The Birkbeck Tavern, Leytonstone, E11

Situated in the quiet residential side streets close to Leyton Underground station is The Birkbeck Tavern, a fine traditional community orientated Victorian street corner local. The trademark green tinged leaded windows remind us that this was a former Charringtons house, a fact confirmed by several old photos inside. Note also the photo of the 1945 street party celebrating the end of the war. A small basic front bar with a lino floor and a pool table leads into a much larger comfortably furnished carpeted high – ceilinged main bar which retains something of an unchanged old fashioned feel to it. A trophy cabinet testifies to the prowess of local darts teams. Food is limited to snacks – principally rolls wrapped in clingfilm and pickled eggs. A framed undated certificate tells us that this pub won an award as “Football and Real Ale Guide Division 2 Pub of the Year”. The pub is CAMRA friendly and is listed in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. On my recent Saturday morning / lunchtime visit – before the mighty Owls visit to Leyton Orient F C – 4 beers were on, Mighty Oak Moody Rudy, RCH Pitchfork, Jack Frost and Rita’s Special. Rita’s Special – the provenance of which is not stated – is apparently the only regular real ale and is named after a former landlady. Both this beer and the RCH Pitchfork were in good form. This pub is not a place that you’re likely to stumble across by accident, but it evidently attracts the more discerning football supporter and others in the know. It’s a real proper pub and, if you’re attending a match at the nearby Leyton Orient F C, you should make the effort to seek it out

Randomness Guide to London - Birkbeck Tavern entry

Randomness Guide to London - Birkbeck Tavern entry