Wednesday, 2 May 2012

The Royal Standard of England

Pub of the Year 2009
Historic Alehouse hidden between Beaconsfield and Penn
The Oldest Freehouse in England




"The pub is the hub" says Prince Charles




Right in the middle of what "London via my iPhone" will consider the country side and not far  away from Central London is this beautiful 900 years old freehouse



nice terrace - in the back with a beautiful view



plenty of space sit outside 



loved the entrance door

the sign over the doorway bears the well-known legend:

'Drunk for a penny 
Dead drunk for two pennies
Clean straw for nothing'




fancy a quiz night? 


this Alehouse permits...


tradition is...


view from inside towards the sunny outside




the decor of the freehouse makes you feel you are at home


filled with a bunch of friendly damsels and squires


At the beginning of the 18th Century the pub  was a very different place from what it is today. 
Most alehouses or inns such as The Royal Standard of England had their back or upper rooms, where in the smoky sweaty candle-lit atmosphere whoring and drinking and gambling went on all night. 


The quantity of spirits consumed in these taverns was enormous. 


furniture donations are welcome 





 nice comfortable tables here and



chairs from long ago


or a chair like this one...can you imagine how many people sat in it..


 a scene from another time ...


interesting knight armour



view from the bar



view of the bar on the other side...


'Here's to all those that I love.
Here's to all those that love me.
And here's to all those that love those that I love, 
And all those that love those that love me'

OR

'Here's to the men of all classes, 
Who through lasses and glasses
Will make themselves asses!'



interesting small door behind which you will find maybe one of the oldest friend or patron of the freehouse...


hat still on...



jargon from the time is still used for the loos..





I have  had the pleasure of being here twice and the food is just out of this world

Blackboard with the daily wild game specials


Pan fried trout with  prawn caper butter accompanied by the most amazing crunchy sauteed potatoes 



braised quail stuffed with forcemeat with red cabbage and mash



After the meal nothing better than following the trail of..
The Royal Standard of England Pub Walk



on my way out...

walked through the other side of the terrace












starting the walk...









amazing view of the country side 












Historical Fact:

'Our ancestors drank from their defeated enemies' skulls'


the road heading back to London...



Will be back soon...maybe this time for a Sunday Roast