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Star Of The East, E14
E14
E14 7HG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Star Of The East
This rather lovely pub is now barely worth a visit for cask beer drinkers, with just one beer in winter months among four hand pumps that have forgotten what metal polish is, while the staff have forgotten what it's for. I had a little chat with the bar manager who tells me it has recently been acquired by a new pub company called Enclave, so there may be some changes. I didn't trust the solitary Fullers London Pride and went for a keg version of Five Points XPA, which is a much better drink from a cask - someone running this place who knew their beer would put both versions on at the same time and offer tasters. I reckon the cask would soon sell out. The keg version is cold and fizzy, with just a memory of the flavour of the cask version. There are some other local beers on keg: another from Five Points, another that my camera refused to focus on, a session IPA from Forest Road, plus a wheat beer, a Finnish "lonkero" (a non-beer drink made from gin, grapefruit juice and soda water, if the Internet is to be believed), plus a few pub standards on tap, and eight ciders in boxes. It's a bit of a trek if you're in the centre of London (Elizabeth Line to Limehouse or bus 15, 115 or 135), but I'd be interested to know if it improves under the new owners.
On 12th November 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4531 recommendations about 4152 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Star Of The East
Clearly an old building but it's been knocked about inside with just a few features remaining,and none of the original layout.The exterior windows are just too modern but on the right wall an interesting frieze remains high up,below which are refectory tables and then some high tables.The bar to the left at least has a carved wooden frontage while the midships staircase is original and leads to a first floor overflow lounge and the loos,all cubicles marked seperately for men and women,a good solution for the trans community.
Back on the wooden floored ground floor there is an unused small glazed tiled fireplace with two chesterfields before a seperate modest sized room for diners then access to a large beer patio with a table tennis table at the far end.The A frame outside advertises craft beers.There is flatscreen for Sky Sports but this was off on my trip.
There are a few handpumps,some partially hidden but on enquiring if the TT Landlord was operational ,I received a decent pint (NBSS 3.5) a surprise for the area.The other pumps were unclipped.The indie beer selection was in fact limited ,the best bet seemingly Five Points XPA but the keg taps were dominated by multinational crap.The food was popular and the crowd a wide mix of age groups although one punter did drive his council go cart inside the pub then wandered off to chat and smoke in the beer patio.
With more real ale this pub could work well for discerning drinkers,even a more thoughful choice of indie beers might work but this pub feels unfocussed,it could be so much better.
On 7th September 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3076 recommendations about 3076 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Star Of The East
Imposing Nineteenth century pub on the Commercial Road, with a fin de siecle atmosphere.On our late May mid Saturday afternoon visit the rambling interior was deserted, with the trade gathered in the grungy yard outback.
Back inside,three handpumps offered a couple of beers from East London Brewing, together with the inevitable london Pride. Of the ELB beers, both in good condition,I was most impressed with Foundation, a modern take on the stalwart best bitter.I was amused to note that drinkers of Cowcatcher APA were served with the hipster's favourite dimple jug.
I enjoyed this pub, but it's a bit out of my way.
On 10th June 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 294 recommendations about 292 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Star Of The East
This pub is comprehensibly described by the previous reviewer, and it's unchanged since his visit earlier in the year.
The ales on were Fuller's London Pride and Oliver's Island, plus Rebellion IPA. I went for the Rebellion which was indrinkable, but graciously replaced with Oliver's Island, with the barman letting me know that he wouldn't be charging me the extra 25p more that the Oliver's Island cost. To be honest, on all the occasions where I've had to return a drink, it's never been suggested that I should pay any extra for the replacement. They reversed the Rebellion clip, which doesn't always happen. I didn't see a menu, but as there was cutlery in a trug on the tables they obviously do food. In fact I was there on Saturday evening when it was very busy, and people were waiting for tables, presumably to have something to eat. They also provide table service for food and drinks, so it's obviously not your typical local, and definitely much more upmarket that when Alan Winfield visited a few years ago.
If I lived locally I would probably use this one occasionally, but definitely not on Saturday evening.
On 11th November 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2612 recommendations about 2526 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Star Of The East
This is a commanding East End rub-a-dub near a large junction on Commercial Road. It dates back to at least 1845 and is Grade II-Listed. The frontage is indeed attractive with the name carved into granite and picked out in gold. There's a stone filled tympana under gothic arches to all, except the top outer windows, with roundels containing masks. Unfortunately the old Courage sign and bracket have gone but otherwise it looks very appealing; it is clearly nowhere near the right two and eight encountered by the previous reviewer.
You enter into a small lobby, the doors being opened by a friendly bouncer. Inside, and the theme here is a modern interpretation of something traditional - I doubt anything from the original remains apart from the attractive 'arches' below the ceiling. The bar back is bare brick and the shelves are of tubular steel. There's some exposed wooden rafters to the ceiling, original or not, unknown. Lighting is moderate, coming in part from chandeliers and hanging lamps. The floor is bare boarded with a tiled bar apron. Furniture is relatively traditional with some comfy chairs and leather upholstered banquettes-cum-booths and the walls are painted predictable pale blue or grey. There's a snug of sorts to rear where perhaps once the pool table was located and there's dining upstairs with the promise of fine views of Canary Wharf which could be spectacular at night.
Customers were clearly a mix of older locals as well as younger incomers and many were in quite high spirits, probably because this is now the only pub in this vicinity.
Service was friendly and efficient, delivering a choice of four ales: London Pride, Brithop Brewing Co's Marblehead, Rebellion IPA and ELB's Cowcatcher at a decent £2.00 the half and in very good nick.
This boozer ain't half bad and I'd use it if I lived locally but it's a bit of a fag to get to and Commercial Road is a rather depressing dual carriageway of a frog and toad, dominated by fried chicken outlets and the like, so a return visit is unlikely and the place isn't exactly located in prime crawl territory either. But if I were passing...
On 8th April 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2298 recommendations about 2245 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Star Of The East
The Star of the East is a large looking pub that is situated quite close to a very busy road junction.
Once inside there is one large single room that is iregular in shape,the bar is on the left side,there are a few long tables with chairs to the front,the middle area had small banquettes dotted about,the ceiling was quite high and the floor bare boarded.
There was a pool table to the rear in a small seperate area.
No real ales on the bar or unused pumps,the one keg bitter was John Smiths smooth crap which lived up to its name.
There was some really crap background music playing and a few sad looking customers in on my Wednesday morning visit.
This is a very poor pub,best left for the likes of me to visit.
On 21st February 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]