The Angel Vaults Inn

The Angel Vaults Inn is a pub operated by J D Wetherspoon plc at 5 Sun Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. It is one of the many Wetherspoon pubs across the United Kingdom, trading under the company's standard format: a large, value-focused, food-and-drink-led pub with long opening hours, a broad menu, and a strong emphasis on real ale and craft beer. The pub is located in Hitchin town centre, next door to the former Conservative Club, and its address gives the brand entry its name. The pub's name is a deliberate reference to local history. According to Wetherspoon's own pub history, the thoroughfare now known as Sun Street was for two centuries called Angel Street, after the Angel Vaults Inn which stood next to the Sun Inn. The Angel carried the date 1450 on its façade; it was later rebuilt, eventually declared unsafe, and demolished in 1956. The modern Wetherspoon pub revives that name at the same address, 5 Sun Street, and its interior displays prints and text about the history of Hitchin, including its origins as a settlement linked to a Benedictine monastery founded in 792 and its later ownership by the Balliol family. As a Wetherspoon house, The Angel Vaults Inn offers the chain's typical facilities and services: Wi-Fi, TV screens, a licensed outside area, step-free access, and ordering via the Wetherspoon app. It participates in company-wide promotions such as the twice-yearly real-ale festivals, the autumn beer festival featuring international brewers, the Christmas menu, and the spritz cocktail range. Opening hours run from 8:00am daily, closing at midnight Sunday to Thursday and at 1:00am on Friday and Saturday; children under 18 are admitted only between 8:00am and 9:00pm. The pub is not a standalone brand with its own corporate identity; it is a trading name and outlet within J D Wetherspoon plc, the London-listed pub company founded by Tim Martin. Wetherspoon opened its first pub in 1979 in Muswell Hill, north London, and floated on the Stock Exchange in 1992. The Angel Vaults Inn therefore represents the group's model of converting or naming pubs after local landmarks and history, while operating a uniform national offer.

The Angel Vaults Inn takes its name from a much older inn that once stood on or near the site at what is now 5 Sun Street, Hitchin. Wetherspoon's pub history records that the thoroughfare was known as Angel Street for two centuries before it became Sun Street in the 17th century, taking its new name from the Sun Inn next door. The original Angel Vaults Inn bore the date 1450 on its façade. It was rebuilt at some point, but was eventually declared unsafe and demolished in 1956. The modern pub, operated by J D Wetherspoon, carries the historic name at the same address and uses its interior to display prints and text about Hitchin's past, including the town's origins linked to a Benedictine monastery founded in 792, its mention in the Domesday Book as 'Hiz', and its ownership by the Balliol family until 1311. The pub itself is part of the J D Wetherspoon estate. Wetherspoon was founded by Tim Martin, who opened the first pub in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, on 9 December 1979. Initially called Martin's Free House, it was renamed Wetherspoons in early 1980. The company grew from north London, with its head office above The Dog in Archway, and expanded across the UK. In 1990 it held its first real-ale festival; in 1991 it opened The Tally Ho in North Finchley with a dedicated non-smoking bar, launched the CBS (cleanliness, beer, service) scheme, produced the first Wetherspoon News, and opened Hamilton Hall at Liverpool Street station. In 1992 it opened its first airport pubs at Heathrow Terminal 4 and floated on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60. The Angel Vaults Inn is one of the many individual pubs in that estate, each with its own name and local-history narrative. It operates under the standard Wetherspoon format, including long opening hours, app-based ordering, participation in national beer festivals, and a menu that spans breakfast, main meals, and seasonal offers such as the Christmas menu and spritz cocktails. The pub's address at 5 Sun Street places it in Hitchin town centre, next to the former Conservative Club.

• The original Angel Vaults Inn, bearing the date 1450 on its façade, stands on the site; the street is known as Angel Street.

• The street is renamed Sun Street in the 17th century after the neighbouring Sun Inn.

• The original Angel Vaults Inn is declared unsafe and demolished in 1956.

• J D Wetherspoon opens its first pub in Muswell Hill, north London, on 9 December 1979.

• The company floats on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc in 1992, with shares issued at £1.60.

• The modern Angel Vaults Inn operates as a J D Wetherspoon pub at 5 Sun Street, Hitchin.

Value-focused community pub within the J D Wetherspoon national chain, named after local history.

• Real ale and craft beer

  Guest ales and craft cans, with tasting notes published quarterly.

• Autumn beer festival

  A 12-day festival in October featuring 30 real ales, including five from international brewers in China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA.

• Christmas menu

  Festive food available from 12 November to 31 December, excluding Christmas Day.

• Spritz cocktails

  A range of nine classic and fruity spritz recipes.

1. 1The Angel Vaults Inn - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Angel Vaults Inn - J D Wetherspoon (pub history)jdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 55, Sun Street - Wikidatawikidata.org