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The Denmark Arms, East Ham, E6
E6
E6 1LA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Denmark Arms
On CAMRA’s National Inventory, so in I went. Run by Antic and they’ve done a proper Antic-style job on this one - stinky and skanky with chunks of the place in disrepair to the extent of appalling, such as the women’s loos not having a functioning light. The interior, whilst managing to hold a few items of faded grandeur (like the tiling and pillars) is, to quote the below reviewer “a large cavernous stripped out echoey barn where most original period features have long gone”. Unlike the previous reviewer however, we did this one before the Boleyn! A friendly barman and a fair pint of the single cask of Volden (NBSS 3) wasn’t enough to turn my opinion. It’s a flea pit, the Antic joke really has worn thin.
On 27th October 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Denmark Arms
This pub reopened mid August after being closed for six months for some renovation and refit and in their websites words, some TLC and a new person in charge behind the bar. So I had great hopes for this one when visiting as a double with the nearby Boleyn.
But on entering I have to say my immediate thoughts were “er, so what exactly have you done to the place ?”.
Externally it’s a wonderful Victorian corner pub. Internally it’s a large cavernous stripped out echoey barn where most original period features have long gone. Yes there are some remaining green wall tiling and floor tiling around the serving area and some nice chandeliers, but these are all a bit overwhelmed by the ad hoc collection of assorted seating giving the usual Antic impression that most of it had been reclaimed from skips. And no tassel shaded standard lamps for us. Perhaps I would have been more sympathetic if we had visited this one first instead of the Boleyn, but coming from the Boleyn this was all a bit of a let down, something that continued when we tried the ales.
Two of the three pumps in use, one badged with Volden Session Ale and the other with a chalk board advertising Timothy Taylor Landlord. We went for the Landlord which on trying was clearly off and undrinkable. This was exchanged without quibble for the Volden which was drinkable, but still not great. Yes it was only £3.40, but I would rather pay a £1 more for something I enjoyed.
We took these to one of the front widow seats where we sat and listened to the modern music soundtrack thumping out of the speakers at a volume which seemed over the top considering the few tables that were in on this late Saturday lunchtime. We did consider asking if they had any Jazz they could put on, but had already concluded that were were probably not the target demographic for the new management. Something that got cemented when members of the young bar staff team started rearranging the ad hoc furniture in the middle of the room in front of us into an even more ad hoc way seemingly trying to squeeze in a DJ booth.
In truth the back section behind the bar is a bit more ornate, and the ceiling and floor and furniture here is more interesting and we would’ve possibly been more comfortable in this section, but suffice to say we didn’t feel inclined to stay for a second beer and find out.
I am fully aware that pub appreciation is something that is very subjective, but I am genuinely gobsmacked that anyone who appreciates a comfortable traditional pub would prefer drinking in here than the Boleyn down the road. Now that this one has reopened perhaps they could revisit and explain to me what I’m missing. I know which one I would prefer to drink in and I think you can guess where to find me.
On 1st November 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Denmark Arms
A mid-19th century pub, Grade II-listed and on CAMRA's inventory of pubs of Regional Interest (why not National?).
Well described below with photos on CAMRA's site. The floor is part mosaic, part worm-eaten bare boards (this is an Antic pub after all). There are board games but seemingly no electronic forms of entertainment in what is in effect one huge, very ornate room with even more treasures upstairs which I didn't visit. There's standard furniture with benches at centre and lighting from shaded chandeliers and tassel shaded standard lamps. New to me were the marble clad walls along with much wonderful green glazed tiling.
The staff were very friendly serving up two ales with one clip reversed: ELB (?) or Siren (?) Dragon and Vorden's Pale at a very reasonable £3.80 and on good form.
This is a traditional boozer and makes for a great double with the Boleyn further down the road. This may be the less spectacular of the two, but the staff here are friendly, the beer here is a lot cheaper and far better; I know where I'd prefer to drink.
Rated 8.5
On 11th August 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Denmark Arms
This is a very large and ornate street corner pub in the heart of East Ham, currently operated by the Antic pub group. Entering through the front door, you find yourself in a big, opened out space with exposed floorboards, extremely high arched windows and a nice lincrusta ceiling. Padded benches down the right-hand side have been formed into booths, with a couple more of them awkwardly plonked in the middle of the room and standard tables and chairs filling in any remaining gaps. The servery has a central position, having been built to serve separate rooms around it which have now been knocked through into one big space. The bar runs in a satisfying curved shape with dark wood panels on the front and a large stone pillar part-way along. The bar back is a great feature with some wonderful carved wooden details such as posts with small globes on the top and a few stained-glass panes with old books on top and a painting of a young Queen Elizabeth II above, although overall, the bar back appears to be incomplete, having presumably lost sections in the refit. The wall to the left has some lovely green glazed tilework with several floral motif inserts, whilst above the tiles there is a decorative carved stone frieze that runs around most of the pub above a polished stone dado. A small section of mosaic tile flooring has been retained in the narrow space alongside the bar and it’s tempting to try and picture how great all of this would have looked when the pub was in its heyday. Beyond the servery, there is another large open space, similar in size to the front part of the pub. More standard tables and chairs fill the space, there is a nice tiled fireplace on the back wall, a different carved stone frieze can be seen running around the room and the ceiling is very impressive too. The music of Prince was playing quietly in the background on my late mid-week evening visit and there were very few customers in, with the lone barmaid spending most of her time helping a drunk old boy book a taxi home.
I spotted three handpulls on the bar when I arrived, dispensing ELB Cowcatcher and Foundation Bitter with the final pump left unused. However, upon leaving, I spotted three more pumps on the rear part of the bar, although I didn’t go and check if these were double clipped or different beers. The Cowcatcher was a pleasant pint and arrived in good nick despite the lack of punters.
This is a pretty spectacular pub that has lost out from numerous refurbishments over the years, but still retains enough of its former character and grandeur to merit a visit. It’s not as shabbily presented as other Antic pubs and seems to know how to look after its beer, so I would imagine it is one of the best options for a pint or two in the local area.
On 3rd April 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about Denmark Arms
The features described by previous reviewers which see this pub included on the Camra Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors (namely the green tiling and cast iron pillars) remain, and the main Antic touches appears to be the flooring which shows some exposed concrete on places. The area before the bar is awash with tables and chairs which necessitated a bit of slaloming on my part to get to the bar. Volden Session and Redemption Hopspur were the two ales on, with the former £3.30 a pint and very good - I was asked "cash or card?" once poured. 50s muzak played in the background and this was busy with diners on my Sunday arvo visit - a large number of children saw the high ceiling echo their screams.
On 19th November 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Denmark Arms
bought by Antic Pubs
On 25th September 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Denmark Arms
This large boozer isn’t that bad a place for an afternoon beer considering the location. It is split into two sections with some seating and a flat screen TV in the front area and another flat screen, a projector screen and three pool tables around the back. Sky Sports is shown and whilst I was there a World Cup game was showing, although for some reason this was muted and some disco music was playing in the background. The bar is stocked with standard draught products and I was served by a friendly barmaid, it’s just a shame that the Guinness wasn’t the best.
There are some signs up in the windows advertising karaoke on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and there is a DJ on Fridays. There is a no admission policy after midnight, so heaven knows what time this place closes – looking at some of the locals, probably never.
This pub has seen better days and I don’t plan on returning to the area anytime soon for a second visit.
On 1st July 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Denmark Arms
There is some very attractive and interesting original Victorian green tiling inside, plus some original cast iron pillars. Unfortunately the tiling was obscured by “no smoking” signage, plus adverts for the “great value food” and the forthcoming poker night. Seating is mainly banquette style, with some high stools and tables as well as some “caff” style tables and chairs in the back room that is essentially now a pool room. There were some old photographs on the walls that seemed to be of local scenes – I recognised the impressive town hall opposite in one of them. The serried ranks of games machines and one armed bandits complete the picture.
It seemed a pretty soulless place on a damp and murky Wednesday lunchtime, though maybe it would seem more welcoming at other times. They didn’t have any real ale on, and the Stella was off during my visit. Frankly, I can’t see much to recommend this place, and doubt whether I shall be visiting again.
On 11th February 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]