Pubs

Favourite Pubs

Pubs in the Wantz Area (EC1-EC4, E1-E18 and South-West Essex)

Black Bull, 199 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DE - Nethergate
At the city end of the busy market on Whitechapel Road opposite the London Hospital stands this busy atmospheric east end pub. .

Britannia, 1 Church Road, Barking, IG11 8PR - Young's
From the outside the Britannia's most noticeable features are the semi-caryatids which give the pub its nickname, the titty tavern. Inside is a comfortable, two-bar pub (a corner Public bar - a large, three part Lounge) This was for many years the Wantz branch's regular meeting place. The Britannia is a Young's Pub and was short-listed for the 2005 SPBW London Pub of the Year. It has been chosen as the S W Essex Camra Pub of the year several times and has been in the Good Beer Guide for many years. The pub is run by John & Rita Pells who have have been at the Britannia for the last 17 years.

Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, E3 2DA - Young's
This is not the Queen Vic. A large, wonderful, friendly Young's pub that could be somewhere much more rural than Mile End, stocking a full range of the bottled beers and great food. Like that other east-end Young's pub the Queen's Head 8 Flamborough Street, E14 whenever I call in for a pint or two I wonder why I don't become a regular.

Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, Hackney, E8 1JH Milton Brewery and others
If you're looking for an old fashioned cluttered, smoky local, this is probably not the pub for you. Minimalist in decoration and with Budvar as the only non-hand-pumped draught beer (the Pembury boasts over 12 handpumps) bottled German (5) and Belgian (10) beers, a rotating selection of real cider and good fresh home-prepared food and cheeses from Neil's Yard Dairy. This is a sister pub to the Oakdale Arms but whereas the Oakdale is not too public-transport-friendly the Pembury Tavern is close to two Rail stations and 12 bus routes. (See the website for more information The Pembury Tavern). This is the 2007 SPBW Pub of the Year and currently the Wantz branch's meeting place.

Pubs elsewhere in London

Dog and Bell, 116 Prince Street, SE8 3JD - various
Not a place you'd come across by accident this Pub-of-the-Year multi award winner usually has three handpumps selling Fuller's Ales and three selling beers from micro-breweries. Add to that a less usual selection of bottled Belgian ales and the quality food and you begin to understand why. The pub is divided into two areas, the immediate bar area and a second area for talking eating or playing board games (picture SE London Camra)

Oakdale Arms, 285 Hermitage Road, N4 1NP - various
This large street corner pub lost in the hinterland of Seven Sisters Road is remarkable for its range of beers (from the Milton Brewery and others) An award winning pub, only recently discovered by many of us, is under threat of redevelopment. Go there while you can http://www.individualpubs.co.uk/oakdale/

Wenlock Arms, 26 Wenlock Road, N1 7TA - various
Not far from the Regents Canal and Wenlock Basin and off Old Street a favourite pub of many SPBW members and beer-drinkers in general. It can become busy at times Since it is on the boundary of East and North London there is a fair chance of running into a social event of any of several Camra, SPBW and other groups. Always a mild ale available amid five or so other hand-pumped beers and a handful of more exotic bottled beers.

Star, 6 Belgrave Mews West, SW1X 8HT - Fullers
Why are so many great London pubs off-the-beaten-track, hard-to-find or away from easy transport links? This is another Pub tucked away down a Mews (presumably for the use of the artisan and service/servant workers of Knightsbridge and Mayfair. Within half a mile there are several decent Pubs out of sight of a passer-by: the Nag's Head, Horse and Groom, Grouse and Claret to name three. Inside is a comfortable Pub with a bar area and a lounge area with several large tables and a welcoming open fire in winter. Food available

Priory, 83 Lansdown Way, SW8 2PB - various
A change of management has, thankfully, left business as usual. Real ales possibly even better kept and the German bottled beer selection more varied and less reliance on Rauchbier. Also a wide selection of country wines. Board games available from behind the bar

Royal Oak, 44 Tabard Street, SE1 4JU - Harvey's
There may be some people for whom the Royal Oak is not on a short list of favourite pub's but everyone else from Time-Out to Camra sings the praises of this pub just off the off Borough High Street. A tied Harvey's pub (the only one in London) this beautifully restored Victorian pub is also famed for it's home cooking.

Sultan, 78 Norman Road, SW19 1BT - Hop Back
If you're heading for the deep south (don't forget Wantz is an East London branch and the trip to Wimbledon makes this almost foreign parts to us) make a point of visiting this outlet for Hop-Back ales. Another regular SPBW-pub-of-the-year nominee and Camra local Pub-of-the-year winner.