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Cheers WIC - is that German for "Swiss House" or similar? Yes, fingers crossed that it stays as a pub.

@@TweedyPubs Yes I think thats it, with my minimal knowledge of German! I wish I could find reference to what I've mentioned but I think it was on a short history segment on an evening news programme, rather than an actual documentary.

Thanks for commenting! I hope this brought back some fond memories, and fingers crossed that the new owners - whoever they may be - keep it as a pub.

@@TweedyPubs Indeed. And thank you for the video and the memories!

Many of those rules aren't generally enforced in Sam Smith's London pubs in my experience. When I first started doing these videos I had assumed it was going to be impossible to get interior shots of any Sam Smith's pubs because of the no mobiles policy. However eventually I just started asking behind the bar, and they almost always told me it's fine. Well, that said, one landlord accused me of being a spy from the brewery. Only half jokingly. I'm personally not a fan of big TVs in pubs, but I suppose they do have to cater to their potential customers - if the majority want somewhere to watch the football, and you're not providing that, then they're going to go elsewhere. They did at least have dart boards in Ye Olde Swiss Cottage!

It is a really eye catching landmark isn't it? Let's hope someone else takes it on and keeps it as a pub - it's clearly part of so many people's memories, even, as in your case, if you've never been in. Yes theoretically bull baiting was already outlawed before the pub first opened, by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835. If they were indeed doing anything like that in the early days, it was likely on the sly, and perhaps they could get away with it as it was out in the sticks, at least to begin with.

Thanks! There is a running theme of pub preservation in all of these videos. Looking at it optimistically, I'm hoping it'll encourage people to visit these places and keep them going. Looking at it more pessimistically, part of what I'm doing is to try and document these pubs in case we lose them.

Agreed, very difficult times for pubs.

I share your frustration, but the harsh reality is these places have to make money to keep going, and I get the sense that hasn't been the case at Ye Olde Swiss Cottage for a few years now. Fingers crossed that a new owner can be found who can turn it around.

Look at Brits holidaying on Tenerife. Brits still enjoy a pint in a pub. In Camden there aren't many Brits left, and those that still live there can't afford a pint due to insane business rates and excise duties on beer - it's all quite deliberate.

It's a complete dump now.

I believe the cinema is still going strong! That's a listed building, so maybe that might help the pub in a way, given that they're so closed together - that should at least rule out any prospect of bulldozing that whole triangular island for a new traffic scheme.

Fingers crossed somebody else takes it on and keeps it as a pub - I see speculation in the comments that Wetherspoons might be interested. The cinema is actually a listed building incidentally - I think that helps the pub, as there are people who'd like to see a major redevelopment of that whole traffic island, but the cinema at least cannot be bulldozed.

Thanks David! The pubs are the star of the show of course, I am often surprised there aren't more UA-cam channels about pubs.

This Swiss Cottage is NOT listed. There is another pub of the same name, in Dorking, which is Grade II

I searched the Historic England website and couldn't find the listing entry. Lots of other listings in the immediate vicinity - the cinema next door is listed, even Swiss Cottage library (which looks like a concrete radiator) is listed... but I couldn't find anything for the pub. Good to hear those rumours that other pub companies are interested. My money would be on Wetherspoons as the most likely candidate to make a site like this work... Although that said, they have recently sold a few of their London pubs so the wind might not be blowing in that direction at present. I've done a video on Paddington - any particular pubs you had in mind which I might have missed? ua-cam.com/video/cgO91onZrbc/v-deo.html

Yes I agree on previous visits I hadn't felt compelled to linger for more than one pint. However, this time, and maybe it was something to do with the fact it was imminently closing, or perhaps just that I had researched the history before going there, I found myself warming to the place. Fingers crossed that its new owners are sympathetic.

Thanks John. Yes odd that it isn't listed isn't it? Especially when you consider all the obscure things which do qualify. Swiss Cottage library is listed, for example. It's a 1960s building which looks a bit like a giant concrete radiator. If that can qualify, why can't the pub which gave its name to the area?

Cheers Lee! There's some speculation in the comments that Wetherspoon might be considering taking the pub on, so perhaps there is still a chance it might be saved. Yes hopefully Primrose Hill and Belsize Park coming soon - maybe even later this week if I get my act together? I hope you have a good time in Rotherhithe - such an atmospheric bit of London.

Thanks Mr WC21! Yes it's amazing to think that the name of an area of London could have been born from a retired boxer having a wander round a museum on an afternoon and thinking on a whim that the mock Swiss chalet he'd just seen would make a good design for a pub. I'm a little sceptical as to whether there really was bull baiting at the Swiss Cottage. I recall from the "More Soho Pubs" video that Jemmy Shaw, one time landlord of the Queen's Head (and also a former boxer and dog breeder) organised bouts of rat baiting there in the 1850s which was just about the only form of animal baiting which was considered acceptable by that point in history. I think most forms were banned by the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835, which would have passed just before the Swiss Cottage first opened its doors. Although possibly the fact the it was out in the sticks to begin with meant they could get away with it on the sly? I thought it important to get there and document this pub today while I still had the chance. Perhaps it is just something to do with the impending closure but I actually really warmed to this pub on my brief visit today. There is something oddly charming about a third hand imitation of a Swiss chalet (the 1960s building recreated something of the 1840s building which in turn was likely inspired by the 1820s one in the exhibition - and even that wasn't a "real" Swiss chalet).

Thanks Kathi! There are famously six tube stations in London named after pubs (various other UA-cam channels have covered this) however in at least half of those cases now the pub no longer exists (or the building does but is no longer functioning as a pub). So alas that in itself doesn't guarantee it will be preserved!

@@TweedyPubs Oh, I didn't know about those tube stations. Let's hope the Swiss Cottage won't be the next pub with only the name remaining.

Thanks MC. Yes Sam Smith's is a curious business isn't it? Despite all their idiosyncrasies quite a few of their pubs number among some of my all time favourites, and have been beautifully preserved and/or restored by them. Yes others in the comments have also speculated about possible interest from Sir Tim. It's hard to think off the top of my head of anyone else who could make a site like this work.

Thank you! ...and thanks to John Rogers for helping new people to find my channel!

I've only been to Ye Olde Swiss Cottage a couple of times before, as it's actually a bit out of the way, and there aren't many other pubs in the immediate vicinity to turn it into a decent crawl (although as hinted in the video, slightly further away in Belsize Park / Primrose Hill there are a few of interest). Thanks for the suggestions - I've covered a bit of Lambeth in the Waterloo video, but looking slightly further south, I occasionally consider the Vauxhall / Oval / Kennington sort of area - the Prince of Wales on Cleaver Square etc. I will get round to it at some point!

I'm no expert on any of this stuff but I do what I can!

Cheers Ed! I can tell from the comments that there isn't exactly a huge outpouring of affection for this pub - or the area it's in - based on recent decades... but it has had a rich and colourful history and I'd hope in the right hands it could still be a great pub once again.

Thanks for sharing those memories Jim. Do you have any recollection of what it looked like inside back then? I wondered how much of the interior we see today dates back to the 1960s redevelopment versus a more recent refit.

Haha, 😂 my exact experiences when I popped in after work once a week. That was only a few years ago and they are still insufferable 😂

It may just be the case that they don't have a buyer lined up yet, but have decided the day to day running costs don't justify keeping it open given the current turnover. Fingers crossed whoever eventually buys it does keep it as a pub.

That is a good suggestion and I do, as a rule, prefer to focus on the positives! I'm hopefully going to get to the Lord Southampton in my next video of Primrose Hill / Belsize Park (I know it's not exactly in Belsize Park but it's close enough for me). Possibly even within this week? I've been to the Duke of St. Albans as it's not a million miles from where I live. I recall it had been a wine bar or something for a bit in the interim. I'm of course happy whenever a pub is reincarnated, and the drinks offering was interesting, but the interior was very modern and wasn't really my cup of tea, if I'm honest. The Old Justice I covered in a video on Rotherhithe: ua-cam.com/video/U9Yj7o6AqIc/v-deo.html I'll note the others for potential future videos, thanks!

Cheers Vince, I tried to get this video out as soon as I could so anyone wishing to pay their last respects still had a few days to do so! I believe it's open up to and including Saturday, and as far as I can tell they're still operating their normal opening hours, midday to 11pm. So at the time of writing this comment that's still 33 hours of drinking time remaining! I think you're probably right about Humph, clearly a bit of an eccentric and not overly concerned about what other people think. I have to admit I slightly admire that in abstract, although of course it's not so charming if reports of how some of their pub managers have been treated are true. I was probably just shouting into wind with that segment at the end, but it does sound like Humphrey's son Samuel, who as I understand it is now taking over the business (and has for a while been managing the London pub portfolio), is a bit more reasonable.

Yes it's a shame - long since closed. 2002 was it, perhaps?

@@TweedyPubs , I don’t know, I probably used it in the late 60s when I lived in the area,

Thanks! Yes I think I've been to the Ordnance once, many years ago. I looked it up just now and it seems it's a Sam Smith's pub now? I don't recall it being one when I went, but maybe I misremembered.

@@TweedyPubs When I first started drinking in the Ordnance in the late 90s it was a Sam Smith pub then. Need to pop back again as been a while.

@@TweedyPubs still a Sam smiths, great pub

Thank you! Yes, fingers crossed.

Thanks David! Alas I suppose place names take on a life of their own, and although I've developed quite an interest in toponymy through my various UA-cam endeavours, I think most people never really question where a given string of syllables to identify an area of land came from. I think those stories about the early days of the pub were helped by the fact it was on a relatively undeveloped piece of land when first built, just beyond the city limits as they were then - so plenty of space in the surrounding fields for those slightly bizarre feats of pedestrianism! I wondered if some of these quirky activities linger on in school sports days? Things like the egg and spoon race and the three legged race feel like they could have evolved from pedestrianism.

@TweedyPubs Well even if the pub building disappears the name is well lodged in history, I shall save this one in my nostalgia (pending) folder!! Ah schools sports day!! wheel barrow race, sack race, jumpers for goal posts (sorry gone into Ron manager mode!!). Do they still do them?

‘Interesting fellow’ is a very polite English term!! 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

There was an article about the brewery and Humphrey Smith in the Guardian in December 2024. It makes me suspect that the pub may have a brighter future under new ownership.

And that’s why he was rich, a good lesson in life

Thanks for that great anecdote!

Humphrey visits my local regularly to check up on things. He has carried out a few sackings and a temporary closure as a result on one occasion. Thoroughly ruthless fellow. He is supposed to be retiring imminently.

Doesn't seem like much of a swearer

@@gollick I think of swearing a bit like Christmas - if you did it all the time it wouldn't be special any more.

The Olde Apple Tree keeps popping up, and I'd like to get there at some point. The Lord Nelson also seemed worth a look in that neck of the woods, it's on CAMRA's list of historic interiors. I think the Asylum Tavern is as well. Anywhere else in particular you'd recommend down that way?

You do know how SS roll? Very odd...and it's a shame because they have some landmark pubs I their London estate.

They don't seem to like the customers.

It's the first time I've heard of a Sam Smith's pub close in London - I'm sure it can't be the first time, but all of my favourites have been Sam Smith's pubs for as longer as I can remember.

They don't often sell though

@@TweedyPubs up here in the North many are shut. Usually because they can't find landlords, or at least ones that meet the standards. The pub next door to the brewery in Tadcaster is even closed. Very sad as there's no other pub chain that fulfil its niche

See recent article interesting Guardian...for SS the times they are a changin'

@@llwyde1104 yes I read that and it was ok But I've read that article on Sam's at least 10 times. What they struggle with is understanding why anyone like a Sam's pub They just find it 'odd' 'weird', rather than being intrigued or at best celebrating a Great British Brand

Nah, it's decent enough. Not rubbish

Used to buy the organic chocolate stout, but they shrunk the bottle size and put the price up

Yes I was surprised to find it doesn't make any of the lists - not even Camden's "local list". I've never noticed the tube trains in there! As mentioned in the video, this Saturday will be their last day of trading, as I understand it - a chap behind the bar also confirmed that. They were open at midday sharp today as usual.

Always sad to see a pub close, always enjoy your pub videos, actually thinking of coming over from Wilts & doing a pub tour based on one of your videos.

I suspect because the historic building was essentially destroyed in the 60s

@@ctorus Yes it could be that. Although the current minimum age for a building to be listed (which I think is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule) is 30 years, so it's certainly not too young. There are plenty of examples of rebuilt pubs being listed, although typically that's more for rebuilds of the inter-war period or earlier.

@@And337go Great to hear! Any particular area in mind?