The Pub in Valletta has made it to number 5 on MSNBC’s list of the top ten legendary bars around the world.
The article entitled: “Cheers! World’s 10 most legendary bars”, states that if you “add history, drama, shake well – you get these watering holes.”
Of course, The Pub gained its fame as the last watering hold of legendary actor Oliver Reed who died after a massive alcohol binge session during the filming of the classic Gladiator.
The list was drawn up by members and editors of travel website VirtualTourist. The Pub, of course, has long been a popular gathering spot, but it has taken on a whole new meaning since the death of Oliver Reed.
The Pub has done well to fit into the rankings, with Harry’s Bar; Venice, Italy clinching the number 1 spot. Since opening in 1931, Harry’s Bar has been frequented by famous people such as Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Noel Coward, Orson Wells, Charlie Chaplin, and Peggy Guggenheim. The bar also claims credit for inventing the Bellini and Carpaccio.
Number 2 goes to The Blind Beggar; London, England. The Blind Beggar in Whitechapel, built in 1894, is known as the site on which The Salvation Army started but became even more notorious when, in 1966, London gangster Ronnie Kray shot rival George Cornell as he sat at the bar.
Number 3 goes to the White Horse Tavern; New York City. A favourite of New York’s literati set, The White Horse has seen everyone from Jack Kerouac to Norman Mailer pass through its doors but is perhaps best known as being the bar that served the 18 whiskeys said to have killed Dylan Thomas.
The number four berth is taken by Garota de Ipanema; Rio de Janerio, Brazil. When a 15-year-old girl made a stroll past the Veloso bar part of her daily walk to the beach, legend has it she inspired two song-writing patrons to pen possibly the most famous bossa nova tune in history — The Girl from Ipanema. Not surprisingly, the bar’s owners made the wise decision to capitalise on the success by re-naming the business.
The Pub, at number five, is described as: The Pub; Valletta, Malta. The walls of this simple bar are covered in pictures, newspaper clippings, and impromptu tributes to British actor Oliver Reed who was said to have died just after consuming vast amounts of alcohol there while on location for the movie Gladiator. A sign outside the bar reads “Ollie’s Last Pub.” The remaining five spots are taken up by Heinolds’ First and Last Chance Bar; Oakland, Calif.; Long Bar; Raffles Hotel, Singapore; The Eagle and Child; Oxford, England; Bell-in-Hand Tavern; Boston, Mass and Fink’s; Jerusalem, Israel makes number 10.