Heathcote & Star, Leytonstone, E11

Official site of Heathcote & Star - heathcoteandstar.co.uk

Official site of Heathcote & Star - heathcoteandstar.co.uk

This place was formerly a Charrington house. It's one of those pubs that had an ACV slapped on it after rumours that the owners wanted to turn it into flats. whether the ACV is the only reason it's still a pub is another matter. It was doing a good trade on a Saturday afternoon with the far right area and a few tables reserved from about half hour after my arrival. It's a large corner pub with three areas that forms a rough L shape. As you enter there's the bar area which is fairly standard. To the far right is an area with more comfy furnishings. Behind the bar is a Games Room with a projector screen showing football results with no sound, two pool tables and two table tennis tables. Just what is it about these trendy new Leytonstone outlets? They're supposed to be pubs not youth clubs. I sat in the far right room where there was a table with the parents of some kids who were being allowed to run riot so it's not just Wetherspoons that has this problem. There are just three hand pumps which had one unused, Three Sods Mud Puddler and Signature Brew Wild Winter Smoke Fairies. I went for the Signature beer which seemed in good nick but went completely flat. Having said that, I had a pint of it in the E17 Bell the day before and it did the same thing, so it's probably not the pub's fault. It cost £4.50 which is steep but it is advertised as a 6.8% beer. I wasn't really taken with this place with the limited ale choice and given that I hardly ever visit this area I doubt that I'll return.