Gingerbread Pubs of St Albans

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St Albans, England, is famous for its pubs.  It even has the most pubs per capita in England, and has the oldest pub in England, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.  This year, for my own creative gingerbread project, I decided to recreate some of St Albans iconic pubs in gingerbread.

Collage of four gingerbread replicas of historic pubs in St Albans, England, with text overlay reading "Gingerbread Pubs of St Albans."

I make scores of gingerbread houses for other people to decorate each year, but I love having a fun project for myself, too.  I now live in St Albans, England, a community with an incredible pub culture, and amazing, ancient, indpendent pubs.  The pubs really are like community living rooms, where you meet your neighbors and make new friends.  I feel very connected to this community, and a large part of that, I believe, is the pub culture.  I wanted to honor that part of St Albans' history, and give back to the community that I love so much.  

White Hart Tap Gingerbread Pub

Gingerbread version of the White Hart Tap pub in front of the actual White Hart Tap pub in St Albans.

The first house I made was the White Hart Tap.  This is very close to our house, and we LOVE this pub!  Great atmosphere, wonderful food, fabulous people.  We're in there at least once a week, and I knew I had to make this pub out of gingerbread.

Closeup of the front of the White Hart Tap pub gingerbread house.

Side view of the gingerbread White Hart Tap pub in St Albans, England.

The gingerbread White Hart Tap sitting on the bar of the White Hart Tap pub in St Albans, England.

 

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks Gingerbread Pub

Gingerbread replica of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, England.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is thought to be the oldest pub in England, trading since 793!  Its gorgeous, quirky architecture was definitely a challenge to replicate in gingerbread, and I did take a few artistic liberties.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, England.

Here's what the pub looks like in summertime.  I'm proud that I got as close as I did!

Closeup of the door and sign of the gingerbread Ye Olde Fighting Cocks Pub.

I was particularly pleased with my little gum paste cock sculpture, only to realize when we delivered  the gingerbread pub, that it's not currently being displayed.  I'd been working from older reference photos.  Oops!  

Detail of the signs and chimney on the side of the gingerbread Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.

Top view of the gingerbread Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub in st Albans, England.

Delivering the gingerbread house Ye Olde Fighting Cocks to the actual pub in St Albans, England. A very happy man in a red jumper holds his hands in the air around the large gingerbread house.

Each of the gingerbread pub deliveries was a surprise to the owners and staff.  It is so much fun to see their faces light up when they see the gingerbread house, and then again when I tell them it's a gift!

The Boot Gingerbread Pub

A gingerbread version of The Boot pub in St Albans, England, in front of the actual pub.

The Boot is another classic St Albans pub, built around 1500.  It's right in city center, across from the old clock tower.  Imagine a quirky, charming, old English pub with sturdy oak beams and an warm glow from the fireplace, and you'll have congured this amazing pub perfectly.  They also do VERY good tacos (and as someone who lived for many years in Phoenix, Arizona, I take my tacos seriously.)

Side view of the gingerbread replica of The Boot pub in St Albans, England.

Closeup of the front of the gingerbread pub replica of The Boot in St. Albans.

I love the way the architecture of the pub made it easy to paint a simple interior scene.  The windows are made out of sheets of gelatin.

Top view of the gingerbread house version of The Boot Pub in St Albans, England.

I used Curiously Cinnamon cereal for the shingles on the Gingerbread Boot.  It's the same as Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the USA, but for some reason, I've never met a brit who knows what cinnamon toast is!  How can a country so famous for loving toast not have cinnamon toast?

The Gingerbread version of The Boot pub sitting on the bar of The Boot in St Albans, England.

Delivery was a success!

The Lower Red Lion Gingerbread Pub

Gingerbread replica of the Lower Red Lion pub in front of the actual pub in St Albans, England.

The final gingerbread pub I managed to bake this year was the 17th century pub the Lower Red Lion, on historic Fishpool street.  

A gingerbread house made to look like The Lower Red Lion, a pub in St Albans, England.

Pubs are extremely dog friendly in St Albans, and our tiny chihuahua/terrier mix tries to drag us in the front door any time we walk by.  She knows she can get a treat, attention from the friendly staff, and a bowl of water.  

Closeup of the roof and sign on the Lower Red Lion gingerbread pub.

Delivering the Gingerbread version of the Lower Red Lion to Dave, the owner of the Lower Red Lion pub in St Albans, England.

 All of these pubs are a short walk from our home, and we feel so incredibly lucky to live in this amazing community, full of so many incredible pubs.  I'm delighted that I could give back a little something to this city that I love so much.

If you want to try your hand at making your own gingerbread house this year, this is the recipe I have been using for decades.  It's sturdy enough for construction, but absolutely delicious!

I even wrote an e-book with all of the tips, and tricks we've learned over the years.  I'm also always happy to answer questions by email.

Other Gingerbread Tutorials You Might Like:

Comments

Amazing! I would love to live there - I'm a big fan of craft breweries near where I live. Such detail and beauty in your work!

Nicole Wills, creator of Tikkido

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