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Submitted on Thursday, 2^nd October 2025
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The George & Dragon, Wanstead, E11

159 High Street
Wanstead
E11
E11 2RL

Phone: 02089892921

Correct details

Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

Served areas

Wanstead

Reviews of The George & Dragon (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

David Walton left this review about The George & Dragon

Visited 29/09/25

Three cask offerings, Little Chief from Redemption and the Pumphouse and Junction from Sambrook's. Keg offering of Neck Oil, Moretti, Brixton Reliance Pale Ale, Asahi, Guinness, Siren Lumina, Jubel, Amstel, Signature Brew Backstage IPA, Hepcat, Inch's & Cruz.

No longer a JDW, but I haven’t checked when that change occurred, but obviously quite recent as the previous review here was just over a year ago! Large corner venue opposite Wanstead tube station. Some bench / picnic style seating out the front. Lovely windows with plenty of etched glass. Slightly raised seating area to left of entrance with leather banquette along wall higher up smothered with framed pictures serving regular tables and chairs, with a couple of small tables with small stools. Area on approach to bar counter has several tall tables with tall stools and area to right of entrance has some smaller similar leather banquettes with regular tables. A fire grate isn't obviously operational. The flooring is a mixture of bare boards, wooden block, and a chessboard style tiled skirt around the island bar in the centre of the venue. There is some tall stool seating at the bar counter on the front and right-hand sides. More seating down the right-hand side of similar types, the left-hand side opens out into a larger area with loads of pictures on the walls, shelving holding bits and pieces and some comfy sofas and leather armchairs. There are some large, impressive art deco style ceiling lights that add some light in an otherwise gloomy rear section. A raised area in the back right hand corner has similar seating and tables laid for diners. Appeared to be some upstairs seating accessed via a staircase off the back of this area. There is a large, paved beer garden at the back with picnic style benches and some cover via large patio style umbrellas. Whilst no longer a JDW, still a decent venue, albeit the cask range is now much reduced.

On 6^th April 2026 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1489 recommendations about 1467 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Pub SignMan left this review about The George (JD Wetherspoon)

This is a large Wetherspoons pub with an unusual, broken up layout, set in an attractive Edwardian building opposite Wanstead station. You can either enter through a corner door or the left-hand porchway, which has some nice decorative metalwork above and polished stone cladding, emerging into the main seating area. This is a large, carpeted space with many rows of tables and chairs, a small raised space to the rear left with comfy banquettes and tub chairs under some impressive bookcases, a snug hemmed in on three sides by near full height partitioning screens with 'Spoons branded panes, and a mix of leaded stained glass and ornate etched glass windows around two sides of the room. An attractive tile and stone fireplace stands to the front, whilst numerous small support pillars with decorative roses can be found throughout although the standout feature has to be the enormous dragon throne in the rear corner, which kids must love sitting on. The bar is hidden behind the snug and has a long counter with an attractive mirror and dark wood bar back sporting various carved grotesques, whilst above is a stained glass panel on the ceiling, with the shape of dragon's wings picked out on it and an actual model dragon's head sticking out from one end. TV screens here were showing live football with high tables and stools offering limited seating options. Another raised space at the right-hand end of the pub has wood panelled walls, lots more seating and a mix of mirrors and local history boards on display.
On the bar, I counted the three regular 'Spoons ales plus four guests, but totally forgot to note which beer I tried. Suffice to say, whatever it was had been kept in good condition and was poured by a friendly barmaid. I visited on a midweek evening and found there was a convivial atmosphere that I wouldn't normally associate with the chain, especially considering that they had the football on.
I really liked this pub and thought it was a great example of Wetherspoons at its best. The broken up layout creates a number of different drinking spaces which have a few interesting features and will suit a wider range of customers. The beer was in good nick, service was fine and I enjoyed the atmosphere too, making this one of the best 'Spoons I've visited in the capital. Shame to see that the chain have moved out since my visit - I hope it'll reopen soon and continue to serve the local community.

Date of visit - 18th June 2024

On 22^nd October 2024 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about The George (JD Wetherspoon)

Converted from an actual Edwardian pub building (1992) and you can tell, dark wood and etched glasswork (how much more of this was ripped out years ago?) with a good atmosphere; though the Middle East misery on big screens at the bar was not helping the cause, staff should have turned those off. The jumbo dragon (phoenix?) seat was unexplained but good fun, albeit a large black chair which looks like something out of a horror ride at the fairground. So a fair bit of character. The cask range was good, four guests and my Fyne Ales Quiet Shadows was in tidy shape (NBSS 3.5). Ate here and there was an impressive amount of topping on my burger, more than the norm. Overall, this is a top quartile Timbo Tavern and given it’s a few yards from the Tube, well-worth you alighting. GBG-listed as well. I’d make an effort to pop back here next time on this bit of the Central Line.

On 16^th December 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 6002 recommendations about 5982 pubs]

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