Pubs, inns & taverns · 33 countries
The world’s oldest pubs, and how old they really are
Find a centuries-old inn near you or anywhere on earth. Every pub shows the date it claims, the date the records back up, and whether it’s still pouring.
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- The Old Ferry Boat Inn, Holywell, England — claims AD 560
- Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans, England — claims AD 793
- The White Lion Inn, Llanelian-yn-Rhos, Wales — claims AD 800
- The Cridford Inn, Trusham, England — claims AD 825
- Sean's Bar, Athlone, Ireland — claims AD 900
- The Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold, England — claims AD 947
- The Bush Inn, Morwenstow, England — claims AD 950
- The Bingley Arms, Bardsey, England — claims AD 953
- The Royal Oak, Winchester, England — claims 1002
- The Church House Inn, Rattery, England — claims 1028
- The Old Inn, St Breward, England — claims 1000
- The Skirrid Inn, Llanvihangel Crucorney, Wales — claims 1110
- The Olde Bell, Hurley, England — claims 1135
- The Old House 1147, Llangynwyd, Wales — claims 1147
- The Red Lion, Chalton, England — claims 1147
- The Oxenham Arms, South Zeal, England — claims 1100
- The Crown Inn, Lanlivery, England — claims 1100
- The Pied Bull, Chester, England — claims 1155
- The Mermaid Inn, Rye, England — claims 1156
- Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, England — claims 1165
- The Lamb Inn, Eastbourne, England — claims 1180
- Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham, England — claims 1189
- The Brazen Head, Dublin, Ireland — claims 1198
- Llindir Inn, Henllan, Wales — claims 1200
- The Black Bull Inn, Boroughbridge, England — claims 1200
- The Royal Standard of England, Forty Green, England — claims 1213
- Café Den Turk, Ghent, Belgium — claims 1228
- The Turks Head, Penzance, England — claims 1233
- Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Nottingham, England — claims 1240
- The Bear Inn, Oxford, England — claims 1242
- Adam and Eve, Norwich, England — claims 1249
- The King's Head, Galway, Ireland — claims 1200
- The Pandora Inn, Mylor Bridge, England — claims 1200
- Ye Olde Man & Scythe, Bolton, England — claims 1251
- Kyteler's Inn, Kilkenny, Ireland — claims 1263
- The Tinners Arms, Zennor, England — claims 1271
- The Tobie Norris, Stamford, England — claims 1280
- The George, Cranbrook, England — claims 1300
- The Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden, England — claims 1307
- The Sloop Inn, St Ives, England — claims 1312
- Scotch Piper Inn, Lydiate, England — claims 1320
- The Cott Inn, Dartington, England — claims 1320
- The Bell Inn, Aldworth, England — claims 1340
- The Tower Inn, Slapton, England — claims 1347
- The Old Inn, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, England — claims 1300
- The Angel Inn, Addington, England — claims 1350
- The Barley Mow, Clifton Hampden, England — claims 1352
- The Sheep Heid Inn, Edinburgh, Scotland — claims 1360
- The Old Crown, Birmingham, England — claims 1368
- The Parrot, Canterbury, England — claims 1370
- The Brocket Arms, Ayot St Lawrence, England — claims 1378
- The Blue Anchor Inn, East Aberthaw, Wales — claims 1380
- The Cherub Inn, Dartmouth, England — claims 1380
- Turf Tavern, Oxford, England — claims 1381
- The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold, England — claims 1383
- The George Inn, Norton St Philip, England — claims 1397
- The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, England — claims 1400
- George & Dragon, Beaumaris, Wales — claims 1410
- The Three Chimneys, Biddenden, England — claims 1420
- Cittie of Yorke, London, England — claims 1430
- The Bell Inn, Nottingham, England — claims 1437
- The Luttrell Arms, Dunster, England — claims 1443
- Ye Olde George Inn, Christchurch, England — claims 1400
- The Golf Tavern, Edinburgh, Scotland — claims 1456
- Café De Presse, Geraardsbergen, Belgium — claims 1459
- Café 't Rozenhoedje, Maastricht, Netherlands — claims 1466
- Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn, Beaumaris, Wales — claims 1472
- Old Queen's Head, Sheffield, England — claims 1475
- The Pickerel Inn, Cambridge, England — claims 1500
- The Chequers, Oxford, England — claims 1500
- The Golden Fleece, York, England — claims 1503
- Café Vlissinghe, Bruges, Belgium — claims 1515
- The White Hart Inn, Edinburgh, Scotland — claims 1516
- Prospect of Whitby, London, England — claims 1520
- Black Boy Inn, Caernarfon, Wales — claims 1522
- The Sun Inn, Beverley, England — claims 1530
- Hand & Shears, London, England — claims 1532
- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, London, England — claims 1538
- The Chequers Inn, Ledsham, England — claims 1540
- The George Inn, London, England — claims 1542
- Ye Olde Mitre, London, England — claims 1546
- The Wrestlers, London, England — claims 1547
- Ye Olde White Harte, Kingston upon Hull, England — claims 1550
- The Mayflower, London, England — claims 1550
- The Church House Inn, Harberton, England — claims 1500
- Abbey Tavern, Howth, Ireland — claims 1500
- Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland — claims 1726
- The Castle Inn, Newport, England — claims 1550
- The Old Inn, Mullion, England — claims 1500
- The Old Wellington, Manchester, England — claims 1552
- The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, England — claims 1553
- Quinten Matsijs, Antwerp, Belgium — claims 1565
- The Fox Inn, Corfe Castle, England — claims 1568
- Ye Olde Beverlie, Canterbury, England — claims 1570
- The Groes Inn, Ty'n-y-Groes, Wales — claims 1573
- The Lion Inn, Trellech, Wales — claims 1580
- Old George Inn, Newcastle upon Tyne, England — claims 1582
- The Grapes, London, England — claims 1583
- Café De Druif, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1585
- Spaniards Inn, London, England — claims 1585
- The Dolphin Tavern, Penzance, England — claims 1585
- The Man O'War, Balbriggan, Ireland — claims 1595
- The Garrick Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon, England — claims 1596
- Café De Karpershoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1606
- The Globe Inn, Dumfries, Scotland — claims 1610
- Grace Neill's, Donaghadee, Northern Ireland — claims 1611
- Durty Nelly's, Bunratty, Ireland — claims 1620
- Café Chris, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1624
- White's Tavern, Belfast, Northern Ireland — claims 1630
- Lion & Unicorn, Thornhill, Scotland — claims 1635
- Café 't Papeneiland, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1642
- De Drie Fleschjes, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1650
- The Coylet Inn, Loch Eck, Scotland — claims 1650
- The Hawes Inn, South Queensferry, Scotland — claims 1600
- The Hole in the Wall, Dublin, Ireland — claims 1651
- The Crosskeys Inn, Toomebridge, Northern Ireland — claims 1654
- The Old Thatch, Killeagh, Ireland — claims 1667
- Café Hoppe, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1670
- Proeflokaal Wynand Fockink, Amsterdam, Netherlands — claims 1679
- Moulin Inn, Moulin, Scotland — claims 1695
- The Drovers Inn, Inverarnan, Scotland — claims 1705
- McHugh's Bar, Belfast, Northern Ireland — claims 1711
- Kelly's Cellars, Belfast, Northern Ireland — claims 1720
- The Locke Bar, Limerick, Ireland — claims 1724
- The Purty Kitchen, Dún Laoghaire, Ireland — claims 1728
- Settle Inn, Stirling, Scotland — claims 1733
- The Clachan Inn, Drymen, Scotland — claims 1734
- Ma Cameron's, Aberdeen, Scotland — claims 1746
- King's Head, Aylesbury, England — claims 1455
- New Inn, Gloucester, England — claims 1450
- Red Lion, Southampton, England — claims 1148
- The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury, England — claims 1320
- George & Dragon, Speldhurst, England — claims 1212
- Green Dragon, Wymondham, England — claims 1310
- The Old Nag's Head, Edale, England — claims 1577
- The Ship Inn, Porlock, England — claims 1200
- Ye Olde Dolphin Inne, Derby, England — claims 1530
- The Coopers Arms, Rochester, England — claims 1189
- The Chequers Inn, Lamberhurst, England — claims 1400
- The George Inn, Lacock, England — claims 1300
- Royal Oak, Cardington, England — claims 1400
- The Seven Stars, London, England — claims 1602
- Ye Olde Bell & Steelyard, Woodbridge, England — claims 1540
- Ye Olde Dog and Partridge, Tutbury, England — claims 1485
- Ye Olde Swan, Thames Ditton, England — claims 1200
- George & Dragon, Houghton, England — claims 1200
- Anne of Cleves, Melton Mowbray, England — claims 1384
- The Old Windmill, Coventry, England — claims 1500
- Eight Bells, Chipping Campden, England — claims 1300
- The White Hart, Witley, England — claims 1300
- Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn, Westbere, England — claims 1348
- The Old Bell, Rye, England — claims 1400
- The King's Wark, Edinburgh, Scotland — claims 1434
- The New Inn, Pembridge, England — claims 1311
- Prince of Wales, Kenfig, Wales — claims 1400
- Hanbury Arms, Caerleon, Wales — claims 1565
- Ye Olde King's Head, Chester, England — claims 1208
- Hole in the Wall, Armagh, Northern Ireland — claims 1615
- Old Bear, Cork, Ireland — claims 1698
- Thomas Moore Tavern, Wexford, Ireland — claims 1700
- Plough & Harrow, Monknash, Wales — claims 1383
- The Harp Inn, Old Radnor, Wales — claims 1500
- Church House Inn, Stoke Gabriel, England — claims 1500
- Black Bull Inn, Moffat, Scotland — claims 1568
- Old Ship Inn, Perth, Scotland — claims 1665
- Cramond Inn, Edinburgh, Scotland — claims 1670
- The Original Rosslyn Inn, Roslin, Scotland — claims 1837
- Hole i' the Wa', Dumfries, Scotland — claims 1620
- Ship Inn, Irvine, Scotland — claims 1595
- The Norseman, Dublin, Ireland — claims 1696
- The Bleeding Horse, Dublin, Ireland — claims 1600
- The Spaniard, Kinsale, Ireland — claims 1650
- Holohan's, Enniscorthy, Ireland — claims 1740
- The Chapel Inn, Coggeshall, England — claims 1554
- The Black Swan, York, England — claims 1417
- The Greyhound, Kinsale, Ireland — claims 1690
- In den Ouden Vogelstruys, Maastricht, Netherlands — claims 1309
- The River Inn, Derry, Northern Ireland — claims 1684
- Tomney's Bar, Moy, Northern Ireland — claims 1765
- The Angel and Royal, Grantham, England — claims 1203
- Au Vieux Spijtigen Duivel, Brussels, Belgium — claims 1500
- The Queens, Dalkey, Ireland — claims 1745
- The Queens, Douglas, Isle of Man — claims 1854
- The Central, Ramsey, Isle of Man — claims 1797
- Old Swan Inn, Llantwit Major, Wales — claims 1100
- The George, Castletown, Isle of Man — claims 1833
- The Saddle Inn, Douglas, Isle of Man — claims 1837
- Castle Arms, Castletown, Isle of Man — claims 1750
- The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, England — claims 1400
Top 100All 351 old pubs
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No. 26 of 100
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Nottingham, England
Claimed1189
First record1751
Grade C · TraditionView pub
The Top 100
The ten oldest pub claims on earth
The Old Ferry Boat InnHolywell, EnglandAD 560claimedClaims AD 560; first recorded 1841. 
Ye Olde Fighting CocksSt Albans, EnglandAD 793claimedClaims AD 793; first recorded 1756. 
The White Lion InnLlanelian-yn-Rhos, WalesAD 800claimedClaims AD 800; no early record found. 
Sean's BarAthlone, IrelandAD 900claimedClaims AD 900; first recorded 1738; building c.1725. 
The Porch HouseStow-on-the-Wold, EnglandAD 947claimedClaims AD 947; no early record found. 
The Bush InnMorwenstow, EnglandAD 950claimedClaims AD 950; no early record found. 
The Bingley ArmsBardsey, EnglandAD 953claimedClaims AD 953; first recorded 1738; building c.1738. 
The Old InnSt Breward, England1000claimedClaims 1000; no early record found. 
The Royal OakWinchester, England1002claimedClaims 1002; first recorded 1430; building c.1450. 
The Church House InnRattery, England1028claimedClaims 1028; no early record found.
Taverne zur KroneDietikon, Switzerland1259claimedClaims 1259; first recorded 1259; building c.1703. 
Jaškovská krčmaTěrlicko, Czechia1268claimedClaims 1268; first recorded 1268; building c.1691. 
Zum Roten BärenFreiburg im Breisgau, Germany1120claimedClaims 1120; first recorded 1387; building c.1120. 
Bremer RatskellerBremen, Germany1405claimedClaims 1405; first recorded 1405; building c.1405. 
Gasthaus Zum RiesenMiltenberg, Germany1158claimedClaims 1158; first recorded 1411; building c.1590. - The Royal OakWinchester, England1002claimed
Claims 1002; first recorded 1430; building c.1450. 
The George InnNorton St Philip, England1397claimedClaims 1397; first recorded 1432; building c.1430. 
U MedvídkůPrague, Czechia1466claimedClaims 1466; first recorded 1438; building c.1614. 
Cantina Do SpadeVenice, Italy1448claimedClaims 1448; first recorded 1448. 
New InnGloucester, England1450claimed1450 with no published claimant; first recorded 1450; building c.1450.
- Claimed date
- Unproven years
- First written record
- Building dated
- Every ribbon uses the same scale, AD 500 to today.
Why our dates look different
Only 8 of the 100 oldest pub claims have a record from the time
Pubs love a founding legend: crusaders, monks, a king who stopped for ale. We read the listing entries, tree-ring surveys and licensing records, then grade every claim so you can see what is known and what is story.
How we grade a pub- 8
- Grade A · DocumentedGrade A
A record of a drinking house here at or near the claimed date, or earlier than it.
- 10
- Grade B · Building datedGrade B
The building really is that old; its first record as a pub comes later.
- 82
- Grade C · TraditionGrade C
Tradition, a date repeated without a source, or one historians have tested and rejected.
Oldest pub in each country
Two answers for every country
The pub with the oldest claim is rarely the one with the oldest proof. We show both, side by side.
- EnglandClaimThe Old Ferry Boat Inn
says AD 560ProofThe George Inn
purpose-built inn, timbers tree-ring dated 1430-32 - IrelandClaimSean's Bar
says AD 900ProofKyteler's Inn
recorded as an inn from 1639 - United StatesClaimThe '76 House
says 1668ProofWhite Horse Tavern
tavern licence recorded 1687 - AustraliaClaimWoolpack Hotel
says 1796ProofMacquarie Arms Hotel
licensed 1815 - GermanyClaimKlosterschenke Weltenburg
says 1050ProofGasthaus Zum Riesen
innkeeper named in a court record of 1411 - NetherlandsClaimIn den Ouden Vogelstruys
says 1309ProofDe Drie Fleschjes
drinking house on the site by 1618 - CzechiaClaimJaškovská krčma
says 1268ProofU Medvídků
house recorded 1404, brewery 1466 - BelgiumClaimCafé Den Turk
says 1228ProofCafé Vlissinghe
tavern first recorded 1515 - CanadaClaimThe Split Crow
says 1749ProofThe Mansion House
recorded 1826
Browse by character
Old pubs with a story to them
Haunted pubs31 pubsGrey ladies, cursed galleons and a highwayman who never left.
Thatched pubs15 pubsReed roofs, cob walls and low doorways, mostly in the West Country.
Coaching inns20 pubsGalleried yards built for the mail coach and the weary horse.
Riverside and waterside pubs29 pubsOld ferry landings and Thames-side taverns with a view.
Pub trails
Walks between the genuinely old ones
Myth or fact?
Famous claims, checked against the record
- “Sean's Bar is the oldest pub in the world”Sean's Bar in Athlone dates itself to about AD 900, and the certificate Guinness World Records issued in 2004 named it Ireland's oldest pub rather than the world's. No record puts a drinking house on the site before 1738, and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage dates the building to about 1725, as a coaching inn.Verdict · unprovenRead
- “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem has been an inn since 1189”Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem has AD 1189 painted on its gable at Brewhouse Yard in Nottingham; Historic England dates the first record of a pub on the site to 1751, when it traded as the Pilgrim, and the painted crusader story to a landlord's new signage around 1910. The caves behind the bar really are much older than the pub.Verdict · not supportedRead
- “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is Nottingham's oldest pub”Three pubs within ten minutes' walk claim to be Nottingham's oldest, and the strongest documents belong to the Bell rather than to the famous Trip or to the Salutation: a former mayor's bequest of 1638, over a timber frame tree-ring dated to about 1420. The Trip has the loudest date, 1189, and the oldest caves; the Salutation has timbers reported at around 1360 and almost no paperwork. Nobody can show a medieval licence.Verdict · disputedRead
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