The Eleanor Arms, E3

Having visited last over 10 years ago now, I'd still rate this as one of the better pubs in Bow. Although the Palm Tree takes a bit of beating. It has a very tradition down-to-earth feel with a smallish public bar area at the front, and a narrow space leading to another section complete with a pool table at the rear. Despite being a Shepherd Neame pub, the Eleanor does stock a couple of guest ales. These were from Iron Pier on my visit. Master Brew & Whitstable Bay Pale Ale are the regular ales. Winter Ale & 90 Shilling were the guest ales. I had half of each of the Iron Pier beers, which were enjoyed whilst chatting to one of the locals. On this Saturday afternoon visit, the clientele was more of an aging bunch. I don't remember spotting anything but blokes, except for the friendly barmaid. I have to admit to being a little befuddled by the entrance doors too! I don't recall them from the last time I came and hadn't read any further reviews in advance. So, they caught me off guard.

This pub is a slight walk from the beating heart of Bow but for those that appreciate an old school boozer, it is well worth the effort. Firstly it retains its original opposing door entrance where you push the first one and then pull the second one, something that isn’t immediately intuitive if you haven’t, like me, come across one of these in many years. Secondly you enter into a comfortable carpeted main bar room with the dark wood panelled traditional decor well described below with no tv or juke box or fruit machines to get in the way of lively conversation. Then the room behind is more a games room housing a pool table and a big pull down screen for the sport which was showing one of the group stage football World Cup games. Then beyond this is a smallish courtyard garden out back. The pub also becomes a live music venue for the local Old Ford Jazz club on a Sunday evening. Thirdly it’s a Shep Neame house which usually has a couple of guest ales alongside a couple from the brewery and for my visit, alongside Masterbrew, Late Red and the limited edition cask ale “It’s Coming Home”, there was a very passable Porter from the Gravesend based Iron Pier Brewery. Not many were in when I rolled up not long after the usual 4.00pm weekday opening time and those that were, were definitely fellow members of the retired club and by some distance, making me feel reassuring young. This is in the heart of student accommodation land for Queen Mary University, so I can well believe it attracts a younger crowd later on in the evening when they get fed up with the Lord Morpeth up the road. And why not, this is a very likeable traditional pub.

This pub dates from the mid-19th century, though was apparently rebuilt in the early 1940s which I think is highly unlikely; a 1950s’ rebuild is more likely. Either way, the name comes not from one of the impecunious East Enders assisted by the Mothers’ Arms clinic as mentioned, but that of Eleanor of Castille, wife of Edward I who died in 1290, when Ed was doing a national tour. At each stop on returning to London, a cross was erected in her memory, the two most famous being Waltham and especially the final one, Charing. The interior is simple and traditional, with threequarters height brown lacquered wood panelling and lime green paint up to the white ceiling. There’s at least one rough brick unused fireplace, above which is a fine Watney’s mirror; décor revolves around eclectic framed prints. Customers seemed to be more traditional younger locals (fans of West Ham) and some young professional incomers. Ales amounted to two unused pumps, Whitstable Bay and Ramsgate Brewery’s Gadds’ Nº 5, which tasted quite nice, coming in at £2.00 a half, served by an indifferent landlord. This is a decent mixed locals’ boozer, a far cry from the neighbouring Lord Morpeth and certainly the Albert; worth including on a crawl.

Shepherd Neame pub located close to Victoria Park. Nice old style interior that wraps round the bar.

This Shepherd Neame pub looks quite basic from the street, but the interior is very attractive and well maintained. Square bar at the front with pleasingly traditional furniture and decor. Another bar to the rear with a pool table, and a patio beer garden beyond. Three real ales from a total of six handpumps on the two counters, with Whitstable Bay and Kent's Best supplemented by St Austell Spring Brew (£3.95) as a guest. Old Ford Jazz Club to the rear.