Silver Cross Tavern

Silver Cross Tavern is a historic public house on Whitehall in central London, England. The venue occupies a site with a documented history reaching back to the thirteenth century and is particularly associated with the government district around Whitehall and with nearby Trafalgar Square. Its history as a licensed pub began in 1674, when it opened under the name The Garter. Before that transition, the premises had reportedly operated as a licensed brothel. The tavern is therefore notable not only as an old London drinking establishment but also for the unusual legal story attached to a seventeenth-century royal licence. The building’s early history is connected with St Katherine’s Hermitage. A structure on the site was originally built with lead-lined walls, and the premises have been rebuilt several times. The latest major rebuilding identified in the available historical account took place in 1900. Architectural features associated with the tavern include a wagon-vaulted ceiling. A plaster ceiling was installed in the bar area shortly after the pub opened, during the period when Charles I resided at Whitehall. The exterior was later remodelled in the Victorian era, producing the façade associated with the present Whitehall frontage. The property passed through several ownership and leasing arrangements. William Waad, son of the politician Sir William Waad, initially owned the establishment and sold it to Joseph Craig during the first year of its licensed operation. Craig acquired several neighbouring buildings, which became known as Craig’s Court, although the Silver Cross property was not incorporated into that group. The premises were later acquired by the Earls of Harrington. In 1861, the Earl of St Vincent leased the property from the Earl of Harrington, and the name Silver Cross was in use by that period. During the twentieth century, the pub was owned by T. J. Bernard and was subsequently sold to Taylor Walker Pubs. The existing dossier identifies Greene King as the parent company, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed date or transaction history for that relationship. The pub’s location has shaped its clientele and role: it has traditionally attracted civil servants working in the surrounding government offices as well as visitors to central London. The Silver Cross Tavern is also associated with a claim publicised by the BBC in 1999 that it was the United Kingdom’s only legally authorised brothel, although it was not operating as one. The claim rested on the argument that a royal licence granted during the reign of Charles I had never formally been revoked. This is best understood as a historical and legal curiosity rather than as a description of the venue’s contemporary business. Its continuing identity is that of a traditional London pub serving drinks and food in a historically significant building.

The site occupied by the Silver Cross Tavern has roots in medieval London. A building associated with St Katherine’s Hermitage was established there in the thirteenth century, reportedly with lead-lined walls. The premises were rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries, with the latest major rebuilding described in the available historical account taking place in 1900. The pub retains architectural features including a wagon-vaulted ceiling, while its bar area received a plaster ceiling shortly after the establishment opened, during the period when King Charles I lived at Whitehall. The establishment became a licensed pub in 1674, initially operating as The Garter. It had previously been associated with licensed prostitution, a history that later contributed to the venue’s unusual legal reputation. William Waad, son of politician Sir William Waad, was the initial owner at the time of the pub’s licensing. He sold it to Joseph Craig during that same year. Craig bought several nearby buildings, which became known collectively as Craig’s Court, but the Silver Cross property remained separate from those buildings. The property later came into the possession of the Earls of Harrington. In 1861, the Earl of St Vincent leased it from the Earl of Harrington, and the name Silver Cross was then in use. The building’s exterior was remodelled during the Victorian period, and the premises were later numbered 37 Whitehall. In the 1990s, the pub expanded into numbers 33–35, adjoining premises that had previously been combined by other occupiers. The expansion followed the closure of a neighbouring pizza restaurant, allowing the pub to take over the space. Ownership in the twentieth century included T. J. Bernard and Taylor Walker Pubs. The existing dossier associates the venue with Greene King, although the supplied references do not establish the precise date or terms of that corporate relationship. The tavern’s location, close to British government buildings and Trafalgar Square, has long influenced its customer base. Civil servants and tourists have been among its regular patrons. In 1999, the BBC drew attention to a claim that the Silver Cross Tavern was technically the only legal brothel in the United Kingdom. The argument depended on a royal licence attributed to Charles I that was said never to have been revoked. The premises were not operating as a brothel, and the claim is principally a historical curiosity attached to the pub. The venue’s documented modern identity remains that of a central London public house combining traditional hospitality with a prominent historic setting.

• 1999

  Royal-licence claim receives BBC coverage

  [1]Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The BBC reported the theory that an unrepealed royal licence from the reign of Charles I made the tavern technically eligible to be described as a legal brothel, although it was not operating as one.

• 1990

  Expansion into adjoining premises

  [1]Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1990s, the pub expanded into numbers 33–35 Whitehall after adjoining premises became available following the closure of a neighbouring pizza restaurant.

• 1900

  Major rebuilding

  [1]Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The building underwent the latest major rebuilding identified in the available historical account.

• 1861

  The Silver Cross name was in use

  [1]Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The Earl of St Vincent leased the property from the Earl of Harrington, and contemporary references identified the establishment as The Silver Cross.

• 1674

  Opened as a licensed pub

  [1]Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The premises began operating as a licensed public house under the name The Garter. William Waad was the initial owner and sold the establishment to Joseph Craig during its first licensed year.

Historic central London pub serving civil servants, visitors, and tourists in the Whitehall area.

• Beverages

  Pub drinks

  The tavern’s core commercial offering is the beverage service associated with a traditional British pub, including alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic refreshments. The supplied references do not provide a verified current drinks list or specific branded products.

• Food service

  Pub food

  Food service forms part of the venue’s traditional pub proposition. Available references identify food and drink generally but do not specify a current menu, signature dish, or product range.

1. 1Silver Cross Tavernen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Greene King Silver Cross Tavern listinggreeneking-pubs.co.uk