please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is the best gay pub around. I am a single guy in my 20s and looking for casual sex with no commitments. This place is full of like minded men, especially on Saturdays.
|
Something of a dichotomy this pub, you either love it or hate it (it would appear). Some unfair reviews here, I guess it is a locals' pub but let's face it, there's precious little to challenge it in Leytonstone; if you can find a good pub, stick to it.
I like it, good selection of beers, good jukebox, decent (wood oven) baked pizzas out the back and occasional dj/live act/charity evening (vinyl night, £1 a song with proceeds going to MacMillan) makes for a more varied evening.
If you don't know the area, it's unlikely you'll find the pub which explains why it's a good pub and not full of typical Hellstone idiots.
8/10
|
Consistently the least friendly and most unwelcoming pub in Leytonstone - seems to be of those 'locals only' pubs where actively resent outside intrusion. It's a nice building so I occasionally drop back in when I've forgotten the last bad experience only to have it repeated again. The staff are sullen and unfriendly, like the regulars whole block the narrow main bar. It's run with the attitude that they don't really want to be there. Many other great places to drink in Leytonstone - this is by far the worst. Hopefully will remember not to return.
|
First visit the other Saturday. A most pleasant boozer tucked down a side street. Everyone seemed very friendly. Excellent pint of Guinness and a cosy beer garden out the back. Will return.
|
Pub had a makeover since I last come in. Seems bigger, maybe shortened the bar or something and a younger crowd. New Thai food menu which is being cooked by the fat governor' s Thai import. Couple of unsavoury load mouths in there dominating the bar , one great big dopey looking bloke well over six feet digging everyone out sounds like he is missing many brain cells, shouting and bossy. Nice drop of varied ales, well worth a visit.
|
Cracking back street boozer hidden away in Leytonstone village. They now serve food and also have football on the telly. Usually lively on Friday nights, as they tend to play decent indie music. The locals are friendly - probably the best pub in the area.
|
What has happened to this pub? Used to be great 18 months ago and was my local. When back in London I visted a couple of weeks ago on a Friday and Sunday and it was dead on the Friday when it used to be rocking. It wasn't too busy on the Sunday either but the service was terrible and there were glasses everywhere and the older guy and rude French girl couldn't cope. We left and went to the Red Lion. Shame.
|
Just moved in to this area. Wasn�t sure about the pub from outside but popped in eventually. Really nice local with delicious and cheap food. The food we had was lovely - crab burger was delicious and prawns also really good. I�ve heard they�re doing a mussels night soon and going to go for sure. Definitely worth a visit for the food and particularly if you like a laid back non-chain environment (ie slower than a chain but much more tasty & friendly).
|
Much has already been said; Friendly local, warm landlord and staff, excellent beer always in good condition, I particularly liked and concur with the Narnia comment, interesting juke-box. Extensive renovations and redecorations have made it roomier and after a brief affair with What's Cookin music promotions they are now experimenting with a young chef. He's very, very good! The menu, although limited is interesting and the food is excellent whilst reasonably priced. Worth coming early for a meal and staying for many beers in excellent surroundings. The regular injections of calm and good beer keep me sane (although some would argue the point!)
|
I feel like the street this pub is on should be called Narnia. Turn right somewhere on the other side of the road from McDonalds's and there you go.
It's like escaping into another land. I came into this pub alone. My friend left me cos he had to go off to the O'Neil's just up the road to sort out something or other but he said "Just go down there and you'll find something you never expected." And so I did.
Now this is a regulars pub and at first they all looked at me a bit weird but I just sat down and ordered a pint of Kronenbourg. They all got back back to their drinks and let me get on with mine. As the night drew on I got talking to the friendly barstaff and wonderful landlord.
It's haunted too.
Nice beer garden, interesting pictures on the wall. And that jukebox.... Elvis, Morrissey, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Pixies and I didn't touch the thing.
As I said, this is Narnia. It's amazing. A pub crawl in Leytonstone is not complete without the discovery of this place. Shame it took me 6 years living in Leytonstone to discover it!
|
Excellent - proper East End - community pub extending a warm welcome to all. Choice of well-kept real ales. Well worth a visit and only a short walk from Leytonstone Tube.
|
Quite the hidden gem... lovely local crowd, nice (if small) back outdoor patio... would need more shrubbery to call it a "garden"
I love when find neighborhoody, back street boozers like this one. Kinda want to keep it a secret, then again, if it's not heaving sometimes, it won't be around to enjoy.
Lovely landlord and staff as well
|
I found the landlord just fine on my visit this afternoon. The beer selection was a little poor (maybe an off day), with only Sharps Doom Bar, Adnams Bitter, Fullers London Pride and Wells Bombardier on. The atmosphere was a bit quiet until somebody came and piled pound coins into the jukebox, when it all livened up a little. There are pictures of trains and railways on the walls, in reference to the name of the pub. I thought this was a nice enough backstreet boozer.
|
Alway well kept beer in here. The Butcombe Bitter is always very good and a friendly landlord too.
|
For a small pub such a fantastic range of real ales (at least 4). always in excellent condition. One of few top quality pubs in a 5 miles radius.
|
Aussie barmaid still drinks in the pub and am sure she would appreciate an admirer!
|
Recent bouts of verbal handbags in these columns should not be allowed to detract from the main point, namely that this unspoilt backstreet gem is the best pub in Leytonstone - excellent beer, friendly service and good atmosphere/cross-section of punters. And great live music once a month too!
|
Unfortunately it hasn't been possible to retain her services.
|
Does anyone know if the cute aussie barmaid is back again?
|
Very average local that could be much better, unfortunately about the best place in Leytonstone. The location is good, but the bar itself needs a major refurbish. If the management improved the interior (dramatically) and employed a chef offering a few simple dishes they could make a fortune. This place like the rest of Leytonstone needs to move into the 21st century. Local people have money to spend if the place is right, as soon as the management realise this they will have a thriving business.
|
Glorious pints of Maldon Gold, to the glorious sounds of Holly Golightly. Can't think of many better ways to spend a sunday afternoon. Glorious.
|
well ...its a long and " convoluted " story [ pleese see ordernance survey map ...." b ' roads mainly ] [ bring a thermos wiv you ]
|
Well this is an amusing exchange. I'll be in on Sunday to see Holly Golightly and judge for myself. I'm bound to say that i'm looking forward to it immensley. Anywhere run by a guvnor who rfers to himself as a c*** can't be all bad I reckon. More Monday.
|
Number four customer kept coming in and out without buying anything at it transpired that he was a local fruitcake begging. The place seems emptier than ever these days. I strolled by with mates over from my home town last week and they were keen to visit a 'traditional English pub' I told them that they were dying all around and as we ventured in to the North Star, there was nobody inside at all except a grumpy looking misery behind the bar. We all walked straight out. Took them to O'Neills. It is a shame as the pub is essentially nice but the Landlord's attitude is not very pleasant.
|
�9.99!!! more like a �4.99 bargain bucket of paint. but the number 1 priority of a pub is to keep the beer good. since you reopened, the carling has been consistently good. take care of the beer and dont let people wind u up mate.
|
Oh Rodger, you are a very sad case. �9.99 bargain bucket of paint....hahahahaha...I nearly fell off my bar stool....and now not content with having a go at me or the pub, you call my three or five regular customer ugly!!!!! what happened to four in between 3 and 5....and we are the dearest pub around......wow....anything else to complain about....please just keep on coming cos my customers all 3 or 5 of them are enjoying your comments. The one thing that disappoints me with you, is you still hide behind the website,why not identify yourself???
But still thanks for the free publicity, business is fairly steady at the moment, guess those 3 or 5 ugly regulars are drinking a fair bit. You nestle on down in the Walnut or O'Neills......bye for now....
|
Well, I tried the place out again the other night and was very disappointed. After all the hype and promises by the Landlord of a revamp and refurbishment, it seems that the total sum invested is in a 10 litre tub of emulsion paint (bargain bucket �9.99 at Focus).
This massive investment together with replacing the broken light bulbs has had a strange effect of now making the place very uncomfortably bright, making the three or five regular customers, inside when I visited, more uglier and miserable than ever!
The place is sinking fast by all accounts. Most of his previous customers have nestled down in either the Walnut Tree or O'Neils round the corner vowing never to return because of the Landlords attitude. I can quite believe it. The beer was not up to much and the dearest around. Shame, with the right person in charge this place could make it.
|
The Star's had a bit of a spruce up inside, and it's still as good as ever. Always a great night to be had here.
|
Rodger, thanks again. It has been great exchanging opinions with you. You know so little about me as a person, yet make such large statements about my past and future life. I have achieved a great deal in my life, the pub business is merely one of many things I have taken part in, you are right in that some things work and some things don't. I would not want to work in business in Australia or visit your country, I am sure it is a very nice place full of very nice people, and wonderfull things to see and do. But unlike you I do have a life and do not have time to carry on this playfull banter. Good luck with what you do in your life to, wish you all the best.....
|
Rodgerthedodger - wow you must of had a bad day,you seem very angry about something. Really cannot be bothered with you anymore,but please like I say keep the comments coming and keep visiting the North Star, one day you may even be old enough to buy an alcoholic drink, after your mum has helped you in the toilet.
Nite nite for now.....
|
Rodgerthedodger!!! Still in hiding behind a website, the pub has not gone skint, and when re open we will be moving the pub forward with some small changes and new ideas.
Please keep up the negative comments though, like they say there is no such thing as bad publicity, keep making the negative comments and people will keep turning up to visit the pub!!! So many thanks.....
|
The pub is open this weekend Friday 27th February thru to Sunday 1st March. The following weekend we are open Friday 6th March thru to Sunday 8th March. Then we reopen again Tuesday 10th March with our new license.
Hope this helps.
|
Anyone (other than rogerthedodger) know whether the North Star is now open again?
|
'Best pub in a radius of 5 miles. Excellent beer at all times'.
HOW CAN THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE IF THE PLACE IS SHUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE SKINT?
THE ARE NOT SELLING ANY BEER DIMWIT!
|
Best pub in a radius of 5 miles. Excellent beer at all times.
|
Reopening? Hurrah! Good news for the area. I travel from Stoke Newington to drink this place, because it's pretty much the best pub in north east London.
|
Great news. I've missed the North Star.
|
Leaving aside the astonishing torrent of recent vitriol (who are these people, and why don't they slag off a pub that actually deserves it?), there's good news: I dropped by on Sat night to find the best pub in Leytonstone still closed, but mine host and several regulars busily painting the bar. Mine host informed me it is due to reopen on Thursday 12th. Hoorah!! And there's live rockin' blues there on Sunday 15th (early evening) with Little George Suaref and his band.
|
Rodgerthedodger- I am not a homophobic, personally I really enjoy "The Simpsons", and Homer is my favourite character. I guess there must be a great deal of bad pubs out there at the moment that re closing down. Latest Industry figures advise that there are approximately 60 pubs per week closing down. But if you knew anything about running about a business as you proclaim, you would know that a business does not always close due to poor management or day to day running. There are many,many factors that are destroying the UK pub industry, too many to list here. Pop in for a pint and we can discuss, I promise a clean glass and in date beer or ale of your choice, bring along bregg1234 as he is an industry expert of thirty years, and we can have a proper informed discussion. Always looking for new ideas !!!!!!
|
I have been drinking at The North Star for some 10 years now and I have to say it is a travesty that this pub is not currently open due to a licensing issue. I have read the comments posted with some saddness that the vitriol spouted by some people is unreasonable and insulting. For the record, the pub is welcoming to the gay community because your sexuality is unimportant; you are in to meet friends and drink alcohol. It is therefore unfortunate that the tone of the debate has dropped to this level of insult - from both sides. The toilet question is a vexed one. Having travelled a bit around the world, there are other establishments both in the Uk and abroad who have felt it necessary to lock the toilets because of damage and improper use. Knowing the staff well at the pub, I have seen them clean that place wonderfully.... but enough is enough when customers decide to treat the place like it does not matter. Would they treat their own toliets at home that way and expect someone else to clean it up?
In terms of the other complaints about the price of beer and lights etc, get a grip; if you do not like the prices and the ambience, you have the freedom to drink elsewhere and perhaps you should exercise that right. I personally have always loved the ambience and friendliness of staff and other patrons of the pub. The jukebox is phenomenal. The welcome is sincere. It is the only pub I have ever known that will bake birthday cakes for their customers. Moreover, the pub is a well loved part of the local community who have organised events for charity.
It is almost impossible to find pubs like this in London. It is a pub that does its job well. I have never had a bad pint there and if I have had any reason to complain, the staff have resolved my issue straight away in a friendly and polite way. The pub is being done up as we speak and I for one cannot wait for it to reopen. Long live The North Star! And now.... can we all just start being nice to each other
|
Well Martin a good pub should have easy accessible WC's and welcome everyone including homosexuals. (see the homphobic comments made below). If this was a good pub it would not be closed now?
|
Wow i cant believe that people slag off the north star yet still go back for more! The pub is what it is A PUB! It does not pretend to be anything else what you see is what you get,and quite frankly i find that to be a breath of fresh air in this day and age.
|
publandlord, i work in the brewery industry, and ive been drinking beer for thirty years, so i do think i know when your beer has "elapsed." you dont win an argument, or impress anybody, by calling everyone who disagrees with you a poof. i can only think you are an angry man cos youve had to drink your own beer for too long.
|
Breg1234 - so you want to join the North Star fan club!! Well just please jog along and lets have it, get it off your chest and treat this website like your health care worker, come on then you complain away and we will listen to you. Feet up on sofa and let rip......
How would you know a lager is out of date ? They are in barrels in the cellar, I sell it faster than it can go out of date, and they have a shelf life of around 12 weeks. As for the real ales, approx 40% of our sales are real ales so I guess we really are getting that wrong. maybe you need to get your support worker to adjust your anti-depressant pills, they are probably leaving an after taste in your mouth which is affecting your ability to taste the real ale. John Smiths not good too, thats such a shame, you must be the Northerner with the whippet and flat cap then!!! Please say hello next time you are passing the North Star. If you ask for the toilet key you can meet up with rodger the dodger in the toilets and drink your out of your date beer from dirty glasses and play with each other until your hearts are content!!!!!!
|
rodger the dodger - so you are a successful businessman employing 20 people in Australia - yet you choose to live over here and drink in Leytonstone !!! Well your road is truly paved with success, so what business do you run? Guess it must be a toilet cleaning business as you know so much about toilets and hygiene? Or is it because all you aussies talk so much shit you are an expert in it ? Guess you have done really well and you know so much about pubs, is that because like every other aussie I know who gets off a plane here you have ended up working in a bar ??
If you want facts, business is not bankrupt. Toilets are kept locked because somebody likes to wipe excrement on the wall. So we let people who need a toilet have the key - works well with our customers - not a problem. Guess you may be used to other standards!!! If you get served a drink in a dirty glass the staff will be happy to change it and get you a new drink, not a problem. In England its called manners, use them and you normally get what you want. Try it next time.
Have run out of patience with you, the only other reason I can think that you are an expert in toliets is that you are a poof and like hanging around in mens toilets. Try Hampstead Heath and you might even bump into George Michael...
|
i read with some hilarity that the landlord claims his beer was always in good condition. every time i went in, the lagers were out of date, and the john smiths was only just passable.
|
Landlord, never in the history of toilets in pubs has a Landlord closed the place down because the staff did not want to clean them. We have hygiene regulations back home and am sure you have here. Look the word up in the dictionary mate, it is to do with cleanliness, something that your place lacks as a whole. I only go in your place with a few mates now and then to laugh at the state of the place. We only drink the bottled stuff as your glasses have normally got bits of lip left on them. I know how to run a business as I employ 20 people back home and one of them keeps our office toilets spotless. I can run my business from here. This is not about me Landlord. It is about your failed pub and your lack of care for your customers.
|
georgekaplan-thanks.just be patient and a new and better North Star will reopen and will be the best pub in leytonstone.
Rodger the dodger - well an australian with an attitude and an opinion, but still no brains!!! If you do not like the North Star please stay away, Zulus down the road is the place for you and your friends. What do you know about running a business or how to treat customers ? Just another loudmouth and no trousers aussie. Parhaps you want to try running the pub and see what a success you could be or not !!!!!! In England we say a toliet rather than a dump. There are good reasons why the toilets are locked, mainly connected to cleanliness and hygiene, a couple of words obviously not in your dictionary. Please let me know where you come from happy to help you get in a crate and go back home....tosser.....
|
Blow me, went to try this hell hole again for a laugh (the bogs saga was a real joke) and the place is closed down as the have all gone bankrupt according to the bloke who lives next door. Having read the comments by the owner below and how he treats his punters wit utter contempt is it no wonder that they have gone skint? If you cannot afford the run the place and turn the lights on mate why are you there presiding over a sinking ship? As for promising to do work on the place there is an old saying 'the road to disaster is paved with good intention'.
You do not deserve to succeed with a crap attitude to your customers like that mate. In Australia we would call you a Pipey as you are only a Pipe Dreamer and have no idea what the hell you are doing. You must be the only pub in the UK where you have to make an appointment to have a dump. When are you starting your bus driving course?
|
in fact. should we not be discussing how punch taverns should be broken up as all they are interested in is their property portfolio and not running pubs for the good of the local community. name me any other pub apart from wetherspoon national chain that serves real ale in this area. you can't in all honesty call them a pub.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2009 10:47 |
according to an informed source publa--67 may not be the owner. could you two stop all this slagging off and just wait until tthe pub reopens next week. the walnut is no replacement.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2009 10:41 |
blimey that told me.
|
for georgekaplan - you must be some sort of retard-sign on the door and windows advises problems with new license-what more do you want to know. Your comments about owner cannot afford a stamp are so funny I nearly fell of my sofa laughing!!! Not!!!!!
Would welcome you revealing yourself to see if you are man enough to make comments in the open. As for expensive and darkest pub well not sure how to respond. But pricing is driven by market forces, pubcos,brewers and the government. If you cannot afford it stick to wetherspoons or bring your own candle!!!! Cant be bothered with you any more.....
|
love the sarcastic comments about my pub you post on the Internet site, there is no such things a s bad publicity!!!. Its such a shame that you tw**s who sit at home posting comments about the pub are not in their supporting your local community pub. Yes it is a little dated, yes it needs a little money spent on its decor. This will all come given time.Its all a work in progress. We at the North Star prefer to ensure our lagers and ales are served to perfection, rather than have a load or pompous toffee nosed customers sitting on leather sofas supping a cafe latte!!!!! The people that like the pub keep coming, those of you who don't then please feel free to use the other pubs in leytonstone, and when you have finished your latte, the bus stop back to wanstead is opposite O'Neill's!!!!!!! As for lights and electricity if you paid the commercial rates I paid you would not waste power either,and carbon footprints mean something to me and my childrens future!!!!
|
I think they just make a point of pretending to be closed when you come knocking, offthewagon07.
|
I heard that this had closed as half the customers were in the Walnut Tree moaning about it. Another victim of the credit crunch and end of an era for some regulars who could never see each other due to the lack of light apparently.
|
It's so typical that they haven't organized their license. Apparently the owner
didn't want to buy a stamp for the application.
Is this the end for the darkest and most expensive pub in Leytonstone?
|
Pub was closed and in darkness on Sat Jan 24th - notice in window saying "Closed until further notice due to licensing problems". Hope this isn't the end for the best pub in Leytonstone.
|
Oh dear! Place seems to be worse, dark and morbid as though they do not want to spend any money on the electricity. beer average.
Check out the nutty looking red indian just out from wigwam
|
Hi croxleygreen. Agree with your comments but whats all this about the OLD rocker. Shame on you with your ageist comment. You are only old when you can't struggle to the pub.
anonymous - 26 Dec 2008 12:38 |
I have enjoyed the North Star the last couple of months. Keep up the good work and a very happy new year to all the patrons.
anonymous - 26 Dec 2008 12:31 |
I love this pub. Been going for years. The best boozer in Leytonstone by far. Anyone who thinks otherwise, is mentally deficient, and should go back to the awful Wetherspoon's ("all our pubs look the same" chain), The Walnut Tree and and order their bottles of WKD or whatever trendy drink the advertisers have told them to buy this week. We don't want you in our pub.
Oh, and the "Red Indian Man" is nothing of the sort. He's a lovely old rocker with long hair, who loves his music. To describe him as, "weird" or, "scary" just shows how little you know about people. He's a top man, gentle, and with a great sense of humour. You, on hte other hand,are obviously idiots.
Long live The North Star!
|
best pub in leytonstone. not saying much, I know.
hello, is that caswell euan at the bar?
|
excellent old school boozer.
used to be my local 15 years ago and hasn't really changed much in that time.
none the worse for it.
what a true london pub should be like.
|
The postings from 14-28 Oct are so wide of the mark that I can only think it must be part of some orchestrated campaign. Why do people feel moved to post wildly inaccurate slurs about the best boozer in town? Get a life, guys!
|
Cute Aussie barmaid is still there!
|
One Star that doesn't shine.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2008 19:18 |
The beer is too expensive for this area, especially when you see how grotty
the interior is- they even begrudge switching the lights on in this place!
The service is generally pretty unfriendly as well. I wish someone else
would buy this pub and spend a bit of money on it. Everyone I know
feels the same way!
|
good riddance
anonymous - 16 Oct 2008 13:28 |
has the cute aussie barmaid departed.
|
dirty , dump , maybe be the best in leytonstone but then that doesnt say much about leytonstone does it?
avoid at all costs
|
I love the North Star! I happened to discover it a couple of years ago by accident and can't leave it.
The decor is old and shabby but I think it somehow adds to the old family appeal. It may be simple but that is why it works. The people are charming and friendly and if you actually spoke to the Red Indian man he is the most gentle and loving person in the entire pub.
As for the toilets, I know the pub cleaner personally and she cleans the loo twice a day and is exposed to quite revolting things! It is not a nice task to have to clean up after someone has missed the bowl (if your bowels are in that much of a state you are clearly not well and shouldn�t be out drinking), so the only options are to lock the cubicle or have an attendant stand outside and wait for someone to make their mess and then clean it up. It is unfortunate that a couple of irresponsible people ruin it for the rest but it is not about saving money on soap, I don�t think that is a fair comment in the slightest but this site is about stating opinions, so everyone is entitled to one.
I am not saying that all the customers are perfect, of course not, but they are better than the clientele in the only other pubs around - Zulu's, Walnut Tree and Sheepwalk. The staff actually smile at you and serve you efficiently and have always made me and all my friends feel welcome.
To me, it is by far the best pub in Leytonstone.
|
Very nice back-street pub with separate public and saloon bar. well kept ales incl. broadside, landlord, pride, deuchar's. great back garden as well.
The place was rammed this weekend, combination of some kind of local festival and also an acoustic music event, which overwhelmed the staff and people were waiting for ages to be served. More an issue of popularity and the layout of the serving area, though - staff were serving flat-out and there was not room for any more of them.
I'll definitely come back to visit this pub on a quieter occasion - seems like a great place.
|
Well, I was in there on saturday. Had a great time, although they closed at 7.30 for a private party. The khazi was open - I didn't have cause to use it but it looked clean to me, and the garden also looked pleasant. The regulars are friendly, the beer is good and personally I like the knocked-about interior. It may be shabby, but it's not dirty.
Some people like this pub, some don't. I do.
|
Are you thick, filthy or both Lizi82? Your grovelling drivel ends with the words 'What more can you need'. How about a clean toilet? Is that too much to ask for in a pub? So what if someone leaving it in a mess? There would certainly be a mess if someone ended up getting caught short you imbecile!
The rest of your comments especially about limited paint colours is a load of rubbish! Where is that written in the Local Authority Conservation Documentation? It is all about spending money which the current owner will not do. Pathetic!
|
I think you'll now find that the boile view has now been covered up, the garden is currently being re-designed for smokers and a re-decoration is in the offing. THe pub was painted 4 years ago and now that the smoking ban has come in, it will be re-deocrated! Being in a conservation area, you have limitations as to what you can/can't decorate and in what colour unfortunately. The train pictures are there since it was a managed house and they've stayed in keeping with the pub.
The gents toilet was locked, because someone couldn't aim their rear in the right hole and even the best of cleaners would have a problem with cleaning up someone's diorreah on several occasions!
As to the furniture - the bar stools were also replaced 4 years ago, but some people don't seem to have respect and hence they look older.
Good pub, friendly staff and good beer. What more can you need?
|
The only pub I enjoy drinking in in leytonstone, a great place for either a quiet night, one too many while chatting to the friendly locals and a great place to watch sport. So what if the decor is a bit tired!The beers are excellent and well kept and that's what matters.
|
This is a great little pub. Friendly locals, good beer and when sunny you can sit outside and watch the world go by.
|
What has gone wrong here?
This used to be a buzzing popular venue, co owned by Mary of the Bell, an excellent publican.
It now resembles the Marie Celeste on a bad day.
The furniture is "tired" to put it mildly. I think the bar stools came from the first series of Coronation Street. The decor is a bizarre mix of train pictures and gloomy paint.
The rear patio garden is a disgrace - unkempt with dangerous carpet metal strips. The view of the boiler isn't encouraging either - not sure that is safe.
The closure of the gents loo beggars belief (oh, and it is illegal). I presume the lack of soap is a cost cutting measure whilst they save for new furniture
And yet the beer was excellent, the service efficient and the few punters that were about friendly.
So, not dead, but in serious need of resuscitation. It needs a make over and some investment. Let's hope they lower the price (�70k! I ask you) Please somebody, buy it!
|
Don't go to this pub if you get short for a number two! They have shut down the toilets in the gents because someone keeps crapping on the seat or something! Madness or what? Beer was ok though!
|
Being of a certain age I've come to enjoy the simple things in life such as a quiet pint in a friendly local pub and I can assure you The North Star is exactly that especially in an area where Burberry clad youths loiter outside McDonalds drinking alcopops and Big Issue sellers out number ordinary retailers .
The bar staff are polite and provide good service as well as friendly banter. The 'Scary Red Indian' gentleman who has been mentioned in previous posts I'm told is not as aggressive as he may seem and providing you don't come at him with a broken beer bottle will leave you well alone.
I haven't had a bad evening there apart from one when I turned up on a Monday evening thinking I would be in for a quiet night instead I was met with a table full of Kronenbourg lager louts monolpolising the jukebox with Status Quo and ACDC records and singing along like a bunch of wild apes but I guess every pub has got to have the odd off night.
All in all a quiet well kept pub with great beer and friendly staff which happens to be my idea of a decent pub.
If however your idea of a decent pub is to be surrounded by aggressive drug dealing delinquents in hoodies or violent steroid induced Saffas in short trousers (even in winter) then The Walnut Tree and Zulu's are just a stones (or preferably large bricks) throw away,
|
This is the only pub in the Leytonstone area worth drinking in. It has character, good staff and good beer. Long may it continue to be so.
|
Fair point about the Sheepwalk, but if the punters of a pub are spilling out on to the pavement chinning each other, it has to be worth a comment.
|
Albert, I said that the beer was fine on my second visit and that with a little attention the pub could be great. At least I went inside unlike you at the Sheepwalk. I always give a pub a few chances. My description is as I found.
|
OTW07 - don't be so defensive. This website's about opinions. Yours may differ. Get it?
I have witnessed fights outside the Sheepwalk. So what? I've also seen a between two elderly farmers in a bar in a hamlet in the Ardennes. Nobody is saying Leytonstone is a Cotswold village but it's a better than most places in the East End.
Funny how you dislike this pub enough to go in twice.
|
Well Albert, what do you not recognise? You said under your review of the Sheepwalk, which is up the road from the Star, that you have witnessed fights. If you don't think that Leytonstone is a dreadful place to be at night around the High Road, then you must be daft or blind or both! My description was exactly what I found on my first visit to the pub. I went in there again the other day and it was similar. The weird looking 'Red Indian' was sitting there too. Scarey! Beer was fine though!
|
I just don't recognise this pub from offthewagon's description - or his description of Leytonstone for that matter. This is one of the best pubs in the area.
|
You find this place by leaving the Baghdad High Road bit, escaping the aggressive beggers, down and outs, Lunatics and Scarey people. You think you have found Sanctuary but leave disappointed. It is a lovely Victorian building, with two bars and some original features. However, when I went inside, I waited for ages to be served. I tried to make polite chat with a large group of Middle Class Teacher types, male and female, but was ignored. They were all worse for wear, especially the ladies. It was quite early still mid-week but the girls all of whom were at least 50 were falling all over the place hugging and kissing anything human. The men all looked like rugby playing teacher know alls. All well spoken for the area and very unfriendly. I was put in my place for sure when a large lady served them out of turn. I was anxious about complaining due to her size and theirs. I was served up with a beer which was not London Pride even though I had asked for it. The beer was far to cold for an Ale. I sat in a corner. The music was far too loud and the already noisy ladies raised their voices at each other and really got on my nerves. The place is tired and dirty and stained through years of smoke, when it was allowed. In the other bar were a group of yobbish men puffing out chests and shouting football things. A man looking like a Red Indian Chief came in with another strange looking man. They obviously let in all the Lunatics in here from the High Road. I had my pint and went. Shame, with a little care and attention and control, this could be a nice place.
|
Nice pub with good beer, but when myself and my friend visited the music was so loud we had to leave. It was impossible to talk. Not what I expect for a back street boozer
|
Excellent pub, cracking location and good landlady. Clientelle that I've met are nice too.
To think this pub is off Leytonstone High Street still surprises me. They had Adnams among other beers on tap.
I recommend this to pub to anyone who is going anywhere in north-east or east London.
|
Now completely non-smoking, a month ahead of the national ban. This is a fine pub with a good range of well-kept beer. It's worth noting that it doesn't open till four during the week.
|
Well - I can only go by what I'm told, being a relative newcomer to the pub. Maybe the owner's brother told me the family had members working there for 30 years... it was the end of a long night.
|
This has only been in the same family for 30 years if you mean the Charrington family. It is now Enterprise (lease sale detals are on their website). In the 80s it became a staging post for a succession of "difficult" managers (one ended up in Brixton prison after a fight with a customer, and another was removed by police). It had ups and downs in the 90s, especially after the Walnut Tree opened, but more recently has become a lot better.
|
I was speaking to the owner's brother the other night - the pub's been in the family for 30 years. The owner is still, apparently, 'undecided' about whether to sell or not. Let's hope he decides to keep it.
|
A wonderful classic old two bar pub just off the beaten track of the high road and set gently back in time. Must be preserved at all costs. Friendly family run staff and a nice local clientele in a fearfully dying breed of east-end pub.
|
Bad news - the pub's lease is up for sale. The building's listed, but what's to stop the new owners changing the beers or removing the real ale altogether, and generally mucking about with the place's unique character? I've alerted the local CAMRA branch but have had no reply, which I'm not impressed with. We need to safeguard this gem of a pub at all costs - there are too few like it left.
|
Just the sort of pub i thought i'd never see again when i moved to london. 3 ales always well kept and a great jukebox. Go there now!
|
Cute bristley dog, jukebox and no harrassment - thumbs up! Being sick in my bag - thumbs down :( Thats BAG, not CAB!!
|
This used to be the best little pub in Leytonstone. I only lived in sunny L'stone briefly but I was very happy to find this place. Being secreted down a back street is surely a key to its success(dedicated locals). Makes me want to drive across town for a pint and I'll do so soon!
|
Discovered this one on Saturday by pure chance (due to House Full signs at the Sheepwalk's Sat night gig). What a wonderful gem of a pub! A real traditional 2-bar local in the oldest surviving "village" part of L/stone; lovely atmosphere, friendly service, fascinating pictures & memorabilia around the walls, and three beers on top form - Deuchars IPA, Broadside & Bombardier. Top boozer.
|
This is a really good pub. It's on a lovely old street and you could almost imagine you were in a country village. When the sun's shining it's hard to believe there's a McD's full of chavs a hundred yards away.
Beer is well kept and the staff and regulars are friendly. There's also a little beer garden out the back. Decor is pleasantly knocked about, with some lovely old tongue-and-groove. A great place to go while the girlfriend endures the horror that is Tesco.
|
This is one of very few pubs today that has an incredibly friendly and a real family feel about it. Fairly small compared to pubs on the high street, which makes it the first choice when there are only two to four of you. Music rocks and accesible dart board.
|
Very friendly family run pub with traditional East End atmosphere. Good Guinness.
Amy Slayford - 15 Mar 2005 12:27 |
Excellent little village olde worlde pub. Beer is always excellent, staff are efficicient and polite. Family run business, although it is a chain pub.
Lizi - 15 Sep 2004 11:57 |
