The Nags Head, Walthamstow

The staff and owners are family-unfriendly to a point I find depressing and plain weird. Case in point: my partner and I and two month old son in a pram were instructed to leave the front garden immediately (�I'd like you to leave now�) for staying slightly longer than their 7.30pm cut-off. Strange thing is, this evening was a special celebration for a local cat that had just passed away, beloved of our family, and we'd popped down specially to have a pint. Surely a wake would be one occasion you'd think they'd let relax the rules by a minute or two just to let us finish out pints? Damn, you'd be wrong. It seems strange that the owners are more concerned about hustling kids in prams off the premises than nurturing good relations with the locals. We wouldn't have gone down if it wasn't for the special occasion, so as a point of principle, and to play along with what seemed to me a ridiculous rule, I wandered back on my tod and asked for the quid I'd put in the collection box back. The landlady calmly gave it to me and explained that she had to keep the ground rules so strict to stop people taking liberties. Understood, but if strict enforcement of the ground rules is more important than cutting local families an inch of slack, you have to wonder about their priorities. No wonder there's such a weird atmosphere in there. Beer OK, constant acid jazz/trip hop muzak, watch out for the rules on signs everywhere, and they put furry table clothes on the tables for some reason.

I recommend The Castle in the Village for family-friendly service, each time we've been there, they couldn't have done more to accommodate us. Better music also.

16 Oct 2011 21:00

The William IV, Leyton

Outstanding range of Brodie's beers. Had the California one which was absolutely bursting with flavour. Beautiful interior, really nice relaxed atmosphere, lots of screens for football but didn't seem dominated by sport.... this place seemed almost perfect.

19 May 2011 00:02

Red Hart, Blaisdon

Dropped in mostly for food, but beer was great with a good range, both ultra local and imaginatively selected ones from further afield. Enjoyed a Hook Norton and one other which has slipped my mind. Food was very good, not cheap, but I wouldn't say terribly costly. Only downside was the barman seemed pretty rude and offhand. I'd still definitely go there again, still.

18 May 2011 23:58