...The Lord Mayor opened the fair from the steps of the pub ...
	HAND & SHEARS	London EC1A 7JA	1 Middle St., Cloth Fair
<	This delightful little pub is a good example of an early nineteenth century tavern. Its plain and simple interior has matchboarded walls and an oak floor. Although small, it is divided into four bar areas, each served from the central bar island. One snug is so small, it can hold only about eight customers. A 12th century alehouse stood here, in the precincts of St. Bartholomew's Priory. In August 1133, the first cloth fair was held at Smith Field nearby. Tailors and drapers came from all-over the country to ply their trade.	By Tudor times the Cloth Fair had taken on an official role for Merchant Tailors, whose officers would check cloth with a yard stick. Offenders caught giving short measure, were brought to the alehouse and their case heard. The guilty were put in stocks or whipped. Eventually the alehouse was officially adopted by the Merchant Tailors of London and was allowed to display the guilds sign, the 'hand and shears'. The Lord Mayor opened the fair from the steps of the pub. The last one was held in 1855.
			OPEN Mon-Fri 11.00-23.00 Closed Weekends & Bank Hols TEL 020 7600 0257 TUBE Barbican, Farringdon Credit & Debit Cards: All major
			FOOD Bar food 11.00-15.30
			BEER Courage Best, Directors plus 2-3 guests weekly