Status : Bittles bar
victoria street
Another old theatrical bar was The Shakespeare, owned by the Keaveney family who later owned the old Duke of York. This also was the haunt of artistes from the old Alhambra, Empire and Grand Opera House. The Keaveneys were also the agents for the old Music Hall Artiste’s Railway Association – a sort of old-fashioned BUPA. If a Variety Artiste died when he was on tour – no matter where he was in the British Isles – the Association saw to it that the deceased was coffined and returned home. The funds for this came from voluntary contributions. Needless to say, there were quite a few Wakes held in the old Shakespeare.