The Travellers Friend, Woodford Wells, Woodford Green

This place has been a noted ale house and GBG entry for donkey's years. It's an unspoilt wooden panelled uncarpeted single bar that has some snob screens on the left side of the bar. A new garden area has been constructed on a grassy area to the right of the pub. It lost it's appeal for me when Ridley's sold out as this was probably the only permanent outlet for Ridley's IPA in the Greater London area. For many years it was run by a couple from South Wales with a daughter and when the old man died there were some very unwarranted criticisms about them on another web site. I think those criticisms should have been directed at tne failing and now defunct Bramwell pub company. When it was threatened with closure two local businessmen stepped in and purchased it. It has always been known locally as "Spivs" due to the custom base from all of the car showrooms nearby and my afternoon visit illustrated that nothing has changed when an Arthur Daley like character with a very loud voice started waffling on about the price of an Aston Martin. The thing that bothers me about the pub and it was confirmed on my visit is how somewhere that is presumably completely free of tie can have such a dull beer selection. Of the four regular beers Courage Best, Doom Bore, St Austell Tribute and Wells Bombardier the only one I recall from the more distant past being always served here is Courage Best. Why on earth should a pub on the edge of Greater London have TWO regular beers all the way from Cornwall? The three guest pumps also disappointed, mainly due to the fact that one was from Greene King called Old Nutty Hen, yet another boring variation on one of their boring core beers. The other two beers were from Welton's down in West Sussex, they were PridenJoy and Old Chestnut. I've nothing against Welton's beers, in fact I've had some top pints from them but in this part of London a number of Wetherspoon outlets sell them at a price around £1.50 a pint cheaper than the Old Chestnut which was an excessive £3.90. However, the beer was in immaculate condition. With prices like this and an unexciting beer range I won't be rushing back which is a shame as it's a nice pub with enormous potential.

Randomness Guide to London - Traveller's Friend entry

Randomness Guide to London - Traveller's Friend entry