Royal Children, Nottingham

The Royal Children is one of Nottingham’s oldest pubs, with its first recorded mention dating back to 1799. Legend suggests the inn was named after the children of Princess Anne, daughter of King James II. When the king's reign was on the decline, Anne sought refuge in Nottingham, arriving on December 1, 1688. She was accompanied by Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and Lady Berkeley, along with the Bishop of London, Henry Compton, and the Earl of Dorset. They stayed in Nottingham for a few days, and legend claims that Anne's children were given refuge at the inn.

However, historical records indicate that none of her children born before this visit were still alive, and her next child, Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, was not born until eight months later. The earliest known reference to the pub is from 1799, when the Nottingham Directory lists John Clayton as the landlord.

The inn later became associated with the Home Brewery Company, and it was rebuilt in 1933-34 based on designs by Albert Edgar Eberlin. For many years, a whale bone sign hung outside the inn, but it was moved indoors to prevent further deterioration.