Scene-stealing locations
Maybe Hollywood just appreciates the favourable exchange rate, but we like to think it’s our diverse range of olde-world pubs that gets them filming this side of the Atlantic. Feast away while you reminisce at one of these scene-stealing locations.
Fright night
The Film: An American Werewolf in London
The Location: The Black Swan, Surrey
Known by locals as The Mucky Duck, The Black Swan was ironically monikered The Slaughtered Lamb for the 1981 black comedy. The film’s chilling opening shows two American backpackers stumbling into a dingy drinking den which falls suspiciously silent. The local drinkers are a close-knit, tight-lipped bunch and a sinister pentangle is etched on the wall. Had the audience known that the pub is actually located in the heart of the stockbroker belt, and not in the heart of the Yorkshire moors, the eerie ambience may have somewhat diminished. This old pub, which has also featured in Inspector Morse, is now frequented by biker gangs. Nice…
The lovenest
The Film: Four Weddings & A Funeral
The Location: The Crown Hotel,
The Crown Hotel is the cosy timbered bar
where Hugh Grant courted southern gal Andie MacDowell. The hotel dates form the
16th century; and the bar used to be the local magistrate’s
court-room. Exterior shots of the bar, renamed The Boatman for the film, were
filmed outside the nearby Amersham’s Kings Arms; a picture-postcard timber
framed pub. Grant and MacDowell also filmed a canoodling session in the bridal
suite of the same hotel, leading to bookings for the same room from as far afield
as
Riverside charm
The Film: The Crying Game
The Location: London Apprentice,
Neil Jordan’s IRA thriller was an unexpected hit on both sides of the Atlantic. While the exterior of The Metro Bar (where ladyboy Dil meets Fegus) was a vacant property dressed up by film-makers, the interior was real enough – it’s the London Apprentice pub. The décor retains the feel of its early 18th century roots, best experienced on a winter’s afternoon in a cosy armchair by the open fire. Previous visitors include Henry VII, Charles II and III, Oliver Cromwell and Dick Turpin. Spiffing! Traditional bar snacks are served in the conservatory, while the upstairs restaurant offers more sophisticated dishes, like pan-fired fillet of pork.
Make mine a double
The Film: Sliding Doors
The Location: Bertorelli’s,
How terribly posh
The Film: Howard’s End
The Location: Simpsons-in-the-Strand
Film fans can follow Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson’s’ award-winning footsteps by eating here. Originally a 19th century chess club the main dining room remains a proudly old-fashioned establishment (despite a partial revamp) serving traditional English cuisine. Howard’s End was filmed in the West Room and the entire sequence serves as effective advertising. Hopkins’ character describes the place as “thoroughly old-English”, offering Margaret some menu advice: Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and cider to drink – that’s the sort of thing to go for.”
On a Beatles tip
The Film: A Hard Day’s Night
The Location: Les Ambassadeurs Club,
A literary lounge
The Film: Shadowlands
The Location: Fellows Lounge The Randolph Hotel, Oxford
The lounge in this sedate 19th
century hostelry was the setting for the first between C.S. Lewis and his
future wife Joy Gresham, and also features in many Inspector Morse episodes.
Surprisingly, this elegant lounge is also open to the public as well as hotel guests
and is a distinguished place to take afternoon tea. There’s Grolsch, Caffreys
and Guinness on tap and for the peckish there’s a selection of rather posh
light snack such as salmon platter and roast beef in red wine. You’re well
advised to book a table as its maximum capacity extends to 35 people.
-- Published by Virgin.Net, 1999
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