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Image posted by Rex Rattus
Submitted on Thursday, 5th April 2018
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Detail Pages
The Birkbeck Tavern, Leytonstone, E11
E11
E11 4HL
Served areas
The Birkbeck Tavern
Easter week is here, hope to see you. https://t.co/qf2H89SgFL
7:45 AM Apr 3rd 2023 from Hootsuite Inc.
Reviews of The Birkbeck Tavern (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Birkbeck Tavern
This is one of a handful of Birkbeck taverns, this being part of the Leytonstone Birkbeck Estate, funded by the former Birkbeck Bank, whose funding and name still apply to Birkbeck University, part of the University of London. The exterior features a beautiful glazed tiled fascia, but criminally the name ‘Charrington’s’ has inexplicably been covered up.
The interior is of note, probably dating from the 1930s and little changed, which should probably appear on CAMRA’s magical history tour, with a faded red Lino floor, gloss green Anaglypta to the dado then magnolia paint to a similar ceiling with attractive cornice. There are oxblood banquettes, pool room to the rear and a room divider with original ‘pot boy’ door. The bar array is attractive, less so the games machine, though the boxing iconography is interesting. The Orient match played in silence on a discrete TV, so as not to disturb a good Stones soundtrack, the second encounter of my mini crawl.
A disappointing ale choice amounted to Doom, Pride and Deuchars, all swerved in favour of a half of Guinness, £2.45 served by a friendly barmaid.
This is an interesting pub which could be improved with a more imaginative cask lineup; and please uncover the lovely Charrington’s tiling?
On 2nd November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Birkbeck tavern
It just goes to show what an important factor beer availability and quality can make to the enjoyment of a pub visit. One of our group chose the Bombardier Gold, which was rank but gracefully exchanged for Courage Best (which he said was good), and the rest of us chose the Maldon Gold, which was average at best. We didn't see any sign of food on a Wednesday afternoon.
But I thought the pub itself was quite delightful. You have the public bar on the corner, and through an archway you reach a small room containing just a pool table. Both of these rooms had the rarely seen lino flooring. An opening behind the central servery takes you to the very comfortable and carpeted saloon bar. This in turn had been extended to the rear, via an elegant archway where there's a very attractive fireplace. An alcove in this rear room contained a dartboard. Screening separated the public bar from the saloon, and it had a very small service door (for cleaners and potmen) in days past, but clearly no longer in use.
There's plenty of interesting decor - a giant dart (!) above the dartboard alcove; jugs and the like hanging from a beam; and (so our expert informed us) a 1920s fishing rod and shooting bag. A large garden at the back had plenty of seating, and as the weather wasn't too bad I was able to have a good look round out there. It was clearly well-tended, and would be a lovely place to spend an hour or two on a summer's day.
I really liked the laid back and comfortable feel of this place. I would definitely like to pay return visit, in the hope that we were just unlucky regarding beer quality when we visited.
On 9th April 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Birkbeck
Poor beer selection and poor quality on my last two visits, most recently last Saturday.
A shame, as it could easily be so much better.
On 6th March 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
View more reviews of The Birkbeck Tavern (9)
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- Official site of The Birkbeck - thebirkbecktavern.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Birkbeck Tavern entry
- Twitter - The Birkbeck Tavern
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Birkbeck Tavern - whatpub.com
Maryland, 0.97 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Stratford International, 1.06 miles, 20 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 03 January 2019 by Komakino .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Darts : Yes last updated 03 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Function Room : Yes last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes last updated 03 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Sky Sports/BT Sport. - last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 03 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Pinball : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 03 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Quiz Night : Yes - Once a month. - last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 January 2011 by Alan Hurdle
- Real Cider : No last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 October 2023 by Tris C
