PUB viaduct tavern near fleet street

The Viaduct has been a Fuller's pub for a couple of years now, but to be honest you don't really come here for the beer (even though it's good), but to take in the Victorian interior. Built on the site of an old jail (there're still a couple of surviving cells in the basement as well as rumours of a ghost), the Viaduct Tavern is a well preserved pub with some glorious touches of nineteenth century decor.The Giltspur Street Compter was a small Compter or prison, mainly used to hold debtors. It was situated in Giltspur Street, Smithfield, close to Newgate, in the City of London, between 1791 and 1853.
The Compter was adjacent to Christ's Hospital boys school (1553-1902). Its construction began in 1787, and the Compter was ready for occupation in 1791. In 1815 it took some prisoners from the nearby Poultry Compter prior to its closure. The Giltspur Street prison was itself closed in 1853 and demolished in 1854, the site being later occupied by the King Edward Buildings Royal Mail Sorting Office The fare on offer does its best to live up to the opulent surroundings, and this one's worth popping in if you happen past. Tends to get crowded with the highly-paid punters from the nearby offices and, less frequently, journalists, witnesses and spectators from across the road, it's worth a visit outside of the busy times if you want a nosey round the interior. (Closed Sunday).