1828
The Grand Cigar Divan Opens
Samuel Reiss opens a cigar-smoking coffee room at 101–102 Strand, formerly the Fountain Tavern, once home to the Kit-Cat Club. The Grand Cigar Divan quickly becomes known as the home of chess, offering coffee, cigars, newspapers and comfortable divans.
Regular members pay one guinea a year; day visitors pay sixpence, or a shilling and sixpence with coffee and a cigar.
1848
Simpson Joins & the Dining Tradition Begins
Reiss partners with caterer John Simpson, who rebuilds the premises and renames it Simpson’s Tavern and Divan. With advice from famed chef Alexis Soyer, Simpson introduces hearty British dining and the now-iconic silver carving trolleys, originally devised to avoid disturbing chess players.
1848-1849
The Chess Centre of London
Simpson’s becomes the hub of British chess, hosting some of the earliest international tournaments.
1851
The Immortal Game
Simpson’s flourishes with a full staff and resident workforce.
Adolf Anderssen plays the famed Immortal Game here — one of the most celebrated matches in chess history.
1862
Cathie & Davey’s British Culinary Rule
Edward William Cathie takes over management and hires Master Cook Thomas Davey, who insists that everything served be British — even replacing the word “menu” with “Bill of Fare.”
1865
Simpson’s Becomes a Limited Company
‘Simpson’s (Ltd)’ is formed with a capital of £100,000 (approx. £12.5 million today) to purchase and expand the Divan Tavern, supported by growing footfall from nearby Charing Cross Station.
1898
Acquired by Richard D’Oyly Carte
The owner of the Savoy purchases Simpson’s, integrating it into the wider Savoy estate.
1903
Demolition & Renewal
The original building is demolished as part of the Strand widening scheme. Furniture and fittings are auctioned, including what was said to be the largest solid mahogany table in existence.
1904
Rebuilt & Reborn as Simpson’s-in-the-Strand
Architect T. E. Collcutt incorporates Simpson’s into the new Savoy development. The Grand Divan Tavern reopens with the interiors and traditions recognised today, overseen by Rupert D’Oyly Carte.
1905
The Legendary Roasting Method
The Times details Simpson’s precise roasting technique: open fires, constant basting, and no more than a minute between spit and table.
1914
The Passing of Chef Thomas Davey
Davey dies aged 72 after commanding a kitchen brigade of 100. Under his leadership, staggering quantities of British meat and fish are prepared daily.
1914–1918
The First World War
Early wartime supplies remain steady, inspiring P. G. Wodehouse’s glowing tribute to Simpson’s as a “restful temple of food.”
Later rationing forces meat-free days, though luxury fish dishes remain available.
1930s
Art Deco Redesign
Architect Oswald Milne introduces Art Deco elements to the Knight’s Bar and lobby. Much of his polished joinery and glazing survives in the lobby today.
1934
The Doorman Who Welcomed Millions
The death of “Old Matt,” Simpson’s famed doorman, reaches the press. He is estimated to have opened doors for more than two million visitors.
1938–1945
Wartime Shortages
Meat rationing removes sirloins and saddles from the trolleys for years. Simpson’s serves Scottish venison and herrings as alternatives. A national rule caps restaurant meals at five shillings.
1974
Michelin Recognition
Simpson’s earns a Michelin star in the first UK edition, acknowledging the quality and significance of its traditional British dining.
1980–2009
Chess Returns
The National Chess Club Championship finals are held here in 1980.
The Howard Staunton commemorative tournaments run annually from 2003 to 2009.
1984
Women Enter the Grand Divan
Women are finally admitted to the main dining room. Tradition holds that the clock above its entrance stopped at the moment the first woman entered.
1994–2017
The Breakfast Years
Simpson’s launches breakfast service, including the infamous “Ten Deadly Sins” — a monumental English spread. Breakfast is discontinued in 2017.
2020
Closure During the Pandemic
Simpson’s closes in March 2020 due to COVID-19. The iconic carving trolleys fall silent.
2026
A New Chapter
Jeremy King reopens Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, restoring one of London’s great dining institutions.
A Political Haunt
Simpson’s has long been favoured by political figures including William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli and Winston Churchill. Churchill’s settle remains marked today.
In Literature, Film & Popular Culture
Simpson’s appears in works by P. G. Wodehouse, E. M. Forster and Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as in The Guns of Navarone, Hitchcock’s Sabotage, and Downton Abbey.
During a Zeppelin raid in 1917, George Bernard Shaw famously sheltered in Simpson’s wine cellar and left behind a signed cartoon — still preserved.
