Why Was This Greenwich Pub Known As ‘The Bunker’?

On King William Walk in Greenwich you will find a pub that has spent over 130 years at the heart of the community and for many decades was known locally as ‘The Bunker’. 

The Royal History Of Greenwich

The name of the pub hints to the royal connections of Greenwich going back to the 15th century.

Greenwich Park was enclosed in 1433 and a grand home, called the Palace of Placentia, built here by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Regent to King Henry VI. 

King Henry VII extensively rebuilt and expanded the palace in around 1500. His son Henry VIII loved the palace and used it as a royal getaway for feasting and hunting. The deer in Greenwich Park are thought to descend from the deer herd put here for Henry VIII. As well as Henry, his daughters, the future queens, Elizabeth I and Mary I were born at Greenwich Palace. 

King Charles II started remodelling the palace in 1664 and had the Royal Observatory built. 

In the 1690s, under King William III, the palace became the Royal Naval Hospital and later the Royal Naval College, which you can visit today. 

The King’s Arms

Considering the above, what better place to have a pub called the King’s Arms. The King’s Arms, constructed in 1891, can be found on King William Walk, previously known as King Street. Inside are portraits of the kings and queens associated with the area. 

‘The Bunker’

From the 1930s-1970s the King’s Arms was locally known as ‘the Bunker’. There are two prevailing theories about where this came from.

It is thought to potentially come from the idea that the pub was used as an air raid shelter, a ‘bunker’, during Blitz air raids, particularly for the staff at the National Maritime Museum.

A solid roof and drinks were both apparently offered in a basement bar. During this period, the licensee was a large, down-to-earth Yorkshireman called Bill Barlow. At 6ft 4 and weighing 15 stone, he must have been quite a character. 

The other theory is that coal heavers, particularly those that worked at the LCC power station at Highbridge, would leave their shovels propped up against the pub whilst they ‘bunked’ off for some refreshments and a rest. 

The King’s Arms has therefore been at the heart of the community in Greenwich for many years and as their website says been ‘a beacon of “stay calm and enjoy”’!

The pub has recently had a huge refurbishment both inside and out. The new garden area tucked away behind the pub particularly is a great spot to sit and have a drink in the hot weather with a combination of open sections and more shaded spots.

Click here for their website.

More of London’s quirky history below!