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Detail Pages
The Spark House, E10
E10
E10 7EQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Hughes left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
Small but a very good pub for locals. Unfortunately, a lot of the lower tables have been replaced by higher ones with uncomfortable stools, maybe to deter older people who used to cluster in largish groups? I think the idea was to encourage younger people but why youngsters would want to frequent this pub en masse I fail to imagine. Toilets could be visited more often, but that's a failing with most JDW's and other chains, have a rota up for hourly 'toilet checks' and sign it every 2-3 hours.
A lot of the staff seem to make a good effort, which hasn't always been the case here and many are friendly and accommodating. One has just started a quiz night on a Thursday and i hope she is successful, however, the pub is too small I fear for it to last. I hope not as she is keen and has support. There is a large car park next to the pub and at the time of writing this was free after 5pm. Overall a very friendly local and everyone seems to get on well with each other. A pub where you feel that the staff actually listen to you.
On 27th November 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
We were in here for our breakfast/brunch before setting off to sample the delights of Walthamstow's pub. The traditional breakfast in here is the fairly standard (for London anyway) £3.35. I also had a pint of Nethergate Stour Valley Gold for £1.99, which is outstanding value even for during a 'spoons beer festival. The range of ales on offer was also good, although I tend to expect that during their festivals.
We thought that this 'spoons was a notch or two above the norm. There are several separate drinking areas, and the light pine wood everywhere gave it a much lighter aspect than in most 'spoons with their dark varnish, and the small conservatory type area at the back also made it much brighter. There's also an outside drinking area at the back. The two members of staff with whom we interacted were more friendly and helpful than is sometimes the case in a 'spoons. This is simply a better than average 'spoons - or at least it was when I visited.
On 27th October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
It's a myth that this place was an original pub. Whatever the original use of this building was it certainly wasn't a pub. It's first outing as a drinking establishment was in the early 1980s as a wine bar called Nancy's. Some time after that it became a bar / pub called the Drum but was not a real ale venue. In the early to mid 1980s JDW had the Auctioneer (now Bootlaces) across the road but were keeping an eye on this place as it was a much bigger venue. Eventually in that decade (I don't have a date) they took it on and at some time afterwards the Auctioneer became the Tap & Spile.
For many years the JDW Drum retained the percussion bric-a-brac from the previous owners but it's now long gone.
The burning question is what the original use of this building was. Research by the local CAMRA branch suggests it was an auction house, while I was told many years ago that it had been a Barnardo's home.
As a JDW in 2016 it is a complete anachronism. Few people come here just to eat, in fact there are more high tables and chairs than lower furniture. On a recent Friday afternoon visit there were no large menu cards and no Fish Friday fliers on any of the tables. There was a limited non-standard "Deli" menu which included a pork pie option, more micropub than JDW. The JDW web site doesn't have the usual food display for this venue which given the fact they don't open until 10:00 might suggest they don't now do the usual JDW Breakfast club either but that would need confirming.
I'm sure these food changes have only come about recently so the future of the pub has clearly been under review. This leads to the other question about this place which is how on earth has it survived? This is especially relevant in the current climate of JDW closures. There have been rumours of it closing down for almost as long as I've been coming here. It survives due to one simple fact, it's a personal favourite of Tim Martin. In the past I've seen him drop in twice but at 61 he could in theory throw in the towel any time although I suspect he won't.
My recent visit was the first in a few years after being served poor quality pints on a couple of occasions. All ten hand pumps were going with no doubling up, available soon or any other nonsense. I went for a Salopian Oracle (£2.19) and a Hackney APA (£2.35) both of which were in excellent condition. The only problem was that on a hot day they were both rather warm. They used to have cooling systems on the lines here so either they have been removed or are not working. Apart from that I enjoyed my afternoon visit here. If you haven't already been it's worth a look as it is now a unique JDW outlet despite not being the oldest or smallest.
On 29th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
If you want to save a bit of time and your legs, we jumped on the bus no 48 from Walthamstow bus station around the corner from the goose, which let us off across the road from the Drum.
This was a very decent Spoons indeed with fast service and a good selection of ten ales. I went for the Hackney New Zealand Pale Ale, which was an excellent choice. Mrs A went for a South West London Brewery, By The Horns, Stiff Upper Lip, which she liked very much.
On 18th February 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
This really doesn't feel like a 'spoons with the exterior appearing to be a former pub and the interior split up by several supporting columns and quite a small staircase up to the loos.The ceiling RSJ's hint at an earlier multi roomed layout but even now the open plan interior is modest,with a raised bar area along the left wall.It's carpeted throughout.
Glad to report that there were few of the 'spoons regular (boring) ales and a very good selection of beer festival ales with all the 10 handpumps fully functional.My Archers Single Hop was in decent shape.
I would certainly call again ,it's a good double header with the King William IV closeby,and the commitment to a decent real ale selection mark this out as one of the better 'spoons around.I hope that on my brief visit,I wasn't just very lucky.
On 23rd March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
The Drum is a a Wetherspoons that was converted from an original pub which was also called the Drum.
Once inside this is a very small Spoons with a single split level room,the bar is on the left side which is up one step,the seating is the usual Spoons type with mainly normal tables and chairs plus a few tall ones.
There was a decent choice of guest beers on the bar with 8 guest beers and 2 Spoons regulars,i had a drink of Archers Single Hop which went down very well after a long journey down here.
I thought this was quite a pleasant and comfortable pub to have a drink in.
Pub visited 21/3/2015
On 21st March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Smith left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
Very small for a Wetherspoons. Ok though and half a dozen ales available. The Twickenham Gothik Dark Mild at £2.09 was very good. Usual menu available. OK but nothing special.
On 17th February 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 47 recommendations about 44 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
A very shabby Wetherspoon's that can feel very cramped. I have visited here a few times but have never been very lucky with the ale range.
On 2nd March 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
Very busy but old fashioned looking Wetherspoon pub.Usual suspects on the bar plus 2 Ringwood beers.Okay beer but not not a pub I will re-visit.
On 22nd September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Drum (JD Wetherspoon)
As said before me, this is not a typical looking Wetherspoons pub which I put down as a plus point ,it does however have typical Wetherspoons prices which has to be another plus point,my pint of London Fields Black Path Porter was £2.15 a pint,great value,the beer itself though was a little tired and probably near the end of the barrel. The other choices ,and there were a few were uninspiring and mostly usual suspects ,the likes of G.K. Abbot ,Ruddles and offerings from Marstons etc. The pub was well attended on Saturday afternoon but I didn't really take to it and wasn't tempted to stay beyond the one pint.The only reason I can see for a return visit is that the bus stop down to Hackney is opposite but I'd probably rather wait for a bus there than in this particular pub.
On 16th June 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]