The current owner, Humphrey Smith is an interesting fellow, I used to do maintenance and refurbishment work on Samuel Smiths Southern pubs and properties a few decades ago. One day I was doing some work near the Southern head office in Wapping where I saw a tramp walking around the car park. I told the tramp that he’d better leave as it was private brewery property. The tramp said “I know, I own it”. Despite having many, many millions (some say billions), he would get a lift from Tadcaster to London in the dray lorries to save petrol. When the facilities manager retired, who had been given a very old Austin Princess to drive between the pubs, a knackered old thing back then, Humphrey decided he’d have it. A true Yorkshireman through and through.
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.
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.
I lived in Swiss Cottage for several years back in the late 1970s. The students from London school of speech and drama which is just a 5 minute walk away, would regularly be in the SC Tavern projecting their voices, Their need to shout their conversations meant that the chance for a quiet pint with a normal conversation had to be found elsewhere.
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.
Jim, A friend of mine went to that drama school and I met him and his friends for a drink about 15 years ago. It was literally four hours spent with15 people talking about themselves at the top of their voices! A surreal experience.
So sad! I’ve only been to the Swiss Cottage once, and that was in the late ‘70’s when I was temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy. Passed by it several times over the years, but somehow never managed to pop back in. Let’s face it, the surrounding ambience is not stellar. Thank you so much for reviving an old, pleasant memory…CHEERS!!!🍻
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.
Hi John, What seems strange is that it's even got a tube station named after it and it isn't considered historic. It does look a bit tired both inside and outside maybe needs fresh input. I just hope it's not closed for good and the new owners recognise it's history. Always good to hear these stories of pedestrianism!! That race sounded like something from Monty Python!! Thanks for taking us there All the best!!
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?
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?
Sad news. I can't believe its not protected in some way. Its great that you managed to make a video for posterity. Hopefully someone will buy it. Samuel Smiths are notoriously secretive as a company, so its not surprising we don't know much. Nice to see you chose Alpine, at least it tastes like some of the Bavarian brews (especially since they increased the ABV). I'll be having a few of those and maybe a stout tonight in my local The White Horse (Nellies) Beverley. You'd love it Tweedy. A virtually untouched 17th century coaching inn, still lit by gas and only had a bar counter etc added in the 1970s. Cant provide photos I'm afraid, but its worth looking up. Cheers.
The fact that the tube station was named after the cottage hopefully protects this unique building with such a colorful history as a pub. However, it's a bit alarming that there's not more transparency on its future. Well done for highlighting this case, Tweedy!
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!
Says a lot about you for marking the passing of this titular landmark. Never been across the threshold and now never will. I just remember it as the true 'we are in London' marker for many a 80s National Express adventure. Like a lot of things you think it will be so forever...and you are wrong. 'Cheers' and 'Good Luck' to Ye Old Swiss Cottage. 🍻🍻
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.
Nice one Tweedy as used to live in St Johns wood and had many a good pint in the Ye Olde. Not far from Swiss Cottage is a lovely pub called The Ordnance Arms on Ordnance hill next to the one time army barracks.
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.
I spotted an old bureau in there and wonder if that came from the original building - I bet no one knows! Vaguely remember seeing this place, but never visited. Was aware the area took its name from it, but never really considered why there was a Swiss Cottage there! I quite like the idea that it came about as a result of that exhibition - does seem like a very 1800s sort of thing to do - probably seen as exotic back then. Was there really bull-baiting in the 1800s - that's a bit of a shock? Interesting that it was called "Ye Olde" even when it wasn't. The current building does look quite 60s and part of me struggles to feel any warmth for that, but the reality is if they replace it, the new building will be ghastly and generic. Given the fact the whole area is named after the pub, it would be a shame to lose it. This was Tweedy historic pub journalism at its best. Quick to report from the scene of an important historic pub development.
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).
I first saw it being driven by in a hired Morris 1800 with my parents and brother in 1967. I wanted to go in but at 12 had little say in the matter. Saw it again many times when I lived in London and drove past with an aunt and uncle. My pleas to visit were met with 'We will some day' which is a great way of saying 'never'. Over the decades since I passed it many times, usually on a National Express coach. Still never got inside . I did not know about the blood sport connection which makes me feel better although pretty sure bull baiting had more or less stopped by 1967.
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.
As a fairly new subscriber who found your channel via the excellent video last year with John Rogers, I am enjoying your videos Tweedy, Another very interesting presentation, even though the Swiss Cottage may have an unsure future, as you explain.
I visited the Swiss Cottage a couple of times in the early 70s when I lived nearby, but was not enamoured with it. It seemed to thrive on the tourist trade with few locals that I can remember, and to be frank the exterior appearance is ridiculously kitsch. It's location is surrounded by traffic and ugly buildings - I doubt many will mourn its passing if this sale is the pub's death knell.
Tweedy I think you should pay a visit to the Express Tavern at Kew Bridge. They do Harveys. Building reminds me a bit of the Pineapple at Kentish town but on a much busier road. Could combine with the Steam Packet and the Strand on the Green pubs.
As member's of the London branch of the Sunderland Supporter's club we would use the upstairs function room for the annual AGM. I remember the pub as a bit tatty but they provided loads of refreshment sarnies.
My local pub when I lived in the area during my student years in London. A question: there was at that time a pub, can't recall the name (O'Henery's maybe?), further up Finchley Road, near the Finchley Rd/Frognal train station with a nice summer terrace and very popular amongs the younger generation. Does it still exist, since I can't find anything on Google maps there? Thanks.
Oh no! Wild that it's not listed! One other feature of it is that you can hear the Tube trains running underneath. Thank you for the warning - will see if I can get a last few in.
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.
@@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.
My great uncle Len, a London black cab driver, used to live in the flats on nearby Boundary Road and I have memories from the early 90s of being taken into Ye Olde Swiss Cottage as a young child. So much of the London from that time has been erased, either through market forces, on purpose, or both. Very depressing.
I'm a big fan of Sam Smiths Stouts and Porter, so I always enjoy a trip to one of their pubs. I've paid a visit to the Swiss Cottage a few times having worked in the Camden area fora number of years. I heard a story that the bus conductors used to shout 'Schweiz Hoff' to notify passengers when buses were stopping here due to the number of German/Jewish emigrees living in the area - presumably in the earlier parts of the 20th century. Hope this important building keeps is character and hopefully 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.
Oh that the junction were known as Swiss Chalet. p.s. Just as the Crystal Palace relocated, I wonder if Robinson's adjunct to the Colosseum was moved here (rather than inspire a repeat order?) Thank you for the wealth of time consuming research that you share in each video.
Humphrey and Son are known for retaining valuable estate, even letting properties fall into effective internal ruin, despite clear loss of market value. My local up north has a vacant property next door owned by the brewery worth a fair penny, yet stands empty. For some Sam Smith's corporate history, there's a great detailed profile in the Guardian in Dec 2024. Something tells me Mr Martin may come a knocking.... if only for historical preservation reasons. Thanks Tweedy for the update. More Tweedy Outdoors please!
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.
Good evening, Tweedy. I must have driven past 'The Swiss Cottage' 1000s of times when I used to be going into London regularly, but never got around to visiting. I guess I never will now 🤔 Look forward to your 'next instalment' on Primrose Hill and Belsize Park areas.❤ Just rewatched your Rotherhithe video - meeting some old colleagues there next week (now we're all retired) for a look at some riverside establishments 😁👍🍺🍻
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.
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.
I'm bummed to hear that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage may be about to expire. I worked briefly at the cinema next door in the late 80s, 89 or 90 maybe, and I did an awful lot of drinking at Ye Olde... An awful lot. It was always crowded as I recall and very very smokey. Great video as always, sir.
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.
I drank at this wonderful pub in seventies and eighties so sad to see it closing we had wonderful times their it was my first date with my wife so sad it is closing
Pubs were always important landmarks for giving directions and called in at many to get more directions😂however with sat navs these pubs have become obsolete but it made me cut down on beer drastically 😂
Used to pass it every day on the old 13 Routemaster, the clippie would theatrically shout out Swiss Cottage!. Pity those buses have gone and pity about the pub itself. Only had a drink in it once and it was, tbh, pretty average however it's something of a landmark. Better boozers nearby in the shape of e.g. the Belsize Park or Princess Louise in Primrose Hill. Hopefully the Cottage will soldier on under new ownership however.
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.
Was my first 'regular' pub when i moved up to London in 1989 as i worked a few yards up the road, many pints of Ayingerbrau Pils were sunk. Thanks for the heads up Tweedy, must try and get down there for a last drink. I'm not sure Humphrey Smith particularly cares about goodwill.
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.
Don't know why YT recommended this video to me, as I don't generally watch this sort of content and I'm new to your channel... but I used to live just around the corner from this pub back in the 90s. I probably spent more time in other pubs, but I did have many a pint here, and I have some fond memories of that time. Sad to see it go.
Such a shame, Ive had many a good pub crawl all over London and Ye Olde Swiss Cottage was one that evaded me, looks absolutely gorgeous, very sad news if its not kept alive, I have a suggestion for some other areas to explore Lambeth and Battersea, thanks as always Tweedy, cheers 🍻
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 lived across the street on eton avenue went to this pub many times next door was a cinema across the street was the sports center but i am going back 50 years ago when i lived in the area sad to hear of its demise
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.
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!
I was going to suggest Jack Straws Castle,Hampstead, until I looked it up and found out it had closed down. Used to enjoy the best sausage sandwich there, oh well.
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?
I'm suprised it lasted so long. The surrounding area has been enshitified by Camden over the decades. There used to be several bars in the Finchley Road/Swiss Cottage area but most are gone. Social engineering and likely cultural change saw them off a long time ago. Shitty, leftist, big government vision is to blame. Drinks are also too expensive to just casually enjoy on a winter's night. A few warm weeks in Summer is when the Swiss Cottage does it's best business. The surrounding area has been housing for twenty plus years foreigners who don't go to pubs and probably don't even drink. It's sad because it used to be a really fun area.
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.
As an antipode to this, would you consider a video highlighting some newly opened/re-opened pubs in London? I'm thinking Lord Southampton, Leyton Engineer, Duke of St Albans, The Constitution, The Old Justice, George & Dragon in Wanstead off the top of my head. I'm sure there are plenty more
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!
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.
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.
@@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
@@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
sorry to disagree IT IS A LISTED BUILDING ive heard a rumour that wetherspoons is looking into buying it as well as greene king IT WONT CLOSE its just being taken over by another brewery ignore any rumours that it will close cause IT WONT i just hope my informer is correct lets see anyway keep up the good work mate love the reviews your doing you should try paddington and bayswater two great areas :)
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
When on form the handpulled bitter is great but few pubs have enough beer drinkers left to keep it flowing. They do a couple of decent lagers and some great bottled beers
The current owner, Humphrey Smith is an interesting fellow, I used to do maintenance and refurbishment work on Samuel Smiths Southern pubs and properties a few decades ago. One day I was doing some work near the Southern head office in Wapping where I saw a tramp walking around the car park. I told the tramp that he’d better leave as it was private brewery property. The tramp said “I know, I own it”. Despite having many, many millions (some say billions), he would get a lift from Tadcaster to London in the dray lorries to save petrol. When the facilities manager retired, who had been given a very old Austin Princess to drive between the pubs, a knackered old thing back then, Humphrey decided he’d have it. A true Yorkshireman through and through.
‘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.
I lived in Swiss Cottage for several years back in the late 1970s. The students from London school of speech and drama which is just a 5 minute walk away, would regularly be in the SC Tavern projecting their voices,
Their need to shout their conversations meant that the chance for a quiet pint with a normal conversation had to be found elsewhere.
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 😂
Jim, A friend of mine went to that drama school and I met him and his friends for a drink about 15 years ago. It was literally four hours spent with15 people talking about themselves at the top of their voices! A surreal experience.
So sad! I’ve only been to the Swiss Cottage once, and that was in the late ‘70’s when I was temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy. Passed by it several times over the years, but somehow never managed to pop back in. Let’s face it, the surrounding ambience is not stellar. Thank you so much for reviving an old, pleasant memory…CHEERS!!!🍻
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.
Hi John, What seems strange is that it's even got a tube station named after it and it isn't considered historic.
It does look a bit tired both inside and outside maybe needs fresh input. I just hope it's not closed for good and the new owners recognise it's history.
Always good to hear these stories of pedestrianism!! That race sounded like something from Monty Python!!
Thanks for taking us there
All the best!!
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?
Tweedy you need to do a Bermondsey/Peckham pub crawl, so many good ones!
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?
Sad news. I can't believe its not protected in some way. Its great that you managed to make a video for posterity. Hopefully someone will buy it. Samuel Smiths are notoriously secretive as a company, so its not surprising we don't know much. Nice to see you chose Alpine, at least it tastes like some of the Bavarian brews (especially since they increased the ABV). I'll be having a few of those and maybe a stout tonight in my local The White Horse (Nellies) Beverley. You'd love it Tweedy. A virtually untouched 17th century coaching inn, still lit by gas and only had a bar counter etc added in the 1970s. Cant provide photos I'm afraid, but its worth looking up. Cheers.
The fact that the tube station was named after the cottage hopefully protects this unique building with such a colorful history as a pub. However, it's a bit alarming that there's not more transparency on its future. Well done for highlighting this case, Tweedy!
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.
Says a lot about you for marking the passing of this titular landmark.
Never been across the threshold and now never will.
I just remember it as the true 'we are in London' marker for many a 80s National Express adventure.
Like a lot of things you think it will be so forever...and you are wrong.
'Cheers' and 'Good Luck' to Ye Old Swiss Cottage. 🍻🍻
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.
Nice one Tweedy as used to live in St Johns wood and had many a good pint in the Ye Olde. Not far from Swiss Cottage is a lovely pub called The Ordnance Arms on Ordnance hill next to the one time army barracks.
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
I spotted an old bureau in there and wonder if that came from the original building - I bet no one knows!
Vaguely remember seeing this place, but never visited. Was aware the area took its name from it, but never really considered why there was a Swiss Cottage there! I quite like the idea that it came about as a result of that exhibition - does seem like a very 1800s sort of thing to do - probably seen as exotic back then. Was there really bull-baiting in the 1800s - that's a bit of a shock? Interesting that it was called "Ye Olde" even when it wasn't.
The current building does look quite 60s and part of me struggles to feel any warmth for that, but the reality is if they replace it, the new building will be ghastly and generic. Given the fact the whole area is named after the pub, it would be a shame to lose it.
This was Tweedy historic pub journalism at its best. Quick to report from the scene of an important historic pub development.
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).
I first saw it being driven by in a hired Morris 1800 with my parents and brother in 1967. I wanted to go in but at 12 had little say in the matter. Saw it again many times when I lived in London and drove past with an aunt and uncle. My pleas to visit were met with 'We will some day' which is a great way of saying 'never'. Over the decades since I passed it many times, usually on a National Express coach. Still never got inside . I did not know about the blood sport connection which makes me feel better although pretty sure bull baiting had more or less stopped by 1967.
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.
As a fairly new subscriber who found your channel via the excellent video last year with John Rogers, I am enjoying your videos Tweedy, Another very interesting presentation, even though the Swiss Cottage may have an unsure future, as you explain.
Thank you! ...and thanks to John Rogers for helping new people to find my channel!
I visited the Swiss Cottage a couple of times in the early 70s when I lived nearby, but was not enamoured with it. It seemed to thrive on the tourist trade with few locals that I can remember, and to be frank the exterior appearance is ridiculously kitsch. It's location is surrounded by traffic and ugly buildings - I doubt many will mourn its passing if this sale is the pub's death knell.
Tweedy I think you should pay a visit to the Express Tavern at Kew Bridge. They do Harveys. Building reminds me a bit of the Pineapple at Kentish town but on a much busier road. Could combine with the Steam Packet and the Strand on the Green pubs.
As member's of the London branch of the Sunderland Supporter's club we would use the upstairs function room for the annual AGM. I remember the pub as a bit tatty but they provided loads of refreshment sarnies.
I grew up in the states and would go to the pub whenever I visited my grandparents. I had many good times there and would hate to see it close
My local pub when I lived in the area during my student years in London.
A question: there was at that time a pub, can't recall the name (O'Henery's maybe?), further up Finchley Road, near the Finchley Rd/Frognal train station with a nice summer terrace and very popular amongs the younger generation. Does it still exist, since I can't find anything on Google maps there? Thanks.
Might you mean the Ordiance Arms on Ordiance Hill?
@acropolisnow9466 Do you mean the Ordnance Arms in St. John's Wood? Nope, the one was right on Finchley Rd., pass the train station.
Oh no!
Wild that it's not listed!
One other feature of it is that you can hear the Tube trains running underneath.
Thank you for the warning - will see if I can get a last few in.
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?
My great uncle Len, a London black cab driver, used to live in the flats on nearby Boundary Road and I have memories from the early 90s of being taken into Ye Olde Swiss Cottage as a young child. So much of the London from that time has been erased, either through market forces, on purpose, or both. Very depressing.
I'm a big fan of Sam Smiths Stouts and Porter, so I always enjoy a trip to one of their pubs. I've paid a visit to the Swiss Cottage a few times having worked in the Camden area fora number of years. I heard a story that the bus conductors used to shout 'Schweiz Hoff' to notify passengers when buses were stopping here due to the number of German/Jewish emigrees living in the area - presumably in the earlier parts of the 20th century. Hope this important building keeps is character and hopefully stays as a pub.
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.
Oh that the junction were known as Swiss Chalet.
p.s.
Just as the Crystal Palace relocated, I wonder if Robinson's adjunct to the Colosseum was moved here (rather than inspire a repeat order?)
Thank you for the wealth of time consuming research that you share in each video.
Humphrey and Son are known for retaining valuable estate, even letting properties fall into effective internal ruin, despite clear loss of market value. My local up north has a vacant property next door owned by the brewery worth a fair penny, yet stands empty. For some Sam Smith's corporate history, there's a great detailed profile in the Guardian in Dec 2024. Something tells me Mr Martin may come a knocking.... if only for historical preservation reasons. Thanks Tweedy for the update. More Tweedy Outdoors please!
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.
Good evening, Tweedy.
I must have driven past 'The Swiss Cottage' 1000s of times when I used to be going into London regularly, but never got around to visiting.
I guess I never will now 🤔
Look forward to your 'next instalment' on Primrose Hill and Belsize Park areas.❤
Just rewatched your Rotherhithe video - meeting some old colleagues there next week (now we're all retired) for a look at some riverside establishments 😁👍🍺🍻
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.
Good vid Tweedy. Your channel is doing well 🇬🇧 🇳🇿
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.
Ffs can’t they leave any thing alone.
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.
I'm bummed to hear that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage may be about to expire. I worked briefly at the cinema next door in the late 80s, 89 or 90 maybe, and I did an awful lot of drinking at Ye Olde... An awful lot. It was always crowded as I recall and very very smokey. Great video as always, sir.
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.
@@TweedyPubs It is a pretty nice cinema. I was surprised to see it was still going. I didn't think anyone went to movies anymore. Cheers, Mr. T.
I drank at this wonderful pub in seventies and eighties so sad to see it closing we had wonderful times their it was my first date with my wife so sad it is closing
Pubs were always important landmarks for giving directions and called in at many to get more directions😂however with sat navs these pubs have become obsolete but it made me cut down on beer drastically 😂
Super interesting video - and hopefully not all will be lost.
Thank you! Yes, fingers crossed.
Used to pass it every day on the old 13 Routemaster, the clippie would theatrically shout out Swiss Cottage!. Pity those buses have gone and pity about the pub itself. Only had a drink in it once and it was, tbh, pretty average however it's something of a landmark. Better boozers nearby in the shape of e.g. the Belsize Park or Princess Louise in Primrose Hill. Hopefully the Cottage will soldier on under new ownership however.
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.
Was my first 'regular' pub when i moved up to London in 1989 as i worked a few yards up the road, many pints of Ayingerbrau Pils were sunk. Thanks for the heads up Tweedy, must try and get down there for a last drink. I'm not sure Humphrey Smith particularly cares about goodwill.
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.
it says a lot that awful buildings like the southbank are listed, yet unique buildings like this are not.
Socialists are very fond of their architectural crimes and seek to preserve them.
Don't know why YT recommended this video to me, as I don't generally watch this sort of content and I'm new to your channel... but I used to live just around the corner from this pub back in the 90s. I probably spent more time in other pubs, but I did have many a pint here, and I have some fond memories of that time. Sad to see it go.
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!
Such a shame, Ive had many a good pub crawl all over London and Ye Olde Swiss Cottage was one that evaded me, looks absolutely gorgeous, very sad news if its not kept alive, I have a suggestion for some other areas to explore Lambeth and Battersea, thanks as always Tweedy, cheers 🍻
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!
Whato Tweedy,
A sad story. One hopes for the best and the appearance of hand pumps.
WONDERFUL INSIGHT
I'm no expert on any of this stuff but I do what I can!
i lived across the street on eton avenue went to this pub many times next door was a cinema across the street was the sports center but i am going back 50 years ago when i lived in the area sad to hear of its demise
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.
Remember overhearing the staff mention the Sam smith’s rules of no entertainment was affecting business.
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!
I was going to suggest Jack Straws Castle,Hampstead, until I looked it up and found out it had closed down. Used to enjoy the best sausage sandwich there, oh well.
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,
Oh my God!!!
It's all getting out of hand😢
Agreed, very difficult times for pubs.
Thanks for another interesting vlog👍 can't believe its not listed Sam Smith's is a strange carry on 😵💫
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?
I'm suprised it lasted so long. The surrounding area has been enshitified by Camden over the decades. There used to be several bars in the Finchley Road/Swiss Cottage area but most are gone. Social engineering and likely cultural change saw them off a long time ago. Shitty, leftist, big government vision is to blame. Drinks are also too expensive to just casually enjoy on a winter's night. A few warm weeks in Summer is when the Swiss Cottage does it's best business. The surrounding area has been housing for twenty plus years foreigners who don't go to pubs and probably don't even drink. It's sad because it used to be a really fun area.
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.
Yes, but Frank Redmond wasn't a professional mosquito breeder, was he?
As an antipode to this, would you consider a video highlighting some newly opened/re-opened pubs in London? I'm thinking Lord Southampton, Leyton Engineer, Duke of St Albans, The Constitution, The Old Justice, George & Dragon in Wanstead off the top of my head. I'm sure there are plenty more
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!
Sad to think it may be gone after having been a pub onsite for so long. I wonder why Sam Smith's hasn't released a statement.
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.
@@TweedyPubs Makes sense. If that's the case, I hope it doesn't sit too long and fall into disrepair.
As a local, service is crap. Go somewhere else. SS should do better.
You do know how SS roll? Very odd...and it's a shame because they have some landmark pubs in their London estate.
They don't seem to like the customers.
Exterior
Brackets
Balustrade
Carvings
Shutters
External
interior
Relatively simple
Refit
Geometric patterns
Similar
Kitch chalet
esque barback fitting plenty
Seating carpeted
Decorated
Srained glass
Reminiscent
attraction
Surveyed
exhibition
Depicted
Engaged invoy
devious
Onlookers
Veteran pedestrian
equivalent
adjusting
annual turnover indeed
However
Release
Sam Smith are closing their pubs on a regular basis up north..shame about this🍺
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
Good job that you didn't swear in there or Sir Sam Smith would have asked you to leave! Perhaps his rival Sir JD Neverspoon will take it over?
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.
sorry to disagree IT IS A LISTED BUILDING ive heard a rumour that wetherspoons is looking into buying it as well as greene king IT WONT CLOSE its just being taken over by another brewery ignore any rumours that it will close cause IT WONT i just hope my informer is correct lets see anyway keep up the good work mate love the reviews your doing you should try paddington and bayswater two great areas :)
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
Sam Smyths. Rubbish beer. Always
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
When on form the handpulled bitter is great but few pubs have enough beer drinkers left to keep it flowing. They do a couple of decent lagers and some great bottled beers
Too many Muslims