10 Oldest Pubs Around The World With Fascinating Histories

OT Staff & Waquar Habib

Sean’s Bar (Athlone, Ireland)

Dating back to around 900 AD, this pub claims the title of Ireland’s oldest. Archaeological evidence—wattle and wicker wall sections—and excavation finds authenticate parts of its early structure.

A shot of Sean’s Bar | athlone.ie/instagram

Seven Stars (London, United Kingdom)

Seven Stars in Holborn, London, dates back to the early 1600s. Retaining its late Victorian interiors with wooden panels, vintage lighting, and a fireplace, it remains a historic and much-loved local pub.

Inside Seven Stars, London | distillerycats/instagram

The Brazen Head (Dublin, Ireland)

Operating as a hostelry since at least 1198, this pub stands on Bridge Street. Its current structure was rebuilt in the 18th century, yet records of business at that site date centuries earlier.

A shot of The Brazen Head | brazenheaddublin/instagram

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Nottingham, England)

Claimed foundation in 1189, this pub incorporates caves beneath Nottingham Castle. While the legend is ancient, documented evidence is limited to later centuries.

A view of Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem | yeoldetriptojerusalemnotts/instagram

Ye Olde Man & Scythe (Bolton, England)

Mentioned in a 1251 charter, this historic pub in Greater Manchester is among Britain’s earliest documented alehouses. Much of its earlier structures were rebuilt over time.

A view of Ye Olde Man & Scythe | @ArchitectureTud/x

Ye Olde Salutation Inn (Nottingham, England)

Built around 1240, this pub combines medieval architecture with local legend—haunted by ghost stories and said to have housed highwaymen in its subterranean cellars.

The front facade of Ye Olde Salutation Inn | Wikimedia Commons

The Bell Inn (Nottingham, England)

Dating to approximately 1437, this Grade II listed building features medieval cellars beneath Norman friars’ guesthouses, preserved fireplaces, and oak-beamed interiors.

A view of Bell Inn | Wikimedia Commons

Zum Franziskaner (Munich, Germany)

Founded in 1363, this traditional beer hall in Munich retains centuries-old beer-hall architecture. Famous for its rustic wooden interior and classic Bavarian cuisine served under historic ceilings.

A shot of Zum Franziskaner | zumfranziskanerstockholm/instagram

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (London, England)

Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, the pub’s cellars are older. Its records and literary references trace a lineage of pub culture back several centuries in the city of London.

Around Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese | skyeoneill/instagram

The White Horse Tavern (Newport, USA)

Operating since 1673, this Rhode Island tavern is recognised as the oldest continuously working restaurant/pub in the United States. Its colonial architecture and traditions endure.

The White Horse Tavern in USA | whitehorsetavern1880/instagram

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