For generations, Londoners have swapped stories about famous writers arguing over drinks in dimly lit pubs, and The Fitzroy Tavern has always been at the heart of those tales.
Nestled in Fitzrovia, the historic spot has long been wrapped in nostalgia and cultural pride.
That’s why its latest run-in with food safety inspectors has landed as such a shock.
From Literary Legend to Hygiene Headache
Once known as a favourite watering hole of literary giants like George Orwell, Virginia Woolf and Dylan Thomas, the 170-year-old pub has now been handed the lowest possible food hygiene rating.
Inspectors found food being served well past its use-by date while evidence of mice activity was discovered across the premises.
What was once a symbol of London’s creative past is now being criticised for conditions that inspectors say require urgent improvement.
What Inspectors Found Behind the Bar
According to the food safety report, mice droppings and fruit flies were spotted in the bar area, including on floors and shelving.
Officials warned that food was at serious risk of contamination due to ongoing pest activity.
The same issues had been flagged during an inspection the previous year, but inspectors noted that no meaningful action had been taken since then.
Expired Food Still Making It to Customers
The report revealed a worrying pattern when it came to food storage and handling.
Items like apple sauce and sweet chilli sauce were served despite being 17 days past their sell-by date.
Greek-style yoghurt was sold 10 days late, whipped feta appeared on the menu four days after it should have been discarded, and cooked chicken, hummus and custard were also found to be out of date.
Inspectors also raised concerns about food being given shelf lives far longer than recommended.
Basic Hygiene Rules Ignored
Beyond the food itself, inspectors highlighted lapses in basic hygiene practices.
Staff were reportedly not washing their hands regularly and had to be reminded to do so after using the toilet, smoking, or handling raw food and waste.
The hand-washing basin in the bar area wasn’t being used consistently, while floors and shelving in the kitchen, bar and storage areas were found to be dirty—issues that had also been noted during earlier inspections.
A Pub Steeped in History
The Fitzroy Tavern’s fall from grace is particularly striking given its storied past.
Originally opened as a coffee shop before becoming a tavern in 1856, it was run by German landlord Heinrich Hundertmark and later taken over by Judah “Pop” Kleinfield after World War I.
Over the decades, it evolved into a meeting place for artists, writers and politicians.
The pub even boasts its own autobiography and was named the best restored pub in the UK in 2017 following a major redesign under Samuel Smith’s Brewery.
Zero Stars and No Rush to Reinspect
Food businesses in England are rated from zero to five stars based on hygiene standards, and a zero rating signals serious concerns.
While venues can request a follow-up inspection in hopes of improving their score, The Fitzroy Tavern has chosen not to do so—at least for now.
What’s Next?
Whether the historic pub can restore its reputation will depend on how quickly and seriously it tackles the issues raised by inspectors.
For a place so closely tied to London’s cultural history, the pressure is on to ensure that its future isn’t overshadowed by hygiene failures instead of literary legends.
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