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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th March 2026) with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Moby Duck
Submitted on Sunday, 3rd March 2024
With picture contributions to 1239 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (8 more images)
Detail Pages
The Holly Tree, E7
E7
E7 0DZ
Served areas
Reviews of The Holly Tree (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Holly Tree
Visited 04/03/26
Cask here comprised five handpumps dispensing Five Points Railway Porter, the Wait for Me Pale Ale from Howling Hops, Spitfire, Whitstable Bay Pale Ale and something called Oliver's cider. There was a large keg offering of Litovel premium lager, Guinness, Orchard View apple cider, Neck Oil, Siren Soundwave IPA, the UnBarred Casual Pale, the Gulp Pilsner from Pretty Decent, the Salad Days IPA and the Watermelon Crush both from Yonder, the JUPA from Five Points, the Virtuous session IPA from Kirkstall, Lucky Saint, the Howling Hops Junior AF pale ale, the Amplify Your Sound dark lager from Lost & Grounded, Huntin', Fishin' & Lovin' Everyday table NEIPA from Pretty Decent and the Flowers Witbier from Queer Brewing.
This is a pretty grand venue. Corner plot with outside seating around the roadside perimeter. Inside it is bare boarded and L shaped with the bar counter following the inside shape of the venue. There is some tall stool seating at the left-hand end of the bar counter. Over that side there are regular tables and chairs seating with a fire burning in the fire grate on the left-hand wall. There is some tall table seating in the frontage, which has some lovely leaded glass windows. The right-hand edge of the bar counter finishes with a chessboard patterned tile flooring, the serving hatch for the kitchen in that corner. There is a conservatory seating area on the right-hand side of the venue, popular with families on my visit. There is some outside seating along the right-hand side of the venue, but I didn't go out and investigate. The TVs here were switched off during my visit, the lighting augmented by many strands of warm white fairy lights was very ambient and there was a very pleasant low-key pop soundtrack. There is regular live music and a quiz and indeed there is a miniature railway at the side of the venue presumably operational when families are here at the weekend or during holidays with their kids! Whilst some of this can be seen as a bit gimmicky, the venue stands up as a good beer destination and at the upper end of what is available in this post code and neighbouring post codes.
On 15th March 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about The Holly Tree
A striking pub on the edge of Wanstead Heath, this large Shepherd Neame house sits in an enviable position next to the common, within easy reach of local stations. The building’s grandeur is matched inside, where a handsome dark-wood servery greets you straight ahead, complete with a panelled counter, ornate bar back and fairy light decorations. To the left, a two-part space comprises a front bar area with pew seating, plain chairs and bare floorboards, plus a TV showing live rugby with the sound on. Behind this lies a richly decorated red-walled room with parquet flooring, a tiled fireplace, plush armchairs and benches. To the right, a long, narrow room opens into a huge conservatory-style space that felt more like a dining room, though whether food service was available remained unclear. The whole interior is lifted by attractive leaded Charrington windows and decorated with old photographs and bird-themed artwork.
The pub offered three real ales—Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Whitstable Bay plus Mad Squirrel London Porter - as well as a real cider. My pint of Porter was in good condition. Despite being a branded Shepherd Neame pub, the interior felt independently styled and the atmosphere was busy but comfortable, aided by the well-spaced seating and a slightly upmarket edge. The service was polite and welcoming, with the barman taking a bit of time out to engage in some small talk after serving me.
I thought this was a nicely presented pub with plenty to recommend it, despite the obvious downside of the Sheps beer. It seems like the sort of place that will appeal to a wide range of punters, with the multiple seating areas offering different ways to experience the place. The presence of a good guest ale smoothed over the beer issue and overall I came away feeling this would be a good pub to have in your local area.
Date of visit: 8th February 2025
On 2nd September 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Holly Tree
A large pub quite plush and smart looking inside as described below, it veers toward the foodie end of the spectrum. There is an Adults only area which was a godsend as several of the little people were running around unchecked by staff or parents.The five hand pumps were offering up Vocation Devils Leap, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Whitstable Bay along with Five Points Green Hop Cascade which was rather nice. Despite the decent beer on offer the pub didn't really do it for me as I'd like to feel comfortable in any part of the pub rather than having to seek refuge in an adults only corner, the perils of weekend daytime drinking maybe.
On 3rd March 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2291 recommendations about 2255 pubs]
View more reviews of The Holly Tree (7)
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- Official site of The Holly Tree - www.thehollytreepub.co.uk
- Facebook page of The Holly Tree - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Holly Tree - whatpub.com
Forest Gate, 0.53 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Leytonstone High Road, 0.91 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes - Right-hand half only. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes - Jazz, last Thursday of the month. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesdays 19.30. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
