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Picture of The Palm Tree
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 25th January 2024
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The Palm Tree, Mile End, E3

24-26 Haverfield Road
E3
E3 5RP
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Palm Tree (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Quinno _ left this review about The Palm Tree

I think that, extremely sozzled, I visited this one many years ago and there was certainly a faint glimmer of recognition as I entered even though much of the canal and parkland approach has been tarted-up in the last 15 years. The attractive Truman’s exterior remains and the CAMRA Heritage listed interior is also rather lovely, with a splendid curved island bar with tongue and groove wooden upper, leaded windows and heavy drape curtains; quite the timewarp and apparently the owner has been in situ for many years. Also of note are the signed photos of old-skool celebs (in many cases deceased), old jockeys and the startling gold foil wallpaper on one side. Gentle 1950s (I think) music was a rather beguiling background for a relaxed atmosphere. 2x Mighty Oak beers at the bar, my Maldon Gold was fine (NBSS 3) though came in a plastic cup due to someone in my party confusing the barman as to whether we would be drinking inside or out. Prices were very steep, but I suppose you at least get a decent quality pint and enjoyable surrounds. And it was cash-only which made me smile (then grumpy, as it turned out I was the only one in the group who actually had enough to cover the round). Like Steve and others say below, it’s a unique survivor and you do wonder what will happen when time catches up with the owners. Visit whilst you can – it’s good fun in an off-beat way.

On 27th October 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5030 recommendations about 5013 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Palm Tree

It was dark by the time I had picked my way across Mile End Park fully trusting that Google Maps was correct in taking me to what felt like no man’s land, and arrived outside what, to all indications was a closed pub with no visible signs that it was actually open. Everything I had read told me it should have opened at 4.00pm, so I tried the first door and it yielded, allowing me to enter into what I initially thought was someone’s photographic dark room.
Well this is quite a unique pub. Only the southernmost bar was open for my early midweek early evening visit and the cabaret-esque red lighting and the red and gold chintzy decor takes a bit of getting used to and it took a while for my eyes to acclimatise enough to pick out the signed pictures of long passed celebrities and forgotten jockeys that line the walls above the oval-shaped bar, and spaces that aren’t plastered with memorabilia are covered in gold chintz.
Two hand pumps on the bar but only Mighty Oak Malden Gold available for my visit, which was very good but was one of, if not the most expensive pint of the day
The landlady and her accompanying dog were extremely friendly and welcoming and I presumed it was Val , of Val and Alf fame, who have presided over the pub for many years, but apparently not long enough to know how to change the Muzak system that was playing some excruciating cheesy Christmas carols.
This bar also has a small stage with a drum kit and piano set up in the corner and according to the landlady there’s live music (mainly Jazz), on Thursdays to Sundays and since there are no neighbours within shouting distance, these have a habit of turning into late-night sessions.
It is cash only here, as they still use an ancient mechanical till and they charge for tap water, something that has caused uproar on other review sights, as have reports of staff unfriendliness, (unless you're a regular), especially if you get on the wrong side of the landlord, although as stated my experience was the opposite of this in that respect with who I believed was the landlady.
Difficult one to rate as you don't come to the Palm Tree for great beer choice, and despite being CAMRA listed, the interior will not be to everyone’s taste, especially of a dark evening. But The Palm Tree is a remarkable survivor, and you do have to wonder what will happen to it when the present custodians do depart, and I certainly plan to revisit in the daylight of summer when the outside canal can be enjoyed.

On 10th December 2022 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Palm Tree

Originally dating from around the 1840s and built at the corner of Palm Street and Totty Street, this was a pub which served a myriad surrounding houses, swept away as a result of bombing, in what is now Mile End Park. Another first for an E3 pub, into this Grade II-listed former Truman's house dating from 1935. At first glance it would be easy to assume that it was built by their in-house architect, A. E. Sewell in the so-called 'improved' style, but this would be a basic schoolboy error, as it was in fact designed by Eedle & Myers, architects of the legendary Angel, which gives its name to a part of Islington and a square on the UK Monopoly board.
I won't go into any real detail about the place as it's well documented below, on CAMRA's Pub Heritage website and that of Historic England, suffice to say that unsurprisingly nothing has changed and the couple who have run it since the 1970s are presumably still here.
Arriving with around 40 minutes to go before the 'new normal' last orders and what a shock compared to The Lord Tredegar over the road, not because of the obvious differences in architectural style but because of the customers: the Lord Tredegar was pretty much as full as the law allows with diners aplenty and probably all recent incomers to the area. Here, just one old boy who has probably been a regular all his life, chatting away to the staff behind the bar.
Entry required very little in the way of track and trace, just a notebook for names and numbers and a bottle of denatured alcohol to be splashed sloppily onto the hands without any little pump with most of it spilling onto the floor. As mentioned, the lighting in here is rather different (or traditional?) as there's little illumination beyond a deathly orange glow. Music flowed gently but was contemporary where one would have expected Glenn Miller or The Andrews Sisters wafting over a windup gramophone. The floor is carpeted but I doubt it’s original though. The lavs were ok, but what was a little alarming is that there's no gent's cubicle.
There was one solitary ale, Mighty Oak's Maldon Gold which was very good but at an absolutely excruciating £5.00, which is more than a substantially stronger pint at the Tredegar with its far more affluent client base. It also had to be paid for in cash which I had brought along specially, having been forewarned, though it didn't go into the cash register of yesteryear.
I'm glad I saw this place in all its original glory, but I doubt the interior will survive in its current state once the current landlord/lady move on, so best see it while you have the chance.

On 28th November 2020 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1943 recommendations about 1910 pubs]


View more reviews of The Palm Tree (14)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Bethnal Green, 0.8 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Cambridge Heath (London), 0.92 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Whitechapel, 1.41 miles, 27 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Palm Tree, E3
25th Jan 2024, 15:56
Picture submitted by Will Larter approved
 
25th Jan 2024, 15:56
Picture submitted by Will Larter approved

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 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Beer Garden : No - some outside front seating - last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Car Park : Yes last updated 29 November 2020 by Tris C
  • Child Friendly : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Darts : Yes - London fives - last updated 27 November 2020 by Tris C
  • Dog Friendly : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Function Room : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Hot Food : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Jukebox : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Karaoke : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Micropub : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Pinball : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Pool Table : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Real Cider : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 18 April 2015 by Pub SignMan
  • WiFi : No last updated 27 October 2023 by Quinno _
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