The Horse and Groom

Built in 1829 by glazier Stephen Millsted, the Horse and Groom (4 Mercatoria) was originally known as the "Sir Charles Napier." It was constructed to serve the migrant workforce building Decimus Burton's new town. It was reportedly pouring ale before the building was fully finished.The pub’s history features a fascinating timeline of caretakers and traditions. In the 1830s, it  contained public news rooms, and on September 22, 1836, an out-of-control horse and cart plunged from higher ground directly through the building's scullery. By the 1891 census, the pub was registered under its current name, the Horse and Groom, and run by licensee Edmund Franklin. It briefly closed in 1907 but later reopened.

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The "Doom and Gloom" Era: For over 25 years, the pub was famously managed by eccentric, well-loved landlord David Sansbury. Sansbury intentionally cultivated a traditional "time-capsule" environment without televisions, arcade games, or piped music, earning the pub the affectionate local nickname "The Doom and Gloom”.  Following Sansbury's passing in 2022, the future of the historic pub was briefly thrown into uncertainty. However, in late 2023, long-time patron Alan Pink purchased the site, assuring locals that the beloved, conversation-centric atmosphere would be preserved.