Probably the world's greatest literary pub, George Inn boasts connection to at least three great writers of the past, including Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. And Charles Dickens, of course (which London pub does not?).
William Shakespeare used to live just round the corner and loved local beer. Moreover, his plays were performed here in the pub courtyard. At the time, plays were banned in the city itself for fears of plague and civil unrest. This area was outside the city’s jurisdiction, and plays could be performed here. The galleries from which the public enjoyed the shows remain intact to this day and The George Inn is the only surviving galleried coaching inn in London.
For a long time the courtyard was shared with another pub - “The Tabard Inn” - where Chaucer set the beginning of “The Canterbury Tales”. The inn and the landlord he describes both really existed. Sadly, “The Tabard” which was later known as “The Talbot” did not survive to this day. A memorial plaque to the inn and to Geoffrey Chaucer can be seen in Talbot Yard (named for the inn’s later incarnation).
Many London pubs claim a connection to Charles Dickens, and this one is no exception. Dickens loved the inns of Southwark. There are definite records of him drinking at The George Inn and he mentions it by the name in his novels “Little Dorrit” and “Our Mutual Friend”.
