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The Golden Guinea is a historic pub that can be found on Guinea Street. This famous street in Redcliffe in Bristol's historic docks was where merchants and ships officers used to live in the days of Bristol being a busy port.

The Golden Guinea

A golden Guinea is a coin that they used to put under the mast of a sailing ship to bring the ship good luck.

The guinea took its name from the West African gold coast. There was an elephant and castle on some of these coins, which came from the badge of the Royal African Company, the only British company allowed to trade in Africa before 1698.

Blackbeard the Pirate

It is thought that Blackbeard used to drink at the Golden Guinea.

Blackbeard was the most notorious pirate in the history of seafaring. With a beard that almost covered his face, he would strike terror into the hearts of his victims by sticking cannon fuses under his hat, and lighting them during battle. Reportedly a tall man, he added to his menacing appearance by wearing a crimson coat, two swords at his waist, and bandoleers stuffed with numerous pistols and knives across his chest.

The sight of Blackbeard was enough to make most of his victims surrender without a fight. If they gave up peacefully, he would usually take their valuables, navigational instruments, weapons, and rum before allowing them to sail away. If they resisted, he would often maroon the crews and burn their ship.

Blackbeard came from Bristol and was born Edward Thatch and he began his pirating sometime after 1713.

Blackbeard was eventually tracked down to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina by the Royal Navy and killed in a brief but bloody battle on November 22, 1718.