Tucked away in a narrow Covent Garden alley, the red front of the Lamb & Flag pub announces that you’re about to stumble across a living piece of history.
The best place to begin describing it would undoubtedly be the beginning, but therein lies a problem: is that handpainted inscription “circa 1623” authentic, and if it is, what is it referring to?
We’ll get to that, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
First recorded in 1772 and renamed in 1833, the Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden has been frequented by poets, playwrights, prize-fighters and terriers, and even Charles Dickens himself.
Known in the 19th century as the “Bucket of Blood” for its brutal bare-knuckle prize fights, the Lamb & Flag has witnessed everything from theatrical productions in the 1970s to infamous street brawls and colourful local scandals.
Today, its timeworn character and many legends make it one of the most atmospheric and enduring pubs in Covent Garden, offering visitors not just a great pint and a bite to eat, but a story centuries in the making.
The History of The Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden
As promised, we’ll take you right back to the beginning. The story of the Lamb and Flag begins long before it adopted its current name.
The first recorded mention of a pub on this site dates back to 1772, when it was known as The Coopers Arms. In 1833, the tavern was renamed the Lamb & Flag, the name that still proudly shows above its doors to this very day.
But what about that aforementioned date of “circa” 1632? Well, although the brickwork you see today largely dates from 1958, it conceals much older bones.
Beneath the façade lies what is believed to be an early 17th-century timber frame. Keep the “circa” in mind, however: the earliest known construction on this spot goes back to 1638.
The “Bucket of Blood”: Bare-Knuckle Fights and Notorious Violence
Over the centuries, the Lamb and Flag’s reputation has undergone a serious transformation.
If you happened to visit during the early 19th century, you’d find a Lamb and Flag that was as dangerous as it was infamous, at least, if the sources are to be believed. A room above the pub was used as a venue for bare-knuckle prize fights, a brutal form of entertainment that earned it the chilling nickname “The Bucket of Blood.”
For non-boxing fans out there, it’s worth mentioning that the history of the sport is a complicated, fascinating one, and the Lamb and Flag’s contribution to that history is worth exploring.
In 19th-century Britain, boxing slowly evolved to go beyond a brutal spectacle. For years, it was tangled up in debates about masculinity, morality and discipline. Some advocates saw the ring as a place to cultivate manly virtues and resilience, even as critics decried its violence.
The Marquess of Queensberry Rules, introduced in 1867, began to standardize the sport, moving it away from the chaotic bare-knuckle contests of earlier decades.
Bloody and brutal the fights might have been, but the fights at the Lamb and Flag were part of a wider national conversation about sport, respectability and the boundaries of acceptable violence.
A Close to Home Crime and Scandal: The Burglary of 1888
Interestingly, it wasn’t just the pugilists and patrons who got into scrapes around the Lamb and Flag.
In June 1888, the-then pub’s landlord, Mr. Greensmith, and his wife fell victim to a burglary at their private residence in Stamford Hill. The couple returned to discover their home had been broken into and clothing along with personal belongings stolen.
The case made its way into the local press, with detailed reports in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette.
Theatrical Productions in the 1970s
The Lamb and Flag’s role as a hub of culture didn’t end with the Victorians. If we skip ahead to the 1970s, we find that the room that once held the bare-knuckle fights was being used for more high-brow entertainment, namely, theatre productions.
Newspaper advertisements show us that among the plays staged were The Dock Brief by John Mortimer, Mixed Values by Tony Parkin, Ruffian on The Stair by Joe Orton, and the intriguingly-named A Resounding Tinkle by N. F. Simpson.
Quirky Traditions: A Canine Contest at the Lamb and Flag
Not all of the Lamb and Flag’s history is tied to brawls or scandal, some chapters are unexpected.
While digging through the archives, we stumbled on an article that shows that, in the 1880s, the pub became a venue for dog exhibitions, attracting enthusiasts of the fashionable Manchester terrier breed. These dogs were once famous in London as rat hunters, but as the blood sport of rat-baiting declined, the dog breed became admired for its appearance and loyal temperament.
One event in 1886, reported in Sporting Life, was described as “lively and well-attended”, with competitors showing off Manchester Terriers of “high class.” Judges took their time deliberating, awarding first prize to “Bruce” belonging to a Mr.George and second prize to “Cupid”, the canine companion of Mr Elsworth.
Visiting the Lamb & Flag Today
Happily, the Lamb and Flag of today is barely reminiscent of its more sketchy past. Today, it’s an incredible, authentic heritage pub that has seen it all: scandal, bare-knuckle brawls and even literary feuds, but most of all, it’s a cracking place to enjoy a bite and a bite to eat.
Its menu is a combination of pub classics including scotch eggs and Cumberland sausages, and of course a traditional Sunday roast, but you’ll also find lovely pasta dishes and salads.
Practical Information for Visitors
- Address: 33 Rose Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9EB.
- Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).
- Tips: Best visited early evening to soak in the atmosphere before it gets crowded.
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