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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Tris C
Submitted on Monday, 2nd September 2013
With picture contributions to 2351 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Bow Bells, Bow, E3
E3
E3 3AA
Served areas
1
We are no longer using twitter, please find us on Facebook & Instagram (@thebowbells116)
6:26 PM Jan 24th 2019 from Twitter for Android
Reviews of The Bow Bells (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bow Bells
Dating from 1866, this was indeed a Taylor Walker pub, as evinced by the gun carriage atop the arched sign frame.
The exterior is still painted a somewhat alarming shade of tangerine, but inside it’s still much as Moby found it four-and-a-half years ago, with carpet, brown lacquered wainscoting to dado height, then brick red wallpaper with gold flower patterns. The furniture is still traditional as is the brass Victorian-style lighting; one item of note is the leaded and stained-glass pot shelf, held aloft by several brass barleycorn supports. I expect that over the last few years though, the demographic round here has changed quite markedly, notably from all the high-rise ‘luxury’ blocks that have gone up. Notably there were several families in, with children and toys; it was a bit like drinking in a nursery school. Then there were more traditional locals, pickled rotten at only 8pm, with accompanying foul language, but then there were the young, professional incomers, including a group of twentysomething American women.
On the ale front, there were three unused pumps but hearteningly still Hophead at a fair £2.25 a half and in good nick, served by a friendly barman.
This isn’t a bad place, worthy of a stop on a crawl, but I think perhaps the language from some of the customers – especially in earshot of so many young children – is a behavioural trait that could go; mind you, so could the children.
On 16th April 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Bow Bells
It's still painted bright orange, but once inside you find yourself in a traditional east end boozer.Red carpet and red wallpaper with a gold design, it's a bit blast from the past, basic table and chairs are placed around the walls and bar stools for those who prefer to sit at said bar where we find four hand pumps,three beers were on, London Pride , Truman's Fire starter and Dark Star Hophead. This is a very basic pub but worth stopping for a pint.
On 27th November 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Bow Bells
Traditional L shaped interior serving 3 real ales. The pub has a pool table and a dartboard.
On 18th March 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bow Bells (6)
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- Official site of The Bow Bells - www.thebowbellspub.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Bow Bells entry
- Facebook - The Bow Bells
- Twitter - 1
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bow Bells - whatpub.com
Hackney Wick, 1.41 miles, 27 min walk (show)
West Ham, 1.51 miles, 29 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 26 March 2019 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes - Tiny courtyard at back - last updated 07 August 2013 by Rex Rattus
- Car Park : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Rex Rattus
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Darts : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by Rex Rattus
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by Rex Rattus
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Micropub : No last updated 26 March 2019 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Rex Rattus
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Quiz Night : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 16 April 2022 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 18 March 2014 by hondo .
