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Submitted on Friday, 30^th August 2013
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The Crooked Billet, Clapton, E5

84 Upper Clapton Road
E5
E5 9JP

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Served areas

Clapton

Reviews of The Crooked Billet (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) Add Review 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 6^th August 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 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 1^st 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 21^st September 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]

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