Perseverance Tavern

This article is about the Cape Town pub. For other uses, see Perseverance (disambiguation). For the public house in London, England, see The Perseverance.
The Perseverance Tavern
The Perseverance Tavern in March 2020.
The Perseverance Tavern in early March 2020, a few months before its closure.
Map
Alternative names
  • The Percy
  • Persies
General information
TypePublic house
Address83 Buitenkant Street
Cape Town City Bowl
Cape Town
8001
Coordinates33°55′50″S 18°25′15″E / 33.930524°S 18.420900°E / -33.930524; 18.420900,
Opened1808 (215–216 years old)
Technical details
Floor count1
Website
perseverancetavern.co.za

The Perseverance Tavern, also known as The Percy or Persies, is a public house established in 1808[1] by Johannes Blesser in Cape Town.[2][3] At the time of its temporary closure due to the Covid-19 crisis, it was notable for being the oldest pub in South Africa.[2][3][4] It was established during a period when Cape Town was a major port supporting sea going trade between Europe and Asia during which the city was known as "The Tavern of the Seas".[5] The tavern was owned by Ohlsson’s Breweries for the first half of the 20th century until being sold in 1956.

It closed on 22 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown and alcohol sales ban.[2][3][6] The tavern was re-opened under new ownership on 26 February 2021 following the easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Perseverance Tavern – The Cape Town Museum". Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  2. ^ a b c Williams, Murray. "Oldest pub in SA 'The Percy' shuts up shop as lockdown takes its toll". News24. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  3. ^ a b c "Cape Town's 212-year-old pub Perseverance is 'calling last rounds' says owner". CapeTalk. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  4. ^ "The Explorer's Guide to Gardens in Cape Town". www.capetownmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  5. ^ ""Tavern of the Seas"? The Cape of Good Hope as an oceanic crossroads during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries". webdoc.sub.gwdg.de. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  6. ^ Planting, Sasha (2020-07-22). "BUSINESS MAVERICK: Restaurants and taverns collapse: Hospitality industry desperate to stave off disaster". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  7. ^ Kohlstock, Aljoscha. "The Percy, SA's oldest pub, reopens its doors with new owners after lockdown closure". News24. Retrieved 2021-03-03.