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The oldest pub in Plymouth!
The Minerva Inn is Plymouth’s oldest serving public house, circa 1540.
One of the previous owners was The Octagon Brewery, which traded in Martin Street, Plymouth between 1861- 1970, its emblem remains on the stained glass window on the front of the premises.

In the 17th Century the Minerva was home to the Press Gang and stories of secret tunnels and doorways are still evident within the timber walls. There is a small stairway peephole where the Press gang would look out for potential sailors entering the establishment and drop the Kings shilling in to their beer, if the unsuspecting patron drank from the beer then they had accepted the Kings shilling and were taken off to join the navy, anyone not complying would be taken by force, usually with a blow to the head and then taken off to a ship, by the time they had regained consciousness they would be out at sea. Plymouth’s most famous seamen Sir Frances Drake had a home on Looe Street, on the Site which is now Bigga Records, so it is more than likely he would have visited the pub
The Pub is timber framed and a lot of the timber is from the Spanish Armada Fleet. There is a spiral staircase leading to the private residence which in the centre hosts the Mast from one of the fleet.

Grade II listed. Link (Archive Link )