Henley Arms, North Woolwich, E16

Visited 13/05/26. Visited previously 26/03/24. No cask. Keg offering of Moretti, Fosters, John Smiths, Guinness, Murphy's Irish stout, Cruz, Amstel, Neck Oil, Inch's. Newly re-opened venue a bit on its own in DLR station land! There is some picnic bench seating out the front. Inside the front part is carpeted with a colourful tile skirt along the bar counter which is against the right-hand wall mid venue. There is some tall stool seating on two sides of the bar counter. Seating in the carpeted area via a mix of regular and tall tables, served by regular chairs, tall benches and a leather banquette facing the entrance. There is a good amount of standing space around the long side of the bar counter with a TV on the facing wall showing cricket action on my visit. There rear part is bare boarded and houses a pool table, dartboard and another couple of TVs showing sporting action on my visit absent sound. The sound was a good 60's generally Motown soundtrack. Good to see reopened as was well closed when I passed a couple of times earlier in the year as I would imagine it is an important community asset.

Facebook page of Henley Arms - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Henley Arms - www.facebook.com

There was no real ale here, although there are a couple of handpumps on the bar counter. The landlady said that they only ever have real ale on occasionally during the summer, as there's hardly any call for it. I'm not surprised. There was no sign of any food on Wednesday afternoon. When you see the dilapidated and weather worn external signage you get the feeling that it's not going to be a gem of a pub. But inside it was a bit better than I expected. It's carpeted with a cheap looking, but apparently fairly new carpet and is furnished with normal tables and chairs, apart from two or three tall tables/tall stools. The walls are painted white, with the bar counter a light grey. It looks as if it's recently been redecorated to give it a bit of a spruce up. There are a few prints on the walls, but nothing exceptional; there's a juke box and a TV of course. This is a pretty routine estate pub, but an absolute gem in comparison with the Royal Standard down the road.