THE GLOBE

THE?GLOBE

John Keats was the son of a stableman at an inn and livery stable called the Swan and Hoop, which stood just south of Moorgate station.

Last Wednesday was Keats’s birthday (31 October) and I went to a celebratory event, with up to a hundred people including City of London dignitaries, outside the Globe pub on Moorfields.

Bob Hall (who funded the sculpture) spoke first. Bob and the Lord Mayor of London then unveiled John Keats’s bronze bust. Afterwards, we heard from the sculptor, Martin Jennings. Here is a picture of the bust, the sculptor and the pub directly behind. The circular base?around the plinth is inscribed with a quote from the fifth stanza of Keats' 1819?Ode on Indolence:

My sleep had been embroider'd with dim dreams;

My soul had been a lawn besprinkled o'er

With flowers.

You can find more on the English romantic poet Keats and his poetry if you click on this Poetry Foundation link.

The Globe pub merged with The John Keats pub in 2008. The Globe still commemorates Keats in the name of a room for hire: Keats at the Globe (Maximum capacity: 60 guests seated. 150 standing): ‘Named after the famous poet, John Keats, who was rumoured to have been born in the stable next door in 1795.’ The Globe pub building is from the early 19th century and Grade II listed.

I entered this Nicholson’s pub through a door under a large sign saying: Keats at the Globe. Straight up to the bar, I bought myself a half of Adnams Ghost Ship – a Halloween appropriate beer! Then I went to look for somewhere comfortable to sit down. Poems and information on Keats were up on the walls, there were plenty of tall stools available but all the seats with backs were taken.

Wandering into the Globe bar, through a connecting door, only the tall stools were unoccupied. I went upstairs and found a second Globe bar but was now told: ‘This bar is only for dining.’ However, in the upstairs Keats section, I found a couple of spare tables away from a large group of people feasting on the burgers. Under a picture of ‘The selected letters of John Keats,’ I sat comfortable at last.

The Globe, 83 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6SA

Wikipedia The Globe, Moorgate

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If you liked this article,?there are other London literary pubs listed here.