You’re driving down Central Avenue, dodging the light rail, and there it is. A giant Union Jack and a sign that looks like it belongs in a rainy corner of Manchester rather than the scorching Sonoran Desert. That’s the George and Dragon in Phoenix. It isn't just a bar. It’s a 30-year-old local institution that has survived bad economies, a massive light rail construction project that nearly choked it out, and even a visit from Jon Taffer’s Bar Rescue crew back in 2016.
Honestly, it’s one of the few places in the city where you can walk in at 11 a.m. and find a guy in a soccer jersey shouting at a TV while someone else unironically eats a plate of liver and onions.
The Story Behind the Pints
David Wimberley and his mother, Anne, opened the doors on February 15, 1995. They moved here from England with a specific dream: a real-deal public house. Not a "British-themed" corporate restaurant with shiny fake wood, but a place that smelled a little like spilled ale and felt like home.
When Anne passed away years ago, the pub hit a rough patch. If you saw the Bar Rescue episode, you know things got pretty bleak. David was playing more poker than he was managing the books, and the debt was piling up like old newspapers. But Taffer didn't change the name. He knew the brand was too strong. He fixed the kitchen, scrubbed the grime, and the pub bounced back.
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What You’re Actually Eating (and Drinking)
The food at George and Dragon is unapologetic.
- The Fish and Chips: This is the heavy hitter. It's beer-battered cod, golden and massive, served over a pile of chips. You get a side of peas—proper British style—or slaw.
- The Pasties: They offer Cornish, Chicken Curry, and Veggie versions. These are puff pastry pockets of joy.
- The Indian Chicken Curry: A lot of Americans forget that curry is basically the national dish of England. Theirs has a kick to it and comes over basmati rice with pita.
- Bangers and Mash: English pork sausages, caramelized onions, and a lake of gravy.
The drinks? It’s all about the "proper pint." They serve 20-ounce Imperial pints, not those wimpy 16-ounce American ones. You’ll find Boddingtons, Fuller’s London Pride, and Guinness poured with the kind of patience that drives impatient people crazy.
The Vibe and the "Secret" Music History
For a long time, George and Dragon was the unofficial clubhouse for the Phoenix music scene. In the late 90s and early 2000s, local legends like The Refreshments and The Glass Heroes played there.
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There was this massive festival called the St. George’s Day Bash. It disappeared for about 15 years because of city permit headaches, but in 2025, they brought it back for their 30th anniversary. It was a chaotic, beautiful "orgy of live music" (as the New Times once called it) featuring bands like Dead Hot Workshop and The Piersons.
Is George and Dragon in Phoenix Haunted?
Depending on who you ask after three pints of Old Speckled Hen, the answer is yes. It’s a regular stop on the Phoenix Haunted Pub Tour. The area has a gritty history—the pub is just down the street from where the Don Bolles bombing happened in 1976. Some staff members swear they’ve seen shadows moving in the back or felt cold spots near the oversized wooden booths.
Weekly Rituals You Should Know
- Mondays: Karaoke at 9 p.m. It gets weird. It gets loud. It’s great.
- Tuesdays: $2 Street Tacos. Yeah, it’s an English pub, but this is Phoenix. We have standards for Tuesdays.
- Thursdays: Trivia Night at 8 p.m. David Wimberley often hosts this himself. It’s 40 questions and surprisingly competitive.
- Weekends: They open early for Premier League matches. If there’s a big game on, expect the place to be packed by 7 a.m.
Why It Still Matters
In a city that loves to tear down old buildings to put up luxury "sticks-and-stucco" apartments, George and Dragon is a survivor. It’s dark. The misters on the patio work overtime. The service is friendly but doesn't do that fake corporate "Hi, I'm Brad and I'll be your server" thing.
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It’s just a pub.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
If you're heading down to Central and Indian School, don't bother dressing up. Grab a booth in the back if you want to talk, or sit at the bar if you want to hear some tall tales from the regulars. Order the Fish and Chips, ask for extra malt vinegar, and check the chalkboard for the daily pie special. If you're a soccer fan, follow their social media to see which early-morning matches they're opening for—just be prepared to drink your breakfast in an Imperial pint glass.