The Palm Tree, Mile End

...an update following my visit to Radiohead's gig and specifically this pub.
It does indeeed have a very, very old till and some tiny musical instruments on a tiny stage (as if ready to welcome a miniature Chas & Dave tribute band). It was cold outside in the garden area. Admittedly, blame for this cannot be directly attributed to the pub landlord but a complete absence of garden furniture, parasols, heaters etc... was a shame and could have helped. It also has the tiniest gents urinal facility (ok for the mini in-house band perhaps, but I struggled) and no actual male flushing toilet apparent (there must be one somewhere). I couldn't tell which of the three middle-aged chaps in cheap tailored shorts was the boss. They all seemed equally glum but didn't throw me out for any random issue.
All in all, it served a purpose but it's a fantastic building in a great setting and could do with a bit of love and attention.
I'm never going there again though, because I don't live anywhere near it.
Radiohead weren't up to much either, that night.

15 Jul 2008 12:37

The Blue Anchor, Hayes

We should all be thankful. Wouldn't be a bad idea if all Hayes pubs were boarded up. Preferably with the locals still inside them. Perhaps even shutdown Hayes itself. Closely followed by West Drayton.

15 Jul 2008 12:24

The Bell, Ruislip

There's a big German Shepherd dog hanging around inside which looks a little scary but probably isn't. More scary are the locals who appear unnecessarily angry. Last time I was there drinking alfresco behind some plastic bus-stop type screens out front, an old Spitfire flew by overhead (mucking about from RAF Northolt) and I secretly hoped that it was lining up a bombing run on the pub. Then I remembered I was still in it and changed my mind.

20 Jun 2008 15:57