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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Crooked Billet, Clapton, E5
E5
E5 9JP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Crooked Billet
Probably once a coaching inn, this pub dates from the early 18th century but was rebuilt in the ‘50s for Mann’s, later Watney’s; the historic Watney Combe Reid roundel to the pole sign has recently been removed, sadly.
I once came here mid-July 2021 to find a place which had overly burdened itself with unnecessary COVID protocols, resulting in me not being served. Taken over by Young’s last October and a return last Sunday just before 9.00pm to find a pub which had had a makeover a couple of weeks earlier, probably to accommodate Hackney's ongoing gentrification northwards: the bar is broadly central, traditional but now with tubular steel gantry, the floor features a black and white chequered bar apron and lots of three-quarter height grained wood panelling with white paint above and to the ceiling; the two fireplaces are now bare brick, sporting lit candles, surmounted with small skulls. Furniture is traditional, with grand peripheral banquettes upholstered with studded Prussian blue vinyl. Lighting comes from Victorian-style chandeliers then mini-chandelier sconces, either brass or crystal with matching crystal bobèches and tasselled shades; décor amounts to framed Edwardian photos. Out back, there’s a substantial garden with covered cabins and home to all the evening’s customers, predictable bearded, tattooed though harmless hipster types.
Cask offerings were London Original and Proper Job (£5.85 a pint) and good, served by a humble barman.
This is a decent place, certainly one of the area’s better offerings, making for a decent contribution to the Hackney drinking scene and a good double with the Clapton Hart; an improved and wider ale choice would get the score up a point.
On 6th August 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Crooked Billet
This is a typical roadside pub with a large open plan interior converted from what was clearly once a multi-roomed interior. This means there is now a very large servery in the centre of the room with the majority of the bar facing the rear of the room. The bar counter ahs a pleasant panelled counter and a modified, pump clip lined bar back which reflects the loss of the original through the opening out of the room. Two almost identical seating areas can be found to either side of the bar, both with a mix of check tiles and bare boarded floors and high panelled or exposed brick walls. Seating comes mainly in the form of dining tables and smart chairs but there are also some button backed banquettes and the odd armchair which ups the comfort factor somewhat. There are nice fireplaces on opposing walls and the decor throughout includes a lot of religious imagery, deer skulls, blackboards listing wine and food options and several TV screens, all of which were off during my visit, favouring a really good alternative rock soundtrack instead. A very large patio garden can be found through doors to the rear, offering lots of al fresco seating, much of which is under shelter. There is a bar out here and a small shack was dishing out toasted sandwiches for those not wanting a full meal off the menu. Kids were running amok outside so I stayed in the bar area and enjoyed the excellent music they were playing.
There were four beers on when I arrived – Dark Star American Brown, Trumans Zephyr, Signature Brew Roadie and something from Fixed Wheel which sputtered out as the pint I’d ordered was being poured. The barman generously offered me the ¾ of a pint he’d managed to get out for free, but it looked dreadful so I declined and enjoyed a lovely drop of the Roadie for £4.00 instead.
This is a large pub that seems able to serve a reasonably wide demographic, from the barflies lined up along the bar counter to the young families taking over the garden, everyone seemed to happily co-exist thanks to the space the pub affords – quite how this all works out on a cold, wet day when everyone is forced indoors remains to be seen, but I found somewhere comfortable to settle down and enjoyed my time here.
On 1st October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Crooked Billet
A large, hollowed out, 1930's I'd guess boozer with a central bar and large outside area.
The service was fine but the focus seems to be on food with plenty eating on our early evening visit. We were asked, having sat down, if we were eating. We weren't and there was no problem with this. The menu looked interesting though and the food which came out looked decent. I'd give it a go if I was peckish and in the area.
Beers on were Clouded Minds Luppon, Dark Star Hophead, Siren Craft Sound Wave and Five Points Pale. A decent selection although the Hophead wasn't great but the Sound Wave, a few having been pulled, was good.
Not a bad spot.
On 21st September 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Crooked Billet
A large 30's pub painted in a modern grey which has discoloured over the years and now looks tatty,it was hard to believe that we had arrived at a GBG listed pub.However once inside ,there are some art deco features and a good looking island bar in dark wood.An open kitchen to one side was churning out some good smells,and there were comfotable green leather backed corner seating units with substantial wooden tables dotted about the interior.The beer garden is substantial and will absorb a lot of punters in good weather.
The 5 handpumps were dispensing ale from some top brewers,but the condition of my first Siren Craft Soundwave IPA was suspect,subsequent pints were more palatable.Dark Star and Clouded Minds also featured so maybe I shouldn't be too picky.
Close to Clapton Overground station ,this pub is an oasis in an area which is a bit of a dump and not yet gentrified like nearby Hackney.Worth a visit if in the area.
On 20th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Crooked Billet
Visit July 2013
When I used to live in this area there were more than six pubs between Clapton Common at Stamford Hill and the end of Lower Clapton Road, not to mention numerous other ones dotted around the back streets. Just check the Closed Pubs box while displaying the E5 list to see the utter pub carnage that has happened in this postcode. The Crooked Billet is one of the remaining three, and in my opinion the best one.
This one is a former Watney's pub that I always got the impression was a post-war building, possibly indicating that the original building may have been bombed out during World War 2.
The red brick exterior has been painted over and a brand new sign has removed any hint that this was ever a Watney's pub, a cause for celebration in itself. Another handy thing is that the Southbound bus stop is right outside the door, and Clapton Station is only a few doors away.
The interior consists of a single room with the ceiling painted Battleship Grey (I can only assume that the current crop of pub designers were big fans of the Airfix range of WW2 warship plastic kits). There is a very nice chequered black and white tiled area of floor around the bar and the rest is bare floorboards. It didn't have the "renovated by Fawlty Towers' O'Reilly" look that Antic pubs go for and there was plenty of room inside, mainly because the Car Park is now an attractive garden where most people seemed happy to be.
They had a music system going just a bit too loud for me and it was some Reggae rubbish or other.
The bar currently has five pumps and I also spotted a Kernel keg fitting. The beers on were ELB Orchid Mild and Foundation Bitter, Five Points Red Rye, Hackney Brewery Golden Ale and Dark Star Hophead.
They use those horrible trendy dimple mugs so I had to ask for a straight glass.
I went for the Red Rye which was outstanding, but at £4.00 a pint was way overpriced, this is East London not the West End.
I was told later in the evening that they intend to introduce 10% CAMRA discount. When that happens I would be happy to take another look at it.
Apart from the prices I took quite a shine to this place and would say that it's definitely worth a look, especially if the CAMRA discount comes in.
It no longer opens at 12:00 daily but 16:00 Mon-Thu and does simple pub grub as it wants to avoid the "Gastro" tag.
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Crooked Billet
There’s no real ale here, just the usual stuff with Courage Beat and John Smith’s on keg probably being the best bets. I didn’t see any sign of food when I was in on Saturday morning, although I spotted an advertisement for a a 2-course Sunday lunch for £7.
There’s a single island bar slap bang in the middle of the room, with some flagstone flooring around it and fireplaces at both ends, with the one the right having been stone cladded at some point. The drinking area to the left of the pub has both a pool table and a dartboard. There was a TV on showing some kids show followed by some football. Some standard homilies adorned the walls; one was something about strangers being friends you’ve yet to meet.
I was in bery early on Saturday so it was very quiet with just me and a couple of other punters in, one of whom was in the beer garden at the back, probably to have a smoke. Seating is the usual banquettes plus normal tables and chairs – there are no airs or graces in this place. I saw a chalkboard advertising various events, such as “The Vibe” playing on Saturday night, plus a “music night” on day as well as a poker night.
This is a pretty standard and unremarkable pub that’s handy for Clapton Station, but it’s not one to which I would make a point of returning to.
On 14th October 2012
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]