The Black Friar, Blackfriars, Art Nouveau pub in Blackfriars, London.
The Black Friar is a pub located in a wedge-shaped building in Blackfriars, London, decorated with bronze reliefs, sculptures, and mosaics depicting medieval monks throughout. Its Art Nouveau design combines copper, marble, and handcrafted tiles into a cohesive decoration.
The building was erected in 1875 on the site of a former Dominican priory and received its current interior decoration in the early 20th century. Poet John Betjeman led a campaign in the 1960s that prevented demolition and preserved it as a protected monument.
The name refers to the Dominicans who once lived on this site and were called Black Friars because of their dark robes, giving the pub its enduring identity. The interior is decorated with sayings and proverbs that offer a playful glimpse into monastic life and medieval humor.
The pub sits right next to Blackfriars station and is reachable by both Underground and rail services. The interior rooms are small and fill up quickly, so visiting outside peak hours helps avoid crowds.
Hidden within the walls and ceiling is a complete alphabet made of copper letters woven among the figures and mosaics. The facade has retained its original materials and colors while many other buildings in the area were modernized over the decades.
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