Another day, another dead pub. This is the former Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, in the neighborhood of the same name, which I pass through on my walks to and from work. The pub, which I depicted a couple of times on this blog even though I never went inside myself, closed on February 1. The wrought iron rooftop sign and ornamental lampposts have already been removed, leaving the building forlorn.
It's right next to the Swiss Cottage tube station, and in fact apparently gave its name not only to the station but the entire neighborhood. If you want more history, read Matt Brown's article from Londonist -- he notes that although there's been a pub here since at least the early 1800s, the widening of Finchley Road in the 1960s left it standing on a traffic island, and "a pint in the Swiss Cottage beer garden was less like sitting on the shores of Lake Geneva and more like the Zurich western bypass."
That's pretty much why I never went there. Despite the cozy chalet-style architecture, Ye Olde Swiss Cottage always seemed rather inaccessible amid a sea of concrete and busy roadways -- even though all it took to get there was crossing the street. (You could even avoid the traffic fumes, sort of, by using a subterranean footpath -- or subway, as the British say.)
Although the owners removed the signage and probably anything else of value, they left behind the flowers, which is kind of sad.
Farewell, Swiss Cottage. I hardly knew ye. (Or perhaps I should say "uf widerluege," although apparently that technically means "until we see each other again" and I'm not sure that's going to happen.)
It looks like someone should scoop the whole building onto a giant truck and deposit it in a Swiss Village where it would be right at home.
ReplyDeleteIt DOES look very Alpine!
DeleteAh, shame to lose another quirky little piece of London. I expect it is destined to be redeveloped into yet another bland concrete and glass lump.
ReplyDeleteProbably. I bet it gets torn down, just like the building across the street. This whole area is booming.
DeleteThat's very sad. I am sure I have driven by that pub several times. In years to come, people might scratch their heads and wonder, "Why the hell is this area called Swiss Cottage?"
ReplyDeleteExactly! Tearing it down deprives the area of its identity.
DeleteSuch a shame. I wonder if it will go on to another life or use. I’m surprised it survived more than 60 years after the widening of Finchley Road. Thanks for the link to Matt Brown’s article.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was a hilarious article. I love how he described the former paint job as "the color of a geography teacher's trousers." I'm not even sure what that means but I still think it's a great description!
DeleteI hope such an iconic and historical treasure can be preserved.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it's not historically landmarked. (Or maybe it is.)
DeleteAre these real or plastic flowers?
ReplyDeleteReal!
DeleteThat's very sad to see a business fail. The building is unique. The question is, will the building be saved and re-used? Is it considered a historic landmark?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that it is landmarked, but even if it is I think it could be demolished under certain circumstances.
DeleteI'm sure something fabulous and costly and perhaps unnecessary will go up i n its place.
ReplyDeleteProbably apartments, I'd guess. (Which are necessary, but will also be fabulous and costly and therefore rendered less necessary to the people who actually need them.)
DeleteBars and pubs in my part of the world only seem to be gradually disappearing. I think the days of spending time drinking in a building not your home are dwindling as the older generations die off.
ReplyDeleteI must confess it's not something I would do!
DeleteI can't believe I'm saying this but until our last days in England when we were staying with Jenny and were asked if we went to "The Swiss Cottage," I had no idea about this place -- and we walked in and out of that tube station every day for two weeks. But we went out a different entrance and when we walked Finchley Road, walked north (I think north) toward Finchley Rd. tube. I wrote it down in my book for "next time." Now, no "next time" for the Swiss Cottage pub. Sigh. Thanks for sharing the history. A quirky, fun sight in London. It brings to mind two things -- the article last week in the Londonist on London's lost pubs, which reminds me of Christopher Fowler's wonderful Bryant and May book, "The Victoria Vanishes," also on old pubs. I wonder what will be there the next time I come back. (Hopefully later this year. We'll see what happens now that the Musk-o-vites have control of our treasure, Social security and Medicare.)
ReplyDeleteI wondered if you went there when you were staying close by!
DeleteIt is always sad to watch a piece of history go.
ReplyDeleteIt is. I always liked the floral displays, even if I never went to the pub.
DeleteWhenever I see the words, Ye Olde, I just have to laugh.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of campy, isn't it?!
DeleteWhat a shame to lose this spot with such a charming name. However, it does sound like it's location has become a problem. I don't think I ever used the Swiss Cottage tube station but I have passed by on the tube a few times.
ReplyDeleteThere's not really any reason to stop there as a visitor, unless you're going to something at the Hampstead theater. It's mostly a residential area and a commercial strip that supports the neighborhood.
DeleteHwy 59 is being turned into Interstate 69. No more underpasses, new bridges being built, widening by several lanes on both sides, adding adding access/feeder lanes in both directions where they didn't already exist. The land in front of a well know big establishment, Junior's Smokehouse between here and El Campo has been held for expansion always I guess but the expansion will bring the hwy right up to their front door, maybe even take the building. They closed a couple of months ago. Imminent domain. They take what they want.
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed. In the old days it meant building highways through minority neighborhoods. I'm sure that still happens, too.
DeleteMuch is spent on decorating businesses and one wonders if they make enough to warrant the expense.
ReplyDeleteI know! Someone spent a lot of money on those flowers!
DeleteYou are an urban archeologist, documenting what has come before so we don't forget.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by changes in the urban environment. New York is great for that too!
DeleteAre the flowers real or artificial? In my climate, a display like that would take endless care and watering.
ReplyDeleteThey are real! We get a lot of rain (normally) so they stay alive. I imagine they'll survive on their own for a while, but they'll die in late spring or summer, when it's drier.
DeleteWhat a shame! It's so picturesque. I guess location is everything.
ReplyDeleteI guess. I've also never heard anyone say it had great beer!
DeleteAww so sad! I love the look of the old Swiss architecture. All the wood details make it so fun and cozy. I am actually doing some remodeling in my own home right now and really want to keep the old unique parts that make it so charming. We are having the hardwood floors refinished so hopefully they will be returned to their former glory. I think it's important to preserve such things!
ReplyDeleteYou know, normally I would delete such an obviously spammy comment, but you seem to have put so much effort into it that I'm going to let it stand. :)
DeleteSo sad...
ReplyDeleteI wonder how you say that in Swiss? Google translate doesn't give me the option. (Unless I just go for German: traurig.)
DeleteIt is sad that it closed, and just another one to add to the very long list of closed pubs.
ReplyDeleteBritain loses hundreds of them every year.
DeleteThat's unfortunate. It's sad that pubs are closing. We watch a lot of Britbox and envy the Brits their pubs and social clubs.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that the country is so known for pubs, and yet modern Brits go to the pub less and less.
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