It was the best of times...

 ...it was the worst of times.

aka "Two Cities" by Dickens

Below is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub...where Dickens liked to stop.  Fleet St. no date given.

There has been a pub at this location since 1538, but it was rebuilt in 1667 after being damaged in the Great Fire of London, and parts of the lower cellars are even older. As you descend down one of the treacherous stone staircases, you’re drawn into the atmospheric set of rooms with bars of varying size. The building was previously home to a monastery, and as such there is a dizzying array of chambers, cellars and tunnels to navigate; all are home to little corners to tuck up into with a drink in hand.

The establishment is currently owned by Sam Smith’s Old Brewery. Their pubs are a go-to for beautiful buildings, traditional ales and cosy interiors. There are no big brands, just brilliant offerings from their own brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire.

Given its apparent age, it’s no surprise that Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese lays claim to having had Charles Dickens, Samuel Johnson and George Orwell within its walls at some point. Partly as a result of the long list of famous patrons, ‘the Cheese’ is often referred to as a Fleet Street landmark, and it’s hard to argue that this is anything but a fitting title. So grab yourself a proper pint and explore the maze and the cuttings on the walls, and know that you’re walking in the footsteps of a few literary greats (and many lesser drunks).

Source: Culture trip

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