Ye Olde Fighting Cocks

The pub is at the end of Abbey Mill Lane beside the River Ver, just outside the perimeter of Verulamium Park, not far from St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire.

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The first mention of the building is in 1622 when a Thomas Preston "...bought an old pigeon house and pulled the same down and erected it ... and made thereof a tenement which is now called the Round House." The pigeon house had been built in the 11th century in a location nearer the cathedral.

The building, in its current location, was originally known as The Round House{{cite journal|last=Page|first=William|title=The Marian Survey of S. Albans|journal=Transactions of St Albans Architectural & Archaeological Society|year=1896|volume=1893/94|page=21|url=https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1893_94_01_-2.pdf|access-date=7 August 2019}} but there is no record of it being licensed as a public house under that name. The first known reference to it being an alehouse is in 1756 when it appears to be trading as The Three Pigeons. Around 1800 its name changed to the Fighting Cocks, perhaps in reference to the sport of cock fighting which was popular at the time and which may have taken place in the main bar area. The prefix "Ye olde..." is a late Victorian affectation. It is known by locals as 'The Fighters' or 'The Cocks'.{{cite journal|author=F.G. Kitton|title=The Old Inns of St Albans|journal=Transactions of St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society|volume=1899/1900|page=260|url=https://stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1899_1900_07_.pdf|access-date=7 August 2019}}

In 1950 the building was Grade II listed.{{NHLE|grade=II|desc=The Fighting Cocks public house|num=1347100|date=8 May 1950}}

In 2015 PETA wrote to the pub's landlord and its owners, Mitchells & Butlers, requesting that they change the name due to its cockfighting association. The request was declined.{{cite news |url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/animal-rights-group-calls-fowl-over-name-of-historic-st-albans-pub-1-4079279 |title=Animal rights group calls fowl over name of historic St Albans pub |newspaper=Herts Advertiser |date=19 May 2015 |first=Matt |last=Adams |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024141847/https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/animal-rights-group-calls-fowl-over-name-of-historic-st-albans-pub-1-4079279 |url-status=dead}}

In February 2022, the pub went into administration,{{cite news |last=McRae |first=Isabella |title=The 'oldest pub in Britain' Ye Olde Fighting Cocks says a heartbreaking goodbye after 13 centuries |url=https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/ye-olde-fighting-cocks-goodbye-6607905 |access-date=5 February 2022 |publisher=HertsLive |date=5 February 2022}} though the owner was hopeful that a buyer would be found for the business.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/feb/14/another-pint-hopes-raised-for-historic-st-albans-pub-closed-by-pandemic |title=Another pint? Hopes raised for historic St Albans pub closed by pandemic |first=Tom |last=Ambrose |date=14 February 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=14 February 2022}} In March 2022, the former manager and head chef joined a new team to take over the pub's lease.{{cite news |title=St Albans: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks to reopen with former staff in charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60899605 |access-date=20 April 2024 |work=BBC News |date=28 March 2022}}

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The main structure is free-standing and has an octagonal appearance, attributable to its original use as a pigeon house. It has been added to over the years but the original timber-framed structure is clearly visible. It was originally close to St Albans Cathedral (when it was St Albans Abbey) and was moved to the present site sometime after the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539. Its foundations are claimed to be even older, dating from around 793 but again this is dubious. It is claimed that there are tunnels running between the cathedral and the pub's beer cellars which were once used by monks.{{cite web|url=http://www.yeoldefightingcocks.com/about.htm |title=About |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104020739/http://www.yeoldefightingcocks.com:80/about.htm |publisher=Ye Olde Fighting Cocks |archive-date=4 November 2008}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}}

As with many old buildings, the ceilings are quite low. An original bread-oven is next to one of the fireplaces. It has a large beer garden with different seating arrangements, as well as seats out the front.

The Cocks was featured in an exterior scene in "The Sins of the Fathers", a 1990 episode of the ITV series Inspector Morse. The setting was the beer garden along the River Ver, with the pub's large sign plainly visible in the background.{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Alan |title=Murder mysteries and TV crime dramas shot on location in Hertfordshire |url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/things-to-do/21758027.murder-mysteries-tv-crime-dramas-shot-location-hertfordshire/ |work=The Herts Advertiser |date=27 April 2021}}

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{{Listed buildings in Hertfordshire}}

{{Pubs in Hertfordshire}}

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Category:Pubs in St Albans

Category:Grade II listed pubs in Hertfordshire

Olde Fighting Cocks

Category:Octagonal buildings in the United Kingdom

Category:Timber framed pubs in Hertfordshire

Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom