Coach & Horses, Stoke Newington, N16

Official site of Coach & Horses - www.coachandhorsesn16.co.uk

Official site of Coach & Horses - www.coachandhorsesn16.co.uk

Another first on our N16 crawl to a former Charrington’s pub and dating back to the 18th century, making it one of the oldest in the borough. As mentioned by all, it’s very gloomy indeed in here, despite the punishing early evening sunshine – you really have to get used to the dark on entering. If it weren’t for the fairy lights underneath the bar’s lip, you’d never find it. This is a more mixed pub than most in the immediate vicinity, with a less hipster crowd and certainly an older customer base, but that could just be a trick of the light, most of which came from the TV showing the footie with the sound down. As far as I could make out, the interior is largely traditional with a little bare brick and a modern bar back. There are velvet drape curtains and traditional closely packed furniture with some pews atop a bare floor. There are a few knick-knacks about the place and music played at a slightly uncomfortable level. Ales: one unused pump, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Darkstar’s Hophead at an increasingly reasonable £1.80 a half, served by a very friendly barmaid. There was generally a good atmosphere in here, marred by the youths swearing at the referee so I’d come here again, but only when there wasn’t a game showing.

Very gloomy interior with candles on tables.Quite clubby feel to it.Surprisingly three cask beers Hophead, Doombar and a decent Whitstable pale ale.