John Snow (public house)

The John Snow, formerly the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is a public house in Broadwick Street, in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London, and dates back to the 1870s. It is named for the British epidemiologist and anaesthetist John Snow, who identified the nearby water pump as the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854.

At an initial glance the pub appears like other traditional pubs. Towards the back is a staircase that leads to the first floor and a display of some of Snow's work.

The pub serves as a meeting place for the John Snow Society, which encourages its members to visit the pub, introduced a walk following the footsteps of Snow through Soho and ending at the pub, and performs a ceremonial removal of the pump handle and visit to the pub following its annual Pumphandle Lecture.

Location

The John Snow, named for the British epidemiologist and anaesthetist John Snow, is located on the corner of Lexington Street (formerly Cambridge Street) and Broadwick Street (formerly Broad Street) in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London.

History

The building was formerly known as the 'Newcastle-upon-Tyne' and dates back to the 1870s. It was built at the site of the water pump found by John Snow to have been the origin of a local cholera outbreak in 1854. The pub was renamed the John Snow in 1954, 100 years after the pump handle was removed. This dedication to Snow is generally thought of as peculiar as Snow was shy and never drank alcohol. The pub sign was unveiled in May 1955 by president of the Epidemiology and Public Health section of the Royal Society of Medicine, Sir Austin Bradford Hill. In 1992 a handleless replica water pump was installed nearby on the corner of Poland Street and Broadwick Street.

Interior

On entering the building, it appears like other traditional pubs. Towards the back is a staircase leading to the first floor, which displays some of Snow's work and portrait.

Exterior

The Royal Society of Chemistry established a blue plaque on the wall of the building. The 1992 replica pump was removed in 2015 for road restorations and replaced by another one in 2018 at the original pump location. An image of the pump was displayed on a temporary board until the replica was replaced. The pub sign outside depicts a portrait of Snow. The original site of the pump is represented by a pink curb stone outside the pub's side door.

John Snow Society

The pub serves as a meeting place for the John Snow Society (JSS). A requirement for membership to the society is that on visiting London, at least one trip is encouraged to the pub. Following the JSS's Pumphandle Lecture, held annually at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in September, members proceed to the pub for the society's annual general meeting. The society introduced a walk following the footsteps of Snow through Soho and ending at the pub.

Other events

A kiss-in protest was held at the pub after two men on a date were asked to leave in 2011.

Notes

References

External links

• Media related to John Snow, Broadwick Street, London at Wikimedia Commons