NOTICE: Venues need your support more than ever during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
A nationwide lockdown is currently in place in England, and you are required by law to stay at home. Hospitality venues can still provide food takeaway and delivery services, but can only sell alcohol by delivery service.
But please be aware that opening hours and services may be different to those displayed here. Before visiting or ordering from any venue, we strongly advise you to check its website or social media, or get in touch with them first to avoid disappointment.
If you see any details here that need updating, please let us know by submitting feedback on the pub.
Edgar Wallace
40 Essex Street
Aldwych
London
WC2R 3JF
Opening Times
Monday | 11.30 am - 11.00 pm |
Tuesday | 11.30 am - 11.00 pm |
Wednesday | 11.30 am - 11.00 pm |
Thursday | 11.30 am - 11.00 pm |
Friday | 11.30 am - 11.00 pm |
Saturday | closed |
Sunday | closed |
Meal Times
12 - 9 Mon - Thu
11 - 3 Fri
Closed Sat & Sun
Owner
Ei Group
About the Pub
Just off Fleet Street near the Royal Courts of Justice, near all the barristers' chambers in the Temple and the Aldwych, this is a real gem of a one room pub, with an additional drinking and eating room upstairs. The ceiling is packed with the landlord's collection of beer mats, and the walls and back bar - and more! - can only be described as a mecca of advertising signs for beers, sherry, port, cigarettes, tobacco and cigars of the past.
The landlord's collection of Edgar Wallace crime novels, pub guides, etc., will make you want to linger. And with between six and eight ales generally available, all but one being rotating guests sourced from breweries, including micros, from all over the country, you're spoiled for choice. The landlord John (he gets by on around four hours of sleep a night - he's used to it after 46 years in the trade and 8 at the Edgar Wallace; it's a way of life) is invariably on hand at his table by the main door, and will happily help you make your choice of beer. Good value food is served all day (but just until 3pm on Fridays).
This pub does not open at all at weekends. It's a "quiet" pub with no music; laptops, mobiles and so on are not allowed. With its great range of interesting real ales, it operates a try-before-you-buy policy but, to compensate for this, note that half pints may be charged at a premium rate.
Historic Interest
There has been a pub here since at least 1777. Past customers of the Essex Head Tavern (known as Sam's for the publican Samuel Greaves, an old servant of Mr. Thrale - of H. Thrale & Co., brewers at the Anchor Brewery Southwark) included Dr. Samuel Johnson and Richard Brocklesbury who are said to have founded the Essex Head Club here in 1783. Rebuilt in 1891 as the Essex Head, it took its present name in 1975 to celebrate the centenary of the famous crime writer's birth.
Regular cask ales
This pub serves 1 regular beer.
- Crouch Vale Brewers Gold
Changing cask ales
This pub serves 7 changing beers.
Changing beers typically include:
- Dark Star Hophead
- East London Pale Ale
- Timothy Taylor Landlord
Usually five, sometimes seven changing ales.
Features
-
Real Ale Available
-
Quiet Pub
Facilities
-
Lunchtime Meals
-
Evening Meals
Not on Fridays.
-
Dog Friendly
-
Family Friendly
Only if eating.
-
Function Room
-
Smoking Area
At front of the pub.
View on Larger Map
Edgar Wallace
40 Essex Street
Aldwych
London
WC2R 3JF
Sat Nav Reference
Transport
-
Close to Bus Routes
-
Close to London Underground / Overground / DLR
Nearby Bus Routes (75m)
TfL: 11, 15, 4, 23, 26, 76, 172, 341
Nearby London Underground/Overground/DLR (200m)
Temple
Submit Pub Feedback to CAMRA
We welcome the help of all users to contribute to this important campaigning project. Please use the form below to submit feedback or updates directly to the CAMRA branch for consideration.
Please note that any changes mentioned WILL NOT have an immediate effect on whatpub.com but will instead be emailed directly to the CAMRA branch Pubs Officer for consideration. If you provide your name and/or email address this information will also be visible to the Pubs Officer, who may use this information to follow up your feedback. IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE PUB DIRECT, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS FORM.