By Mike Pentelow
Author and playwright J B Priestley used to drink here when doing his inspirational radio talks in Broadcasting House during the second world war. Once his life was saved when he did an unscheduled extra talk while his hotel was being bombed. Another regular was the bandleader Billy Cotton whose Sunday radio show, beginning with his catchphrase “Wakeeeeee Waaaakay”, was broadcast round the corner in the 1950s.
The pub dates back to at least 1826.