The Holly Tree, E7

Visited 04/03/26 Cask here comprised five handpumps dispensing Five Points Railway Porter, the Wait for Me Pale Ale from Howling Hops, Spitfire, Whitstable Bay Pale Ale and something called Oliver's cider. There was a large keg offering of Litovel premium lager, Guinness, Orchard View apple cider, Neck Oil, Siren Soundwave IPA, the UnBarred Casual Pale, the Gulp Pilsner from Pretty Decent, the Salad Days IPA and the Watermelon Crush both from Yonder, the JUPA from Five Points, the Virtuous session IPA from Kirkstall, Lucky Saint, the Howling Hops Junior AF pale ale, the Amplify Your Sound dark lager from Lost & Grounded, Huntin', Fishin' & Lovin' Everyday table NEIPA from Pretty Decent and the Flowers Witbier from Queer Brewing. This is a pretty grand venue. Corner plot with outside seating around the roadside perimeter. Inside it is bare boarded and L shaped with the bar counter following the inside shape of the venue. There is some tall stool seating at the left-hand end of the bar counter. Over that side there are regular tables and chairs seating with a fire burning in the fire grate on the left-hand wall. There is some tall table seating in the frontage, which has some lovely leaded glass windows. The right-hand edge of the bar counter finishes with a chessboard patterned tile flooring, the serving hatch for the kitchen in that corner. There is a conservatory seating area on the right-hand side of the venue, popular with families on my visit. There is some outside seating along the right-hand side of the venue, but I didn't go out and investigate. The TVs here were switched off during my visit, the lighting augmented by many strands of warm white fairy lights was very ambient and there was a very pleasant low-key pop soundtrack. There is regular live music and a quiz and indeed there is a miniature railway at the side of the venue presumably operational when families are here at the weekend or during holidays with their kids! Whilst some of this can be seen as a bit gimmicky, the venue stands up as a good beer destination and at the upper end of what is available in this post code and neighbouring post codes.

A large pub quite plush and smart looking inside as described below, it veers toward the foodie end of the spectrum. There is an Adults only area which was a godsend as several of the little people were running around unchecked by staff or parents.The five hand pumps were offering up Vocation Devils Leap, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Whitstable Bay along with Five Points Green Hop Cascade which was rather nice. Despite the decent beer on offer the pub didn't really do it for me as I'd like to feel comfortable in any part of the pub rather than having to seek refuge in an adults only corner, the perils of weekend daytime drinking maybe.

Forest Gate is not the most inspiring place to go for a drink. In fact, the first time I'd ever set foot in the area was to visit the Hudson Bay (Wetherspoon's) earlier this year. However, the Holly Tree has now replaced it in the Good Beer Guide. So, I decided to make a return visit to the area with a view to try 3 pubs/bars. It was touch and go as to whether we would find the Wanstead Tap open, as it's published closing time on a Sunday is 4pm. Friends arrived there at 3:30pm to find it closed. Perhaps it no longer opens on a Sunday? Nevertheless, the Holly Tree became our first stop and very soon exceeded all of our expectations. One of the pub's USPs is the miniature railway that works its way around the garden, an undoubted attraction for kids and their families. Indeed, there was a constant stream of families coming in for their Sunday lunches, of which the pub was doing a brisk trade. We arrived at 4pm to find the railway just shutting for the day, with our former British Rail drinking colleague proclaiming that the driver looked like a throwback to the glory days of the railways. However, we did take a quick peak in the garden to view the railway, which winds its way around the various outdoor seating options. Despite being in a residential area of Forest Game, I imagine this would be a lovely place to sit in the summer. We soon took up residence near the bar. Most families appeared to be in a conservatory area which overlooks the garden and from where the lunches were appearing from an open kitchen. Where we sat, the space narrows alongside the bar, before opening out again at the far end of the pub to create plenty of seating. I wouldn't normally recommend a pub that is popular with families, but this pub tries and succeeds in satisfying all kinds of customers. Friends had sounded a bit concerned when I quoted Whatpub stating that the pub has 2 Shepherd Neame pubs and a couple of guests, but our fears were soon allayed. Our aforementioned railway colleague enjoyed his Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay Pale Ale. I enjoyed their Late Red which was also on. Guest beers were Verdant Penpol & Black Iris Stab In The Dark. They also had a real cider that I'd never seen previously - Oliver's Wild Farmhouse Cider Summer Blend. Craft beer fans are catered for too. The selection was Five Points Kipa, Beavertown Neck Oil, Soundwave Siren, Sureshot I Cannae Change The Laws of Physics, Play Brew Ruby Roo, Drop Project Glassy, Pretty Decent Dumm Sauer, Pomona Island Phaedra & Pressure Drop Petanque. With a lively atmosphere and an excellent beer selection, I really enjoyed my visit here. With a couple of friends living fairly close to here and it being just a couple of stops away from the London Stadium on the Elizabeth Line, we may well return for another visit.