The Eagle, Homerton, E9

This pub dates from around the mid-19th century, but I suspect that the current incarnation is a rebuild from the 1930s and for Watney Combe Reid, as one of their increasingly rare ‘stag’ roundels sits atop the pub sign. I was surprised to find that this is an Irish pub. There’s a part carpeted, part lino floor, a turqouisey blue colour scheme to the dado, then white walls and a white ceiling. There’s little in the way of décor, apart from a few tributes to the GAA, then a large number of sporting trophies to a shelf. What is very evident though are the large number of A4 flyers boldly stating the pub’s various rules: that children aren’t allowed after 7.00pm, another informing us that children are prohibited from using the pool table; there were probably other warnings, but I didn’t explore. Furniture is traditional and basic, with just peripheral seating with some dark brown banquettes; lighting is modern and bright. There’s a games machine and a dartboard, though how it can be used in conjunction with the pool table is anyone’s guess, as it’s above it. Two projector screens were on, showing Live at the Apollo with the sound virtually off, so as not to compete with the jukebox, which seemed to play exclusively mournful Irish folk ballads or Van the Man, which was curious, as none of the customers were Irish. There seems to be Wi-Fi here, but only on account that it leaks in from William Hill next door. Obviously there was no real ale, me going for a half of the now ubiquitous Neck Oil at £2.85, served by a non-Irish, polite landlord. This place is just about ok but it’s unbelievably plain, though it’s now one of only three traditional locals’ boozers in the entire borough of Hackney to have escaped hipsterfication or trendification, a far cry from the Lord Napier and Star up the road; a decent real ale would have garnered another point. Rated 3.5.

When alighting at Homerton overground station en route for a walk through Victoria Park I thought I would do a “Winfield” visit for research purposes and take a look in here to see if anything has changed over the years since the previous reviews. In a word nope. Still a standard keg only estate type pub with two separate areas around the central servery, plenty of screens for the sport and loads of shiny keg fonts for mainly the standard mainstream lagers. It is now the last man standing on Wick Road with the demise of the Prince Edward a couple of doors away, currently boarded up and looking like it is awaiting demolition.

Clean ,tidy but rather old fashioned bar.Sky sports, pool ,darts, gambling machines so as you would expect no real ale.Loads of lagers though.

The Eagle is situated very close to the Prince Edward only a side road and bookies seperate the two pubs. Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room which has an island bar which has a dividing wall to the front. There is comfy bench seating around the edge of the room which is carpeted,there is a pool table and darts board to the rear right,plus a TV to the front which was showing horse racing,there were two more Tvs to the rear which were showing the Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday game. There were no real ales on the bar which did'nt surprise me,i had a drink of John Smiths smooth crap which was crap. This is not a pub to go out of your way to do like i did,but it is slightly better than the other pub just along the road. Pub visited 4/10/2014