The Ten Bells, E1

Just down the road from The Golden Heart, and virtually next door to the impressive 18th century Christ Church, is The Ten Bells, another former Trumans pub. A rather tatty looking exterior with peeling paint leads into a typically well stripped out Victorian era pub that now has a central island bar ( previously it was against the far wall ) . This has had the effect of reducing the available floor space. Furniture consists of some old style copper topped circular tables and wooden chairs with bar stools and a ledge down one side of the room. Probably reflecting the reduction in floor space, there seems to be less sofas than I remember previously – just the two at one side of the room close to a window. Of particular note is the impressive tiling around two sides of the room, including a splendid mural – “Spitalfields in Olden Times” – showing an aristocratic looking couple in a weavers shop. This mural dates back to 1900 and earns the pub a listing in CAMRA’s book of London Heritage Pubs. Rather amusingly, and quite skilfully done in my view, is a more modern reproduction mural in similar style which shows an oddly dressed man with a cockatoo hair style about to enter the pub – “Spitalfields in Modern Times”. The walls of the stairs down to the toilets are covered in graffiti – all part of what I suppose is intended to be a shabby chic kind of appeal. Somewhat surprisingly, there’s now 3 real ales on – Trumans Runner, Trumans Number 8 and Bombardier. The heavily tattooed barman’s raised eyebrows and tell tale initial tentative pull on the beer pump confirmed what I had strongly suspected at the outset – namely that I didn’t fit the desired customer profile, nor did they get much real ale trade. From memory the Trumans Runner was £ 3.65p and not desperately good. I didn’t particularly like this place much at all – for one thing, even sitting there with my coat on, it felt distinctly chilly – and, if I’m in the area again, I’d probably stick to admiring the tilework through the windows from the pavement outside.

Small corner pub with an island bar and not much seating. In addition to the famous tiled walls (including a large picture of the old Spitalfields Market across the road, and a reproduction of another scene) there are some other unusual features - such as upper part of the main windows. The old door and steps leading down to the toilets show signs of age, but most of the decor and furniture is much newer (albeit in a sometimes distressed sort of way). Three handpumps, but the two with the revived Trumans clips were unfortunately reversed leaving just the Bombardier (good enough, but badly overpriced at £3.65). Efficient bar staff. Main downside was the shouting which seemed to the favoured form of communication.