If you are looking for a special place for a traditional lunch look no further than the charming Simpson’s Tavern, established in 1757 and still going strong. Down a cobbled pathway in the heart of the City, (the actual address is 38 ½ Cornhill) and in its own tiny courtyard, Simpson’s is said to be the oldest chop house in London.
![Simpson's Tavern - Ball Court 1 Simpson's Tavern](https://sixinthecity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Simpsons-small-1-300x225.jpg)
The layout in this Grade II listed building has not changed since the 18th century. Downstairs is a bar and separate restaurant area, and upstairs is more dining (where the ladies’ loo is located – added as an afterthought when women were admitted in 1916). The seating is partly laid out as wooden panelled stalls and you may well have to share a table; historically this was a perfect setting for getting parties to finally agree a deal after an excellent shared lunch. Note the roomy hat racks between each stall, from the days when bowler hats and silk top hats were a common sight here. The tables are actually the underwriting tables from Lloyds, and each dining room has a Victorian tiled grill (now used for storage) and a marble topped table on which the slabs of meat were carved.
![Simpson's Tavern - Ball Court 2 Simpson's wooden stalls with hat rack](https://sixinthecity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_20220311_114029small-300x225.jpg)
The menu is aimed at carnivores and contains meaty staples e.g. Barnsley chops and the charmingly chatty staff really do ask if you’d like a sausage with every order. Stewed cheese is still on offer; this is a kind of welsh rarebit dish, and long served here and more vegetarian options will be available when the full menu returns.
![Simpson's Tavern - Ball Court 3 Simpson's blackboard](https://sixinthecity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_20220311_113337-small-268x300.jpg)
Simpson’s is one of the few pubs that retains the old City opening hours – last orders are 3.30pm. Rather wonderfully it is also open for breakfast from 8.30 Tues to Friday. Well worth treking down Ball Court and sampling this anachronistic delight.