You're looking at real history here. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which dates to the 11th Century, is the oldest pub in Britain. Originally, it was the pigeon coop for the adjacent St. Albans Cathedral and still is connected to the landmark church by tunnels from the pub cellar that were used by monks.
Both are in the city of St. Albans, located in Hertfordshire, about 20 miles north-northwest of London.
The ancient pub (you can read its history here) recently underwent some cellar refurbishing and installed a new bar made of oak, and when it reopened this week Richard Watson, the sub-dean of the cathedral that is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain, showed up to offer a two-minute-long blessing of the establishment and the 16 different ales it offers.
As part of the blessing, Watson quoted from the writings of Brigid of Kildare, a 10th Century Irish saint:
“I would like to give a lake of beer to God, I would love the heavenly host to be tippling there for all eternity.
“I’d sit with the men and women of God there, by the lake of beer, we would be drinking good health together and every drop would be a prayer.”
• Go here for Notes On Napkins
• Go here for Dowd On Drinks
• Go here for Dowd's New York Wines Notebook
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