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Detail Pages
The Admiral Vernon, Dagenham
Dagenham
RM10 9HP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Admiral Vernon
This classic 30's roadhouse has been awarded the 3* CAMRA rating for heritage,the highest possible,which drew my visit on a gloomy Friday afternoon.With the pub sign removed from the bracket,no external lighting and only the dimest of lights showing through the parts of windows not covered by curtains,I thought it looked closed. The doors are windowless and heavy ,one marked with "No Children" and as it gave way to a substantial shove,I assumed I might be met by strippers between acts.However once inside there were just a few locals and an impressive 30's wood panelled interior.The bar is long ,U shaped and serves three internal spaces,to the left a pool room,a tap room then to the right a music performance area with a stage and sliding doors which could seal it off if necessary.The 30's features and doors are well preserved,so too the brick fireplaces but sadly the furniture is more modern and garish with blue velour bench seating,modern metal frames chairs and metal bar stools.The music room has stackable chairs and moveable tables as you might expect but not welcoming when nothing is happening.Live music only some Fridays and Saturdays.
Although the barmaid was friendly,there is a mono culture here,middle ageds white men with a monotonous stream of expletives much in the style of Derek & Clive but without the humour.The neighbourhood is very ethnically diverse,this pub is an enclave for the white working class.
As you might expect no real ale but £3.80 for a Stella was acceptable.
Is it worth 3* ? I wouldn't say so ,and the pub experience was poor but at least it's still open and has an original interior.
On 12th November 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Admiral Vernon
Little has changed since Rex's thorough review over eight years ago. This remains on Camra's Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors with its retained sub-divisions, plethora of wood panelling and apparently original vine cornices (the stone footrest that runs around the bar is a great touch too). From outside, it's a little intimidating with no sign hanging in the empty pub sign post and a gathering of smokers around one of the entrance doors unsettled, seeing as there was no clear indication of which of the many doors were active. Inside, it was a predominantly male crowd albeit good-natured - pool tables either side of the central bar, and a well-used jukebox which was a little too much on the loud side. Still no real ale - even the keg ale options have gone although the pump handles remain like Eastern guards. I liked this place despite some of the negatives. The fact that it's still going and being well patronised is cause for a smile at least.
On 18th November 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Admiral Vernon
The Saloon and Lounge bars had no less than three pairs of handpumps between them, but no real ale on any of them. All they had on was keg John Smith’s and Courage Best, plus some of the usual bog standard lagers. There was no sign of any food in evidence (on a Wednesday lunchtime) – I suspect they don’t do any, though I didn’t ask.
This is really a very basic three-bar inter-war pub. It doesn’t look like it has changed since it was built. The smallish Public bar is nothing special. The Saloon Bar has double doors leading to the Lounge, which were open, effectively making it one very large bar. The Saloon/Lounge has a pool table as well as the usual array of games machines and one-armed bandits. The furniture consists of settles around the walls plus normal tables and chairs. The service was friendly enough, although there were a couple of obvious regulars at the bar whose every other word was a swear word. This would make it a less than family friendly pub, although perhaps they would moderate their language if ladies or children were in – but they didn’t seem to make any concession to the fact that they were being served by a barmaid. Perhaps I am just being old-fashioned, but I didn’t think it was very nice.
The only other item of note was the sign above the bar in the lounge “smile your (sic) on CCTV”. Priceless. Unless you’re interested in seeing one of the few remaining untouched examples of inter-war pub design, I wouldn’t bother.
On 31st January 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
andrew parr left this review about The Admiral Vernon
unless you are a very brave man DO NOT even think about going through the door
On 10th June 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 105 recommendations about 100 pubs]