please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Victorian street corner pub situated in a tree-lined avenue in what I suppose you'd describe as the posh part of Bethnal Green.
Externally, the pub has that typical gentrified gastro pub look - a dark painted exterior, and a shop style green awning over the large outside pavement patio area.
Internally, it still retains quite a traditional feel with high backed wooden settles and a traditional bar counter. It was evidently, originally, a two roomed pub with a central partition, a fact confirmed by several interesting and evocative framed pictures taken in days long gone. Note also a photo of the pub showing war time bomb damage and a photo of regulars gathering outside the pub for a day trip to Margate in July 1954.
To the right of the bar counter, the seating area extends back into a room containing some reproduction war posters. At the far end is a small seating area with green painted walls and a sofa that doesn't blend in at all well with the rest of the pub.
Food fare is not gastro pub food, but is a clear step up from normal pub grub and I would imagine that food trade probably dominates at busy times.
Unusually for a pub, there's an art gallery on the first floor.
On the real ale front, there's 5 pumps - on my visit last Saturday morning these were dispensing London Pride, Fullers Discovery, Fullers Chiswick, Gales HSB ( which is of course now brewed by Fullers ) and Adnams Bitter.The latter was on good form, but ambitiously priced at £ 3.30p - this is East London, for gawd's sake ! - I imagine the Fullers beers are similarly pricey. Despite the existence of a CAMRA mirror on the wall, I didn't sense much of a focus or commitment on the real ale front.
As a pub, I didn't dislike the place, but it's a bit out of my normal territory and, taking this with the unimaginative beer range and seemingly high prices, I don't envisage a return visit.
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This place used to be my local and I definitely miss it. It's probably my favourite pub in London and it is well worth a trip to Bethnal Green if you don't live in East London. Of course there is nothing nicer than having somewhere like this just over the road...
The atmosphere is warm and friendly, staff usually good and seemed quite settled at the time we frequented it. The food and nice range of continental beers is not cheap but I would say it's worth it. I fondly remember their all day breakfast, burgers and nachos, sleepy evenings spent outside the pub which is covered and has patio heaters. I never went to the gallery upstairs but was aware of it and it just added to the overall trendy but not snobby feel of the place. You must visit!
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Great place - it used to be my local. Lovely traditional decor, beautiful old bar, lots of historical memorabilia, and a great big heated outdoors area with lots of tables. A little pricey for the area; the staff tend to change regularly so it can be hit and miss on the service; but a fantastic pub that always has lots of atmosphere any night of the week.
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Good range of fullers ales, well presented. Our early Friday evening visit coincided with what seemed like an after school club where the mums could drink while the children played (outside). That said, it was an enjoyable enough visit and I would go again.
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This is a great pub that is deservedly popular. Fantastic choice of real ales that are all well kept. Open till midnight on fridays and saturdays. Well worth checking out.
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Good food, but often crowded and noisy. Unfortunately it's the best pub for food for quite a distance though. Nice beers too.
anonymous - 9 Mar 2007 17:38 |
Yeah, there is something irritating about sitting outside this pub but it is pretty decent inside as is the jukebox and beer. There is gallery upstairs, so if you visit on a 'private view' night then be prepared to rub shoulders with the Shoreditch victim set.
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excellent pub! but avoid outside area with (as said before) screeching kids and smug parents, wearing nail varnish (men) and changing childs nappies on tables.
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Great boozer, great juke box and really friendly staff worth checking out - Not tried the food but it looks good and seems to be fairly popular
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Good mixed crowd, though sometimes a few too many screechy children in the outside area. Nice beers, and an absolutely cracking Sunday roast.
bethm - 15 Mar 2006 16:43 |
Brilliant pub. Good beers, excellent jukebox, good mix of people and you can almost always get a seat. Highly recommended.
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one of the best pubs in the area. Warm enough to sit outside but inside there is enough space and anexes to go round. It's got litovel on tap the food is great. People there range from yummy mummies to old timers. It's a good mix.
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A lovely pub on a quiet leafy road. Plenty of space, friendly staff, good selection of ales and posh lagers (if a bit pricey). Nice honey roasted peanuts as well. Don't be surprised if someone's soppy old dog walks in and puts it's head on your lap...
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A great pub with a good atmosphere. Sunday lunch is absolutely delicious.
I would suggests trying it!
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Lovely local pub with lots of character. The jukebox has tons of excellent music, and the beer is good. The only downfall was the barstaff. I was served by a surly girl that looked like I had just stolen her new car from her. Nonehteless, an excellent boozer.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2005 17:36 |
Nice Eastend boozer, nice mixture of 'proper' locals (ie born and raised in eastend), students & suits. Good pleasant atmosphere, great covered heated patio at the front, excellent selection of beer, recommend the 6% Belguim one on tap - tastes of caramel, costs £4 a pint though. The place is always busy, havent tried the food but looks good. Highly recommended
tommy - 18 Oct 2004 11:37 |
Nice, honest, boozer. One of my faves. But there's always a gaggle of charlied up local geezers whenever I go there. Most odd. Great pub nonetheless.
Guy - 8 Sep 2004 14:25 |
London's best pub? So very close. Without a doubt this place just ozzes the type of Local we all want deep down whatever our age.
Great beer, terific food, friendly staff, and an atmosphere that is stunning - just leave by yourself with Dire Strait's Why Worry on you CD player.
Tim - 3 Sep 2004 21:59 |
Not a bad boozer- good service, good range of beers, pleasant atmosphere. Only trouble is, on two successive Sundays the food has been horrible- undercooked and probably the day before....A shame.
Bob Riddle - 19 Jul 2004 11:15 |
Victorian pub on tree lined avenue in Bethnal Green, good range of beers and heated patio area at the front behind railings. One of the cosier boozers left in the area.
Dan - 14 May 2004 10:29 |
Wonderful pub:great jukebox, excellent food, nice beer, and tasteful interior.
Why can't all boozers be like this?
Rachel - 5 Mar 2004 18:53 |
Good place, excellent range of quality ales, nice old style wooden interior and beautiful old Victorian (?) decorated glass.Best pub in Bow/Bethnal Green and one of east London's finest relaxing boozers
Will - 30 Jan 2004 12:19 |
This pub used to be good. The Czech beer leaves a bad after-taste, which is compounded by the outrageous pricing. There is nothing so special about their bangers & mash that can justify £8.
I kid you not, a few Sunday’s a group of three students occupied a table of 6 while they played the board game “risk”. Unfortunately a couple of good reviews in Timeout attracted the worst kind media types and pushed out the locals.
Gus - 19 Nov 2003 14:15 |
Best pub in Bethnel Green
Chris - 27 Oct 2003 11:12 |
Top pub - great beer - good food on a sunday
James - 14 Oct 2003 17:24 |
Sister of the Swimmer at the Gratton in North London. Sells Czech beer (yipee!) and has a very studenty/'Diesel kids' feel without ever attracting misguided and depressing goth images. Art gallery upstairs. close enough to the tube for a night out, far enough to lose the pikey element of the East End.
Adrian Jarvis - 20 Apr 2003 11:21 |
Victorian pub on tree lined avenue in Bethnal Green, good range of beers and heated patio area at the front behind railings. One of the cosier boozers left in the area.
Dan - 18 Feb 2003 16:53 |
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