The Acorn, Barking

Facebook page of The Acorn - m.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Acorn - m.facebook.com

The only real ale on was GKIPA (£3 a pint). Food is obviously available on weekday lunchtimes as I saw people eating, but I didn’t see a menu. The burger and chips on which I witnessed one punter doing a demolition job looked OK. This is a prominent pub right by Barking Park, with a nice beer garden to the side overlooking the park. The exterior is rather striking with its corner turret. The interior has been completely opened up, with a very large island bar in the middle. The panelled bar counter looks like it might be an old, if not original, feature, and the bar back with its “wine and spirits ports and sherries ales and stouts” embellishment looks interesting. In the main bar area at the front the majority of seating is red or black leather effect sofas and bucket armchairs. Round to the right of the bar counter there’s a stage, presumably for live performances of some kind, and some normal tables and chairs where a handful of people were eating. I guess they must show sport as I counted at least eight TVs on the walls, but when I was in on Wednesday lunchtime they were all switched off and we had to content ourselves with Smooth Radio for entertainment. I think I would have preferred muted TVs. There were just a dozen or so apparent regulars in, but it looks the sort of pub that would get busy at other times. But although it’s an “OK” pub, it doesn’t have enough going for it for me to want to pay a return visit in the absence of a decent ale selection.

Large old fashioned street corner pub.one large bar area but unfortunately no real ales which would have made it a much better pub.Down to earth friendly bar staff that makes you feel very welcome