to bag the ground-floor bow window seats overlooking Catherine Street.

Please note: no sports colours or large groups encouraged - it's a very small pub!

As at November 2021 planning app 21/06477/FULL "Construction of fourth floor roof extension and use of second, third and fourth floors as two residential flats (1x 1 bed and 1 x 2 bed flats) and associated external alterations" has been permitted,