Admiralty, Trafalgar Square

The Admiralty
Map
Restaurant information
Established2014
Street address66 Trafalgar Square
CityLondon
Postal/ZIP CodeWC2N 5DS
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°30′27″N 0°07′44″W / 51.50744°N 0.128917°W / 51.50744; -0.128917
Websitewww.admiraltytrafalgar.co.uk

The Admiralty is a pub at 66 Trafalgar Square, London. It is the only pub situated on the square.[1] The Italianate building was built in 1871 by the architect F. W. Porter for the Union Bank. It was listed at Grade II in 1987, by which time it was a branch of the National Westminster Bank.[2]

In 2005, the building became Albannach (from the Gaelic for "Scot" or "Scottish"), a restaurant which specialised in Scottish food and whisky. It was founded by Niall Barnes, a Glasgow entrepreneur.[3] To celebrate their first Burns night, the head chef, John Paul McLachlan, created a special haggis using a rare and expensive 50-year-old Balvenie malt whisky.[4]

In 2014, the building was acquired by Fuller's Brewery.[5] It re-opened as the Admiralty pub on 23 October of that year, two days after Trafalgar Day. The opening was performed by Admiral Lord West of Spithead, who had been First Sea Lord from 2002 to 2006, and by the brewery's chief executive Simon Emeny. During the opening a magnum of London Pride beer was ceremonially smashed on the pub's exterior.[1] The pub's interior decor is inspired by HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.[6]

On 13 July 2022 a serious fire broke out in the basement of the Admiralty; over 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines were dispatched to tackle the fire.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Admiralty launched on Trafalgar Square", Hospitality & Catering News, 24 October 2017, retrieved 22 October 2017
  2. ^ Historic England, "National Westminster Bank (1217744)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 October 2017
  3. ^ Moir, Jan (5 February 2005), "Are you ready to order? This week: Albannoch", The Daily Telegraph
  4. ^ Top chef serves up £2,500 haggis, BBC, 24 January 2005
  5. ^ Wingett, Mark (27 March 2014), "Fuller's secures the Albannach", Morning Advertiser, retrieved 22 October 2017
  6. ^ The Admiralty, Londonist, retrieved 22 October 2017
  7. ^ "Trafalgar Square fire: Admiralty pub blaze under control", BBC News, 13 July 2022