| John Snow | |
|---|---|
 John Snow pub (2023) | |
 Interactive map of John Snow | |
| General information | |
| Location | 39Broadwick Street,Soho,City of Westminster, part of theWest End of London,London, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′47.5″N0°08′12″W / 51.513194°N 0.13667°W /51.513194; -0.13667 |
| Opened | 1870s |
| Known for | Named forJohn Snow |
TheJohn Snow, formerly theNewcastle-upon-Tyne, is apublic house inBroadwick Street, in theSoho district of theCity of Westminster, part of theWest End of London, and dates back to the 1870s. It is named for the British epidemiologist and anaesthetistJohn Snow, who identified the nearby water pump as the source of acholera 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 theJohn 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 annualPumphandle Lecture.
The John Snow, named for the British epidemiologist and anaesthetistJohn Snow, is located on the corner of Lexington Street (formerly Cambridge Street) andBroadwick Street (formerly Broad Street) in theSoho district of theCity of Westminster, part of theWest End of London.[1][2]
The building was formerly known as the 'Newcastle-upon-Tyne' and dates back to the 1870s.[2] It was built at the site of thewater pump found byJohn Snow to have been the origin of a localcholera outbreak in 1854.[3][a] The pub was renamed the John Snow in 1954, 100 years after the pump handle was removed.[3] This dedication to Snow is generally thought of as peculiar as Snow was shy and never drank alcohol.[4][5] The pub sign was unveiled in May 1955 by president of theEpidemiology and Public Health section of theRoyal Society of Medicine,Sir Austin Bradford Hill.[6] In 1992 a handleless replica water pump was installed nearby on the corner ofPoland Street and Broadwick Street.[3][7]
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On entering the building, it appears like other traditional pubs.[6] Towards the back is a staircase leading to the first floor, which displays some of Snow's work and portrait.[6][8]
The Royal Society of Chemistry established ablue plaque on the wall of the building.[2] The 1992 replica pump was removed in 2015 for road restorations and replaced by another one in 2018 at the original pump location.[3][5] An image of the pump was displayed on a temporary board until the replica was replaced.[9] The pub sign outside depicts a portrait of Snow.[8] The original site of the pump is represented by a pink curb stone outside the pub's side door.[6]
The pub serves as a meeting place for theJohn Snow Society (JSS).[3][10] A requirement for membership to the society is that on visiting London, at least one trip is encouraged to the pub.[5] Following the JSS'sPumphandle Lecture, held annually at theLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in September, members proceed to the pub for the society's annual general meeting.[11] The society introduced a walk following the footsteps of Snow through Soho and ending at the pub.[12]
In 2011, a gay couple was reportedly forced to leave the location after staff members saw them kiss.[13] In response, the local community held a "kiss-in" protest that resulted in the pub temporarily closing.[14]
Media related toJohn Snow, Broadwick Street, London at Wikimedia Commons