There has been an inn on the same plot since 1725, at 1 Castle Street until the Charing Cross Road was built in the 1870s. It was a haunt of freemasons, and the Lodge of Confidence met there from 1807 to 1829. Rebuilt in 1880 at a cost of £2,895,the tiling of the back bar and other areas should be checked out along with the photos of theatre stars as you go up the staircase. Now a small corner bar with an angled frontage, six handpumps and large plain glass windows; the first floor theatre bar has three hand pumps. The large food menu includes pre-theatre set meals. Food options include takeaway and delivery as well as eating in the pub. In spite of its very central location guaranteeing footfall, the pub has garnered good reviews for its ale range and quality.