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Detail Pages
The Pride of Spitalfields, E1
E1
E1 5LJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Pride of Spitalfields
Tucked away down a cobbled side street just off London’s curry capital, Brick Lane, the Pride of Spitalfields has enjoyed a deservedly glowing reputation for many years.
The pub has barely changed since my first vist at least 10 years ago and its unspoilt old fashioned approach is what endures it to so many people. A traditional boozer, the L-shaped interior is divided into 2 by a small arched entrance with a small snug to the right as you go in and the main bar ahead. The main bar centres on an exposed brick fireplace and the mass of pictures, photos, old bills, receipts, invoices and brewery mirrors that adorn the walls. High shelves contain a collection of used beer bottles and a few chamber pots dangle over the arch to the smaller bar. This section has some paneled walls and in the corner a very old and quite small TV that would look outdated anywhere else but somehow seems at home in the Pride. A selection of piped music offered a good slice of 70’s/80’s soft rock. The entrance to the cellar is housed in the snmaller bar so the area is occasionally unusable if there is a delivery due. There are also a couple of benches outside on the pavement.
The rear section of the main bar acts as a food counter labeled “Mary’s Pantry whilst the traditional bar canopy is crowned with ceramic pots and has a selection of old pump clips on display although for some reason I always seem to find the same beers here on each visit, the selection for my latest sojourn being Fullers London Pride & ESB (which was off), Sharps Doom Bar and Crouch Vale Brewers Gold. A fifth pump had a reversed second Pride clip. I stuck mainly to the Brewers Gold which at £2.90 a pint was good value and good quality however I did however digress to a pint of Sharps Orchard cider, simply because I had never come across it before.
The pub attracts a mixed bag of locals, curry hunters and traders and you will more often than not find one stool is occupied by the permanently disinterested pub cat. The service is friendly and efficient and the general ambience very relaxed making it an essential stop when in the area and it seems like a different world from the heart of the City a few minutes walk away.
On 14th October 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sean Tracey left this review about The Pride of Spitalfields
Wonderful old style English pub with great real ale. If you get a seat you may have to share it with the pub cat, he won't be budged.
On 26th July 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Pride of Spitalfields
The Pride of Spitalfields is a classic, two room East-end boozer, just off Brick Lane. The entrance takes you into the main bar which is carpeted with banquette and low stool seating. At the end of the bar there is a servery called Mary's Pantry which seems to offer sandwiches as well some bits aimed at tourists such as Pride of Spitalfields T-shirts, although it appeared to be shut on my recent visit. The room has a nice brick fireplace and the obligatory upright piano and there are collections of pump clips and old bottles as well as plenty of photos depicting life on the nearby Grand Union Canal. A large projector screen was rolled up at the back of the room and there was a rather incongruous mirror ball on the ceiling, but sports coverage was confined to a small TV in the other room which was showing cricket, whilst thoughts of a disco were put to bed by the 60's music soundtrack on a skipping CD. The second room is quite small and provides some additional seating.
There are five hand pumps on the bar, but only four were on offering Fuller's London Pride and ESB, Sharp's Doom Bar and Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold. My Brewer's Gold was in good shape and poured by a friendly barmaid who was very welcoming to regulars and strangers alike.
It's a little odd to step out of such a traditional British pub like this and find yourself in the middle of Brick Lane, but perhaps that's part of its charm. Either way, this pub is well worth a look if you're in the area for a curry or otherwise.
On 22nd July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pride of Spitalfields
Small, traditional, single-bar boozer. A few more tables in a side room. Food counter called 'Mary's Pantry'. Large screen for the TV sport. Four of the five handpumps were on, offering the usual Pride, ESB, Doom Bar and Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (£2.90, and on top form). Handy for Brick Lane, and a notably friendly atmosphere. Top notch.
On 26th February 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8733 recommendations about 8733 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about The Pride Of Spitalfield
Four ales on, and very busy at lunch time. By far the best pub we visited locally. Friendly bar staff, only too happy to help.
Will certainly go back when next in the area.
On 25th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Pride Of Spitalfield
Brewers Gold and Sharp's Doom Bar on fine form ,this is a real ale enclave with a wonderfully diverse clientele.Great atmosphere,always busy and good music on tape ,it is worth taking a look at the photos around the walls showing various scenes from the London canal system in the days when it was used by commercial craft.A gem of a boozer.
On 8th February 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Pride Of Spitalfield
Classic old-school back-street London pub. It is an excellent watering hole and stands out in an area which is largely void of decent establishments.
A Free house with usually four ales on. These tend to be Fullers London Pride and ESB, Sharps Doombar and Crouch Vales Brewers Gold.
Its a very small establishment and gets busy very quickly.
Has a large pull down projector screen for when the football in on, but this goes straight back up when the final whistle goes.
Last visit was on Sunday after following the wife round the local markets and enjoying a decent curry down the Lane and there was a lively post-market goers crowd in and the Brewers Gold was superb.
On 8th December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2245 recommendations about 2105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Pride Of Spitalfield
Nice local type pub this, tucked down a side street in a rather run down area. Very red inside, a bit of a tarts boudoir, not that I know what that would look like, but appears to be a lovely unspoilt pub.
On 11th October 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1556 recommendations about 1533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Pride Of Spitalfield
Nice traditional pub, no frills just good beer, reading previous posts the selection of ale is standard. The Crouch Vale Brewers Gold was on good form it must be said. Didn't sample the food but seeing the prices it looks to be exceptional value. Very homely feel, bottles on a picture rail level shelf and an old piano at the rear of the bar. Terribly handy for a Brick Lane curry too!
On 31st May 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Pride of Spitalfields
This is an absolute gem of a pub, which I usually visit whenever I am in the area. Excellent and very reasonably priced sandwiches, Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold and ESB on tap, a welcoming and friendly atmosphere – that is enough for me to rate thus excellent pub very highly. Easily the best in the area. Definitely recommended for anyone who appreciates decent traditional pubs.
On 7th March 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]