The Flower Pot, E17

This is a mid-19th century pub in east Walthamstow. With some rather basic clients emerging from within, it’s also a very basic, grey and uninviting pub, staple shaped interior, with a covered patio to the right-hand side, accessed via two recessed doors – not original – with charming wire reinforced small glass panes and portentous signs stating that lavatories are for customers’ use only. Loud noise could be heard on approach, with unwelcoming occluded lower glass panes so you can’t see what to expect, the interior bathed in a celestial blue glow at the time of my Friday 9.30pm visit. As there was nothing to hold my attention and I didn’t exactly fit in, I decided to undertake the short walk to the substandard yet superior Duke. This pub really could do something to up its game to appeal to the future occupants of the large number of modern housing blocks going up in the immediate vicinity; evolve or dissolve.

Facebook page of The Flower Pot - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Flower Pot - www.facebook.com

The Flower Pot is a basic looking pub that is on the run down wood street. Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar facing,the room is carpeted,the seating is pew type and normal tables and chairs,there is a darts board to the rear left. There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Doom Bar which was a decent enough drink,the other beer was GK IPA. Decent background music was playing and the pub was quite busy with locals. Cheap cobs are available,you dont see that in posh parts of London. I quite like doing pubs like this.

A basic boozer but friendly enough it's very much a locals pub.Open plan with an L shaped interior and a very fine Bass mirror to one side.Just two real ales in Doom Bar and GK IPA with some very decent rolls for a snack (£1.60) These sort of pubs are fast disappearing although the gentrification of Walthamstow hasn't reached this neck of the woods yet.

This is a very basic locals’ pub with no upmarket pretentions whatsoever. Unfortunately they didn't have Bass on when I visited on Wednesday afternoon, and the GKIPA they did have on wasn't really a worthy substitute. There was no sign of any food either. This is a real old pub - it's carpeted, and furnished with standard tables and chairs. A lot of dark wood panelling survives, and of course the necessary cast iron pillars, and some brewery mirrors adorn the walls. There were a couple of large TVs on the walls, both muted, with one showing some daytime TV show, and the other a horror show (i.e. the Ashes cricket), with some pop music being played. This would be a much better place if you're lucky enough to hit it when there's a decent ale on. It's worth poking your nose in if you happen to be passing, but it's by no means a destination pub.