The Hungerford Arms, Shadwell, E1

Tris C left this review about The Hungerford Arms

Date of visit: 14th May 2022:

Dating from at least the mid-19th century, this was obviously once a Watney Combe Reid house, as there’s one of their trademark roundels with ‘stag’ motif projecting out from the north wall.
It’s as described by Rex, this is one of the last pubs in an area where at the start of the 20th century, there would have been absolutely hundreds. As mentioned, it’s very basic, with an older crowd in, seemingly oblivious to the Arsenal v. Spurs match playing on multiple TVs, with some rather less than ornamental younger drinkers all smoking outside to the left. As I didn’t feel entirely comfortable here, I left.

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Another visit a few days ago at an earlier time and aside from the absence of intimidating drinkers to the side, nothing seems to have changed.
The interior is so plain as to be bordering on scruffy: worn bare boards, titmouse blue wainscoting, pale grey walls and ceiling, no décor, fairy lights dangling from the ceiling, Cross of St. George flags and bunting, games machine, silent unwatched football, a soundtrack aimed at teenage girls, darts, pool and chairs which wouldn’t look out of place in a care home, lined up against the walls. Customers were resolutely local, a few a bit edgy and two confused-looking French tourists who had obviously taken the advice in their travel guide to ‘Visiter un pub Anglais traditionel’ too literally.
Unsurprisingly there’s no cask, so it was a half of K64, £2.40, served by a serviceable barmaid.
This is an unappealing pub; if you want a decent, no-nonsense traditional locals’ boozer, try the Crown half a mile to the east, or just hoof it over to the Grapes and CBC.

Rated 2.5.

On 16^th May 2025 - rating: 3
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