Home > London > EC3 > Simpsons Tavern Simpsons Tavern
Date of photo: 2010	© Copyright Basher Eyre and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Simpsons Tavern was situated in Ball Court, 38½ Cornhill.
Source: Movement80
The venerable Simpson’s Tavern, off Cornhill (EC3V 9DR), was repossessed by its landlord, Bermuda based Tavor Holdings Ltd, on 16 October. The business, which describes itself as London’s oldest surviving chop house, dates back to 1757 and is housed in a grade-II listed building, originally a pair of C17 houses. Appropriately, given that Christmas is coming, it is believed to be the model for the ‘melancholy tavern’ visited by Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It should not be confused with the restaurant, Simpsons in the Strand (currently closed but due to reopen in 2023). Like so many pubs and restaurants, Simpson’s had to close during the pandemic lockdowns and, with no income, they ran up rent arrears. Their situation was worse than most because of the time taken for the City to return to any sort of normality. They have however since been trading much as before and had even started taking Christmas bookings. They had been paying rent again since they reopened and the management assumed that payment of the rent outstanding from the lockdowns would be subject to negotiation. It appears that the landlord saw it differently. It is understood that the freehold has been put up for sale and Simpson’s have launched a crowdfunding campaign in the hope of acquiring it. The last total that I saw quoted was £66,708 which is 17% of the target, which is reported to be £385,000. A support group, the Friends of Simpson’s Tavern, has been set up and they are seeking an Asset of Community Value listing from the City of London Corporation. Given the existing restrictions on the property, its continued use as a pub or restaurant is, in any event, the most likely outcome. The City of London Corporation are unlikely to permit any redevelopment."
London Drinker magazine, December 2022/January 2023
Listed building details:
Includes No 38 1/2 Cornhill. Early C18 or possibly late C17 pair of houses. 4 storeys each 3 windows. Red brick with band below top storey and parapet to roof. Pilastered shop front with cornice and pediments, probably later C19. Passage beneath No 5 to Ball Court. Rear elevation of painted brick with segmental arches and altered roof. Simpson's Tavern has 2 storeyed wing along west side of court with short return over passage at far end. Plain, painted brick. Shop front similar to Castle Court but incorporating shallow bow windows etc and probably in part of late C18/early C19 date. Some later C19 decorated glass and gas lamp on cast iron bracket. Interesting as an example of a city tavern.
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