Welcome to The Marquis

Dating from the reign of Charles II and originally run by a mistress of the Duke of Buckingham, like many historic buildings in London, The Marquis has a chequered past.

Built in the 1600's and first called The Hole in The Wall, The Marquis was notorious for its criminal regulars, including the romantic higwayman, Claude Duval, who was captured here whilst propping up the bar.

On January 17th 1670 Duval was tried at the Old Bailey on charges of highway robbery and despite the protestations of many female admirers, was condemned to death

He was hanged at Tyburn and is buried in the centre aisle of nearby St. Pauls church in Covent Garden under a stone inscribed with an epitaph beginning:

The pub was also a haunt of Charles Dickens. With his entire family imprisoned for bad debts, Dickens had been sent to work at the rat-infested Warrens Blaking (polish) factory at 30 Hungerford Stairs - now Charing Cross Station. Enduring appalling conditions, it was an experience he never forgot - two of his novels, David Copperfield & Great Expectations, were based on that period of his life.

'The Marquis of Granby' was once a popular British inn name, commemorating General John Manners (1721-70), son of the Duke of Rutland.

A highly decorated military officer and hero of the Seven Years War, Manners cared for the welfare of his men upon their retirement by providing funds for many to establish taverns, which they subsequently named after him.