The Coppermill, Walthamstow, E17

Visited 22/04/26 Cask was two hand pumps, one dispensing Hophead the other pump unclipped. Keg offering of Neck Oil, Moretti and the Sale Di Mare version, John Smiths, Fosters, Cruz, Guinness, original SB. Inside the venue is carpeted, a small rectangle with the bar counter a smaller rectangle on the wall opposite the entrance. There is a large chessboard tile skirt at the bar counter with some tall stool seating at the bar counter. Seating via some leather banquettes to the left- and right-hand sides of the corner entrance around the perimeter serving regular tables with a single other small table with low stools over on the opposite wall to the entrance. A few TV's showing footy action on my visit absent commentary, a light pop soundtrack playing in the background. Plenty of memorabilia of various themes on the walls. Picnic bench seating on one side of the venue and then a covered paved seating area on the other side and a small, covered seating area at the rear. Almost definition of backstreet locals pub for this part of the world, a pleasant place to have a pint from the limited, but to be expected, beer range.

Situated in an area of increasingly gentrified back streets, the former Lord Kitchener as was, dates from around 1901, the current name applied in the mid-‘80s, family-run for over 40 years and as mentioned, on the way to nowhere, otherwise known as the large complex of reservoirs between Walthamstow and Tottenham. And until 1979, it was an off-licence. Little changed since PSM’s visit, other than that the banquettes now have fawn upholstery and given my October visit (Thursday 9.00pm), much childish Hallowe’en twattery was in evidence; ho hum. There’s a jukebox and games machine and as mentioned, lots of figurines atop the pot shelf; a small unobtrusive TV was showing the footie and given that it was a Spurs match, several punters were watching. Customers were a mixed bunch of very traditional old-school locals, professional incomers and some studenty types, possibly having just come from a session at the nearby sports’ centre. There was a Hophead pump half-cocked, then a reversed clip, me having to make do with more Oil, £2.95 a half, served by a suspicious old-school landlady. Although by no means a destination, this isn’t a bad place, but the lighting was excessive and the is-it-on, is-it-off cask hokey cokey has cost the place a point.

Facebook page of The Coppermill - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Coppermill - www.facebook.com

This is a street corner pub that feels a bit on the way to nowhere in a particularly under-pubbed part of London. A couple of attractive stained-glass porches lead into the single room interior which has seemingly been opened out from a former two-bar layout. The room has been carpeted throughout and has frosted windows in striking dark wood frames along the front wall with some smart and comfy striped upholstery banquettes running beneath and around much of the perimeter, some of which sees it formed into short booths with proper pub chairs in support. The servery is along the rear wall and has a nice dark wood counter, decorative matching gantry lined with Blues Brothers and Laurel & Hardy figurines, model bulldogs, some diving themed odds and ends and an unused TV screen. The walls have been decorated with some display cabinets full of pub games and fishing themed items. The bare brick rear section of wall sports the old pub sign, a ‘Public Bar’ sign and a decent selection of framed cigarette cards. High shelves run around much of the room and have been used to display old books, brassware items, bottles, ceramics and other miscellaneous bits of bric-a-brac. A bloke to the rear of the room was playing the guitar and I spotted a few others around the pub brandishing instruments, so it may have been an open-mic night. There are four handpulls on the bar, but two of these were unclipped, leaving a choice between Fullers London Pride and Dark Star Hophead. The latter clocked in at £4.00 a pint and was in good condition, although this beer never seems to have the impact I remember it having when I first started drinking it. I’m not sure there’s anything particularly special about this pub to the outsider, but it clearly serves an important purpose in the local community and has a nice, relaxed, welcoming atmosphere as a result. I definitely enjoyed my visit here, especially after having spent several hours sat in cold industrial estate brewery taprooms, and whilst this isn’t by any means a destination pub, I would be pretty happy if it was my local.

The Coppermill is a really nice looking backstreet pub. Once inside there is a smallish single oblong shaped room the bar is on the right side,the room is carpeted and has very comfy bench seating to the front and left,there was a TV on showing Rugby. There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Shepherd Neame Early Bird which was quite a nice drink,the other beers i noted were London Pride and Bobardier. The pub was very busy on my Saturday afternoon visit with a good mix of drinkers. I really liked this pub it was very comfortable,one i could settle in for a good session. Pub visited 21/3/2015