The Nags Head, Walthamstow, E17

This pub dates from at least the mid-17th century to be rebuilt in 1859; a side entrance at right and coach house at left indicate that this was once a coaching inn, when Walthamstow was an actual village, rather than referred to as one by estate agents. The fascia has been rendered somewhat whacky in the last couple of years, with the garish salmon pink and cucumber green livery, I initially thought that this was an offshoot of the Garrick Club; that’s before I spotted the cartoon caricatures of cats and the prominent sign (see photo) expressly barring kids; good times! With the out-of-the-skip furniture collection, the interior seems to be as quirky as mentioned earlier, with pictures of pop stars and cats. Indeed, the bar’s parapet bears illuminated lettering reading: Gin Pizza Ale Cats. Customers were a laid-back bunch of locals, some more traditional, then young, professional types, all lapping up the loud vinyl soundtrack which featured ABC’s All Of My Heart and Kim Carnes’ Bette Davis Eyes at the time of my Saturday 9.50pm visit and despite the promise of pussies galore, there was no sign of the furry ones, but perhaps they could have been tempted in by Squeeze. With one unused pump, there was a choice of New River London Tap and Twin Spring, then Landlord, £2.80 a half, very nice, served by an enthusiastic barmaid. This is a fun pub, my favourite of the quartet to be found in Walthamstow ‘Village’.

This pub has now become quite "trendified" with vibrant colours in use inside and out with a heavy bearing on pink. Although I couldn't now class this as a traditional pub it is very much a community pub representitive of the immediate area it inhabits and was very well attended on a Saturday afternoon. Pictures of rockstars past adourn the walls as well as images of fampos people from other generas. The bar with a pine clad frontage and solid pine top supported four handpumps drawing three beers, Southwark LPA (changed in visit for Bankside Blonde) and Mayflower, competently kept, as well as TT Landlord. There was a Pizza and burger menu. A nice pub but not a game changer.