Five best pubs near Stamford Bridge including boozer where Chelsea were founded and bar owned by singer James Blunt

A TRIP to Stamford Bridge is a special one for any football fan. Some 40,000 fans packed into one of London’s oldest stadiums, with excellent views throughout, and a belting atmosphere in store for both home and away supporters. Sitting in a prime location near the River Thames and just a short walk from Fulham Broadway tube station, fans are spoilt for choice with options for a pre-match pint or a quick bite to eat near Chelsea's stadium.

Yet, with so many options to choose from, it can almost be overwhelming - and that’s where SunSport can step in to help. We took a trip to west London to check out some of the best boozers on offer, guided by Thomas J Vosper, author of Historic Pub Crawls Through London and the man behind Instagram and YouTube pages Historic Pub Crawls . So, with no further ado, here are the five best pubs for supporters to head to for a pre-match tipple on their next visit to Stamford Bridge - including an iconic boozer where the Blues were founded.

1. The Butcher’s Hook Situated directly opposite Stamford Bridge , on the corner with Holmead Road, the Butcher’s Hook is about as close to Chelsea’s ground as physically possible. Previously named the Rising Sun, the Blues were founded inside this classic London boozer on March 10th 1905.

Thomas tells SunSport that the other names considered for the club were Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge and London FC. With plenty of space inside, the Butcher’s Hook is often packed to the rafters on matchdays, wi.