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This special Remembrance Sunday episode of The Historic London Pubcast takes us into the lesser-known wartime history of British pubs. From the cellars of London to the beaches of Normandy, discover how these beloved local landmarks became unlikely heroes during World War II.

We revisit The Black Horse in Marylebone, where D-Day plans were floated over pints, and tell the Spitfire beer story that led to the legendary Flying Drays - aircraft ferrying beer to troops during the Normandy beer run.

We hear how the Wenlock Brewery became a lifesaving shelter, and how pilots like Robert Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader made The Chesterfield Arms/The Shepherd’s Arms in Mayfair their wartime HQ.

We also honor lost pubs - The Hare and Hounds in Hampstead and The White Horse Hotel in East Ham - and explore the enduring symbolism of pubs like The Douglas Bader Pub in Ipswich. With research drawn from Martin Cornell’s Strange Tales of Ale, this episode pays tribute to the resilience, spirit, and community found in pubs across the UK.

Whether you're a history buff, pub lover, or planning a walking tour of London, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Cover Image Source

https://www.spitfires.com/post/ale-delivery-spitfires

Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com

E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com