Have you ever wondered about the ghosts that linger in a pub? The Old Shades, a grand old Victorian building on Whitehall, holds more than just pints and hearty meals. It whispers stories of royalty, intrigue, and even a fiery demise.
A stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square, The Old Shades stands proudly on a site that once held the grandest palace in Europe – The Palace of Whitehall. Can you imagine? King Henry VIII himself held court here, marrying Anne Boleyn in the very grounds where the pub now stands. He then married Jane Seymour a mere eleven days after Anne’s execution – a rather quick turnaround, even for a king.
The palace saw its fair share of monarchs, from Edward VI to Charles II. Sadly, its grandeur succumbed to a rather comical, but fatal, event. A Dutch laundrywoman accidentally set the palace ablaze, leaving only the Banqueting House standing. The Old Shades stands on the very site where kings and queens once promenaded, a silent witness to the passing of time. In its Victorian architecture, the ghosts of a rich past linger, ready to share their stories with anyone who cares to listen.
Today, The Old Shades enjoys the quiet, almost reverent, atmosphere of a traditional British pub. Step inside, and let your imagination take you back to a time when kings ruled, and palaces burned. Feel the history in the pub’s walls, and raise a glass to the ghosts of Whitehall.