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Reviewing milestone with Mobyduck
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The Hope, EC1
EC1
EC1M 6BH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Hope
Smallish pub near Smithfield Market and has butchers block tables - high seats mainly, high ceiling, some real ale, nice enough London pub
On 14th November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hope
Another attractive looking building but the pub doesn't really live up to it , there was little if no ambiance internally as well as a dull ale availibility with Doom Bar and Tribute, not sure I'd bother again.
On 28th April 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Hope
Handsome looking pub, with the large bow front window the standout feature.
Inside, its single room, high ceiling, bare floorboards.
Ropey pint of Tribute was a let down.
On 1st March 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1345 recommendations about 1331 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Hope
The 'new' Hope is certainly more appealing than previously, with a refurbished interior that mixes the traditional and modern fairly well. However, the bowed frontage remains the stand-out feature, although there is some decent tiling at each door. There are also a couple of wooden benches out front if the weather is clement. Three real ales on handpump: Doom Bar, Deuchars IPA and Twickenham Naked Ladies (£4.70). NB - Being beside Smithfield Market, it still opens its doors at 7 am Mondays to Fridays.
On 7th October 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hope
Reopened in early December 2016 and much has changed, all for the better. The bow-fronted window remains as does most of the interior as I recall, especially the mirrors and glazed tiles. The stinking worn carpet has gone, replaced with dark bare boards. Lighting is conventional as is the hackneyed contemporary colour scheme: dark grey/blue panelling to around waist height with white walls above and up top, a dark grey/blue ceiling. Furniture is high with some butchers' block tables. Music was muted and there was no sign of a TV - hooray! The barmaids seemed cheerful and not afflicted with the desire to end it all - hooray again!!
Ales: Deuchar's IPA, Adnam's Broadside and Harvey's Sussex Best at £4.60 a pint which although fine, is very steep indeed.
In all, this place is a vast improvement over its former incarnation but it was very busy and the choice of ale is unadventurous. It's pricey too. Worth a visit if in the area and miles better than the White Bear up the road, but not worth a detour.
On 7th December 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1993 recommendations about 1959 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Hope
Externally marked as a Youngs pub but I suspect that's no longer true. Looks initially promising, bowed frontage leading to a small single room pub with high ceiling and a very impressive section of Victorian tiling and huge etched glasswork on the left side, along with some half-length wood panelling and an aged cash register tucked away. Sadly the rest of the place is a feculent pit; disgusting worn carpet down to the rubber, chipped and worn tables and a general air of decay. Sandwiches behind the bar would have given the British Rail buffet car from the 70s a run for its money. Three pumps, just Youngs Bitter on and it was vile. It went back and to be fair was at least replaced without fuss with a fresh barrel from a new pump (though what I got was still fairly naff). There's a good pub here being stifled and based on my visit, I won't be back. Hope is all it has, currently.
On 2nd April 2016
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hope
An impressive bowed frontage hints at good things to come but alas as always, appearances can be deceptive.
This is a small pub with the bar running down the right side. On the plus side, there's some fine glasswork tiles and mirrors, a tiled bar apron, part mosaic floor tiles to the left side and some dark wood panelling; furniture is plain and traditional. On the minus side, there's a scruffy carpet and the whole place is a bit tired. There's TV sport and muted music; this pub was virtually empty even though many others were almost full.
The East European barmaids seemed bored and served me with a half of their only ale, Young's Bitter at £2.00 a half. It was lifeless and sour.
A score of 3 rather than 2 awarded because of some interesting décor, but otherwise this isn't a great place at all - it's like a rundown Victorian pub transported to a depressed estate: The Hopeless would be a better name.
Closed Sunday.
On 3rd March 2016
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1993 recommendations about 1959 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Hope
Very impressive frontage.3 handpumps with beers from Youngs and Cottage. Some original mirrors and tiling.
On 13th October 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Hope
Two ales on during my visit yesterday afternoon – Bombardier, and Young’s Bitter, the latter at a fairly hefty £3.50 a pint. There’s not much left of the original Victorian interior, except a bit of tiling and mirrorwork, plus the frontage as described by John below. The main reason for coming in here is for the hot meat sandwiches. The menu isn’t extensive, just beef or pork on white or brown bread. The last time I was in here if you really wanted to push the boat cuisine wise, you could have a sausage on the side, but I didn’t see any yesterday. The hot pork sandwiches were £3.90 a throw, and the hot beef £4.00. And that included mustard, horseradish and apple sauce as appropriate, with the pork sandwiches also having a pork crackling garnish. Now that’s class. The Sirloin restaurant is upstairs, and features the full English breakfast as its signature dish. As I recall it’s around £9, and as I’ve eaten there on several occasions I can confirm that it really is a very full English breakfast.
This is a very ordinary sort of pub with nothing really special about it, but it’ll do for a decent (if a little expensive) pint, and an excellent sandwich at a good price.
On 23rd March 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Hope & Sirloin
This pub is actually called "The Hope" with "The Sirloin" being a separate restaurant upstairs.
A very attractive exterior with a fine curved glass frontage leads to a traditional wood panelled interior with some fine tiling, a mosaic flooring and a burgundy painted ceiling. Note in particular the fine etched glass in the doors - "Public Bar" - and "Saloon Bar" - telling us that this was formerly a two roomed pub. Seating consists of wooden benches and tables.
On my evening visit, despite ( or perhaps because of ?) screening the England v Hungary game at Wembley high up in one corner of the pub, the pub was virtually deserted with the only two other customers occupying stools on the pavement outside.
The Young's "smile" logo is displayed outside on the frontage, but I don't think this has ever been a Young's house. On my visit, a reasonable pint of Young's Ordinary - £ 3.30p - was enjoyed. Shepherd Neame Master Brew was also on. The two foreign bar staff seemed rather bored and disinterested and there was no sign of anyone who seemed to be in charge or running things.
I don't think this pub is too bad, but it's not down for an early revisit.
On 7th October 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]