The pub takes its name from a famous pub that was located nearby until the entire street (Wych Street) was demolished over 100 years ago, shortly before Africa House, was built. Converted from a bank/building society in 1998.

Now a cavernous Wetherspoon pub whose convenient location means that it is nearly always busy, even weekends when the absence of the work crowd is made up for by shoppers, out of towners and people starting their Saturday nights (on Sunday many other local establishments are closed, which helps boost its custom). The nearby location of the London School of Economics means that students swell the pub's population during term time. Even though this is a very busy pub, service is normally quick from an efficient staff team.

Following CAMRA's updated definition of "real cider", pubs such as this selling for example Old Rosie and Orchard Pig or other ciders such as Thistly Cross, Stans, Gwynt Y Draig, Broadoak etc. no longer qualify for the "Real cider" tag.