A few weeks ago, Jay posted over at Brookston Beer Bulletin about the oldest bars in America after reading about a list someone posted with their take on the oldest ten. Jay disagreed and was able to put together his own list of 50 with no less than 14 pre-1800 bars. It got my brain thinking about a bunch of things that I posted in the comments, including the fact that the oldest weren't even American when they were built as they pre-dated the Revolution and one, Jean Lafittes Blacksmith Shop of New Orleans, was part of France or Spain when it opened for business in 1775. I saw the need for a group project on this one. So consider yourself enlisted in the cause.
As far as this part of Canada goes, four and a half years ago I posted about The Queen's Inn - a pub that is still going which would make #20 on Jay's list. It was established in 1839 and just got a refit after a recent fire. That's fifteen years older than McSorley’s Old Ale House in New York - even if it is nowhere near as original. Another long standing watering hole, now known as the Old Speckled Hen, in our fair town dates from 1809 - but I don't think it opened as a hotel, just that it switched to one at some point. If it qualified for the list, it would be #15.
We all know Kingston is old for central Canada - but there must be older places than that in Quebec or even Newfoundland. And what about where you live? I'd been in a medieval pub in England and who know what was the lineage of some of the places I found myself in, say, Holland or Poland back in the day. And is it fair to exclude the vintage bar if you are in the west coast - where ancient can mean 1905?
So, what is the nearest bar near you? What do you like about it?
Comments
Stacey - September 8, 2008 9:09 PM
The closest old tavern to me is the Bell in Hand in Boston. However, despite its history, this bar is now more of a meat market and not really the cozy watering hole one might wish for.
The oldest pub I've ever been in is the Sheep Heid just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in the 14th century and feels like it. :)
TC - September 8, 2008 9:58 PM
The oldest "continually operating" pub in Philly is McGillin's Olde Ale House, which opened in 1860.
Joe - September 9, 2008 7:32 AM
The one I think of here in Brussels is the Vieux Spijtigen Duivel. There's been a roadside inn/tavern on that spot for a very long time. The story goes that Holy Roman Emperor Charles V stopped there for a drink about 500 years ago.
Chipper Dave - September 9, 2008 5:20 PM
Sadly for me here in Greeley, Colorado, the oldest pub in our town is only 40 years old as the town of Greeley itself had imposed it's own temperance laws until 1968. Greeley was a colony built in the mid-1800's by those with puritanistic values and kept the town virtually "dry" until the 1968. Small towns sprung up around Greeley that sold beer and liquor (hence Garden City and Evans) but the town didn't have a bar until 1968. Hard to believe in this day and age.
Steve Kirk - October 13, 2009 10:46 PM
On July 17th, 1749, Governor Cornwallis granted a license to sell Beer and Liquor to a Mr. John Shippey. This was the first liquor license to be issued in New Scotland, (now Nova Scotia).
John Shippey named his tavern The Spread Eagle as its sign was taken from the German coat of arms, The Double Eagle.
Shortly after opening, the tavern became affectionately known as The Split Crow.
More than 250 years later, although in a different location, The Split Crow, continues to serve mariners and travelers from around the world and nearby. A welcoming smile, hearty platters of food, generous mugs of grog and, of course, great music . . . the tradition continues.
dave charlton - January 18, 2010 9:00 AM
The Boars Head , Wigan Road , Standish , near Wigan is listed the second oldest pub on the net and it has been serving ale since 1210 and used to hold prisoners over night in the cellars whilst on their way to prison and has two ghosts one in the cellar and one in the games room and is still going strong today.
Pat - September 11, 2010 12:42 PM
Jean Lafittes Blacksmith Shop, as the name implies, was a BLACKSMITH SHOP, not a pub, so it cannot be listed as being open for business as a pub since 1775. As far as I can tell, The Angel Inn in Niagara-On-The-Lake is the oldest continuously operated pub in Canada, began in the 1780's and rebuilt after it burned in the War of 1812. Everyone in Canada assumes there must be older pubs in Quebec, but if there are I have never heard of any. I think they confuse the idea of oldest continuously operating pub with pubs that have been installed into older buildings. The first category is interesting; the second is not.
Bart - September 11, 2010 12:46 PM
As for The Split Crow in New Scotland, Nova Scotia, as Steve Kirk points out that it is not in its original condition. We do not know from his entry whether it has continuously operated, or whether a more modern pub simply adopted the old name. My guess is the latter because that has happened so much in history, but I don't know.
Alan - September 11, 2010 3:08 PM
"...Everyone in Canada..."
"...the second is not..."
That is all a bit tyrannical for me. It seems to me that we have to appreciate that in some cases lines were not as strict as they are now and what is truly interesting probably lies in figuring out what the experience was like. Very little research has been done around that traditionally but I do recommend In Mixed Companyin terms of what is now Ontario.
David Parsons - November 23, 2010 1:44 PM
The Chateau Laffeyette in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was established in 1849 and is still going strong, though in recent years they've made half of it into a Queznos Pizza. The beer is still served in quartes and the rooms upstairs are cheap!
peter jewers - May 28, 2011 11:48 AM
The split crow in Halifax NS opened in 1749 and moved once it has been called the Split Crow sence it opened as it still is called the same to this day
Alan - May 29, 2011 10:35 AM
But the Crow is neither in its old building or even a continuous operation. I am really thinking in terms of the use of a space rather than a name.
Pat - August 5, 2011 1:45 AM
The Angel Inn, in Niagara-on-The-Lake is by far the oldest pub in Canada. It dates from 1786, and was rebuilt on the same foundation after it was burned by the Americans in the War of 1812. The oldest pub in Toronto is The Black Bull, and has been in the same building since 1833. The second oldest is The Wheat Sheaf, a relative newcomer at 1849. Weirdly, I can't think of any particularly old bars in Montreal; there are some in very old building, but they themselves are not particularly old.