The Beehive, E3

Tris C left this review about The Beehive

A short walk from Bromley-by-Bow tube, this pub dates from at least the mid-19th century, to be rebuilt as an interwar-years pub, probably in the 1930s, 55 metres to the west of the original site; so not an old building then.
This area has undergone a massive amount of gentrification since my photo was taken over 11 years ago and the first two reviews were submitted.
As mentioned, it’s still a very basic pub – no sign of the peeing dog – with a bare boarded or flagstone floor, tatty traditional furniture and a white colour scheme along with flashing red, green and blue lights; the only item of obvious heritage was a decent c. 1930s’ brick fireplace. There’s an abundance of puggies and jukebox, NOW! playing on a large tele, much of the place dominated by a well-used pool table. A door to the rear leads to the live music venue – seemingly the pub’s raison d'être – a band striking up at the time of my Friday 9.00pm visit. Décor takes the form of a multitude of cheap A4 printed drinks’ deal flyers or instructions telling customers to to 'do this’ or ‘don’t do that’ and the like, so be sure to leave your Class-A drugs at home, you naughty boys and girls! Customers seemed to be students, probably from my bête noire, the adjacent University of East London, harmless and making for a decent atmosphere.
There’s no cask here, just megakeg and a few GK pseudo ‘craft’ offerings, a half of Guinness, £2.80, served by an unconvinced barmaid.
It’s good to see that this place appears to be thriving as a live music venue, but as a pub it’s a joyless affair in a postcode where there are some genuinely decent pubs; still, it’s better than the Albert…

On 15^th November 2025 - rating: 4
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