Henekey's Again

Posted on 2003/09/11 22:27:26 (September 2003) by john.

Now I've been there!

In my recent article about my discovering (via the wonders of the internet) the whereabouts of a pub called Henekey's, now called The Cittie of Yorke, I said I would make sure to visit it next time I was in London. Sure enough today, on my first visit to London since writing that article, I did exactly that.

I wasn't disappointed. I don't know if it's just down to how much I have built this place up in my mind, but when I entered I was enshrouded in a sort of magical feeling - the sort I have only rarely experienced since childhood. I know it sounds crazy, it is, after all, just a pub, but for me this had become a kind of quest for the holy grail. To me, this bar was beautiful. I never thought I'd say that about a pub, but that's how I felt about it. Beautiful.

Here again is the original picture of the bar I'd seen in the circa 1970 book. It's rather dominated by this sombre looking gentlemen, and it's very brown and fuzzy. This may have been down to printing or photographic technology at the time - don't ask me, I hadn't even been born.


The picture in the book was a double page spread, so I've tried to scan it in again to get in some of the right hand page. If it isn't obvious, the odd line down the middle is the seam in the book.


...and here's me, over thirty years after that picture was taken, standing in that very same bar! This picture has been taken from the other end of the bar to the picture in the book, and as such is facing in the opposite direction. So you have to imagine it's all in reverse. However, you can still see a lot of the same detail. The line of lights, the barrels up top, the booths, the windows, the floor, the bar - there were even suit wearing habituees doing their quiet drinking standing up. It all seems almost exactly the same as it is in that old photo, and exactly how I'd hoped it would be.


Another picture which shows me enjoying my pint, and some of the old barrels, still the same ones I assume, behind the bar.


One of the things the picture in the book didn't capture was the ceiling - it's just blackness in that old photograph, but actually there's a very high ceiling, with nice oak beams and everything.


As an aside, I've also managed to find a CAMRA article about the pub, under the Historic Pub Interiors section of its website.

So there you have it, a little dream fulfilled, and a new favourite haunt in Central London found. Isn't life just wonderful?

Yes, it looks great. We shall have to attend it some time when I am back in the UK.

Posted by Simon at 2003/09/12 09:45:28.

Alright, you've convinced me. I'll give it a go.

Posted by Jimmy at 2003/09/13 17:50:32.

Cittie of Yorke
Pleasant pub on a quiet day.
Plenty of seating, including 4-6 seat alcoves, ample bar space.
No noticeable muzak.
Bar staff responsive.
Gents loo well maintained
Samuel Smiths cider £2.16 per pint - I thought the man said £2.60, and was pleasantly surprised.
I think this pub has links with the "Olde Cheshire Cheese" in Fleet Street. Both well worth a visit!

John Fulbeck
Dec 2003

Posted by Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn at 2003/12/27 22:02:47.

I love hockey!!

Posted by wouter at 2005/01/31 24:49:52.

This Ciitie of Yorke in Holborn was previously known, in the 1960s, as Henekey's Holborn Bars. Henekey's was an independent firm of wine merchants, publicans and off-licence operators until the whole business was taken over by Forte's in the mid-60s.

Most of their outlets were in London and Home Counties.

Possibly nearest to the Holborn Bars were Henekey's Strand (eastern end, north side) and Henekey's Wood Street, City. I recall others in Marylebone, Crouch End, Bromley and Wandsworth.

Henekey's pubs specialised in own-brand spirits and fortified wines often served direct from casks of various sizes displayed behind their bars.

They were places for serious drinkers ... very little food was served until Forte's took over.

Posted by David Riach at 2005/12/26 17:19:17.

This Ciitie of Yorke in Holborn was previously known, in the 1960s, as Henekey's Holborn Bars. Henekey's was an independent firm of wine merchants, publicans and off-licence operators until the whole business was taken over by Forte's in the mid-60s.

Most of their outlets were in London and Home Counties.

Possibly nearest to the Holborn Bars were Henekey's Strand (eastern end, north side) and Henekey's Wood Street, City. I recall others in Marylebone, Crouch End, Bromley and Wandsworth.

Henekey's pubs specialised in own-brand spirits and fortified wines often served direct from casks of various sizes displayed behind their bars.

They were places for serious drinkers ... very little food was served until Forte's took over.

Posted by David Riach at 2005/12/26 17:21:26.

I worked at the Enfield Henekey's the winter of 65/66 (before leaving for Canada) I ran the off licence.Great sherries and port off the wood.Sorry to hear they were taken over by Forte's.

Posted by Jim Wright at 2007/05/15 03:37:58.

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