Cambridgeshire has its fair share of pubs for any night out you could fancy but did you know there’s one that was technically once in the county but is actually 60 miles away? You may find it difficult to find this pub in Cambridgeshire because, well, it’s not actually located in the county but it also technically was – confusing right?
Ye Olde Mitre pub can be found in the Holborn area of London and it’s notoriously London’s hardest pub. It’s actually around 60 miles away from Cambridgeshire – but it was once considered part of the county.
The pub dates back to the 16th century, and is tucked away at the end of an alleyway. It’s been standing in the exact same spot since it was built in 1546, but until the 1960s, it was technically in Cambridgeshire.
Ye Olde Mitre has some rather fascinating history. Originally, the pub was built for the servants who worked at the Bishops of Ely’s palace nearby. The palace was built in the 13th century and was considered far too beautiful to belong to London, according to Secret London.
As the surrounding land belonged to the Bishops of Ely at the time, the area was declared as part of Cambridgeshire. The licensee even used to have to travel there for their licence.
As Cambridgeshire and London had different laws, it was said that criminals could avoid being arrested by the Met Police inside the pub as it was outside of their jurisdiction and would be Cambridegshire Police jurisdiction.
There are also stories told of Queen Elizabeth I dancing around the iconic cherry tree in the pub’s garden with Sir Christopher Hatton.
Today, Ye Olde Mitre is firmly located in London after it changed hands in the 1960s. The tiny pub is your classic hole in the wall, with dark wooden panelling and furniture. There is plenty of Elizabethan memorabilia adorning the walls and two rooms that can be hired for celebrations, including the upstairs Bishops Room. The menu includes simple, tasty toasties and snacks along with
