| Where: | Formerly Bromley-by-Bow,London - The Widow's Son pub on Devons Road |
| When: | Formerly Good Friday |
| Time: | Formerly 3pm (ish) |
The Widow’s Son was a pub with a great legend – the resident lady’s sailor son was due home from voyage on Good Friday so she baked him a hot cross bun; sadly he never appeared but each year his mother baked a fresh bun hoping for his return. Her house became a pub and the tradition continued for many years so that there were about two dozen buns hanging up in the pub in a net from the ceiling (NOT over 200 as I’ve read elsewhere!). Every Good Friday a sailor added a bun to the collection and (fresh!) buns were offered to all visitors. There is an ancient belief that holy Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday will not decay and some people keep them as a lucky talisman.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 Good Friday will be on 18th April. In 2023 and 2024 the pub was closed (again!) and unless I hear otherwise I assume the ceremony won’t be happening. Hopefully the pub will reopen some time when the whole area has been redeveloped, and the custom will be revived- if you hear any news please let me know!
Doors usually open at 11 am with the ceremony at 3 pm- follow the link to the pub website for updates.
Here’s an extract from the information sent in 2018 about the upcoming Bun Day: “As part of our annual event we gather to commemorate those lost to the travesties of war and to remember the unfortunate grief and love that constitutes the story of The Widow’s Son. Sailors will join us to enjoy our delicious hot cross buns whilst DJ Vella tells the story of The Widow’s Son with his trademark energy and humour. Saloon League will bring back old times with swing like vibes.As new owners, we decided to re-establish this historic tradition last year in 2017, and would like to welcome you all back on Good Friday”.
Click here for the pub’s own website and more on the legend: http://www.widowsson.co.uk
and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thewidowssonpub/
When I went (2015) the bun also went in the net at about 3. I couldn’t get in the pub because of the crowds, but I could watch through the door. After, we sang “Hearts of Oak,” and the National Anthem. There was a lot of food on a table, and apparently they were having karaoke as well. I was pleased I’d made the effort to get there, as family come from this area of London.
We last went there 2015 had a great time we are going tomor fri 14april looking forward to it see some of the people that was there 2015
Has anyone got any photos from 1978-1980 of the bum hanging at all
Hi Philip,
My photos don’t go back that far but it might be worth you trying Homer Sykes who was taking lots of photos of customs around then (and still is!). You can find his website at http://www.homersykes.com
Fingers crossed!
Averil