Famous people own bars and restaurants and pubs, we all know that. But I'll admit I was a little surprised to learn Sir Ian McKellen is a leaseholder for the pub I called local for a year.
Sir Ian is a leaseholder alongside fellow actor Sean Mathias and Russian-British businessman Evgeny Lebedev. Not only is the pub owned by famous faces, but it's also an impressively large slice of history.
The Grapes has been around for almost 500 years, long enough to appear in Charles Dickens' works. The author is said to have danced on the pub's tables - even era-defining authors like to get lit, I suppose.
Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle loved the pub too, as did many a painter. Not only has the pub inspired art for centuries, it's also survived the London Blitz and remained a beloved neighbourhood local throughout trying times.
As I pushed open the door, a gentle breezed nudged me over the threshold and into the 19th century. I could practically hear Charles Dickens scribbling away and muttering about why a woman of my colour was in his pub.
Shaking off the disorientation, I ordered an Appletiser and sat in a Dickens-themed corner. The Victorian author's works neatly decorated the shelves surrounding me as a bust of the man glared down judgementally.
Shooting him a wink, I sank back into my seat and soaked in the history. From the slightly ajar window behind me, I could hear the Thames gently lapping against the shores as those with thicker coats than me enjoyed the sun on the pub terrace.
The red floors and burgundy walls hammered in the pub's age with their glaringly obvious allergy to modern interior design. Rather than seeming dated, I found the decor charming - The Grapes looked after their decor, but nothing here needed changing.
In a world where we're constantly fixing things that aren't broken, The Grapes had chosen to preserve its history, moving with the times but honouring its roots. It was more than charming; it was honourable.
On a hot summer's day, I would happily sip a beer on The Grapes' terrace, watching boats go by as the skyline twinkles away in the distance. On a chilly day like this, I was more than content picturing Charles Dickens dancing on a table as I drank my Appletiser.
Find The Grapes at 76 Narrow St, London E14 8BP
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