The claim
A Victorian corner local near Smithfield Market, the Hand & Shears keeps its old multi-room layout with separate doors into small bars around a central servery. Its name recalls Bartholomew Fair, opened when the Lord Mayor cut cloth with shears. The claimed 1532 origin is tradition, but the interior is a treasured survivor.
What the records show
The 1532 is the pub's own, lettered across the top of its website as 'The Hand & Shears, est. 1532'. It is not supported by a published record, and CAMRA's note of a Smithfield link going back to 1123 is not either; the listed building is mid-19th century with an 1896 interior.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1532 | Claimed founding | The pub |
| c.1896 | Present building | Building fabric |
What to look for inside
- Named for the cloth-cutting ceremony that opened Bartholomew Fair
- On CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors
- Upstairs room recalls the Court of Pie Poudre
- Weekday-only opening
Visiting
Hand & Shears is in London, England, at 1 Middle Street, Smithfield, London EC1A 7JA. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- camra.org.uk/pubs/hand-shears-london-156248
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_and_Shears
- www.thehandandshears.com
- alondoninheritance.com/londonpubs/hand-and-shears/
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/294079
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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