Harry Hotspur

A local legend ... Below is written above the entrance to The Hotspur:

"Percy Street is named after Lord Percy who was the first Early of Northumberland. The name of the public house "Hotspur" which means fiery and tempestuous comes from Lord Percy's son Henry, whose nickname was "Harry Hotspur". He was so called because he had many battles against the Scottish in the North East and Scottish Borders.

On the 14th August 1403 Henry Hotspur was slain by an arrow in the forehead at Shrewsbury fields.

To commemorate Harry's bold endeavours John Sanderson named this building "the Hotspur" when it was first licensed in 1872. John was a brewer and wine merchand and his company was located at the Haymarket Brewery at the rear of this building.

The Hotspur was previously a nine bedroom hotel up to 1914. The rooms were later converted and let as offices in 1951.

In 1982, like Henry Percy, the Hotspure was involved in a battle. Plans were made to build a multi-million pound extension to Eldon Square in the Haymarket area. But, plans were swiftly rejected and the Hotspure was left as the public house as it stands today."