The Only Running Footman pub, located at 5 Charles Street in Mayfair, London, is one of the city’s oldest pubs, originally established in 1749.
The name “The Only Running Footman” originates from the era when running footmen were employed to run ahead of their master’s coaches to clear the way through London’s congested streets and to pay tolls ahead of the carriage. These footmen sometimes carried lamps at night to light the way. The pub’s name is said to honor a retired running footman who, upon buying the establishment, renamed it after himself. Another explanation links the name to William Douglas, the 4th Duke of Queensberry, who owned a footman reputed to run an impressive 8 mph