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The Hare, Cambridge Heath, E2
E2
E2 9BU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Hare
Small and lively local that's relatively traditional and has made the GBG off it being a freehouse with three cask; though I was the only person drinking it and the most interesting pick of 5 Points XPA was a bit flabby (NBSS 2.5). Décor of black wood, red walls, comfy padded banquettes and a jumbo decal of the Thames at Tower Bridge. Pool table (which makes for an awkward trip to the gents when in use) off left and darts, which looks like it can’t be used when the pool table is in use, unless everyone is very civilised about interruptions. Good to know it's here – this bit of town is intensely grotty but whether the place truly GBG quality is perhaps a different matter. But in context, worth having a look at if you’re nearby. 6.5
On 16th December 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Hare
This is a small local’s boozer close to Cambridge Heath station and Regent’s canal. The pub has a simple L-shaped interior, carpeted for the most part but with a few bare boarded sections here and there, including the area immediately around the servery. The bar runs along the rear wall and has an attractive panelled counter with a twisted metal foot rail, a wide mirrored bar back and an integral door with a frosted glass pane in the bar back, with the pub’s name picked out on it. The bar back is topped with numerous hare ornaments and some random Arsenal memorabilia, which seemed a bit odd for an East London boozer, although I later noticed that the landlord was wearing an Arsenal shirt. Plush padded bench seating can be found to the front, right and left, with loads of chairs and low stools in support plus some high tables and stools opposite the bar. The room extends to the rear left where the extra space has been given over to a pool table. Decor includes various blackboards, including one offering customers a welcome and another detailing upcoming sport fixtures being shown here, each flanking an old painted board listing various spirits. A few pictures have been hung on the walls here and there, including a huge one of nighttime London from above, which was blocked by a large pull down screen showing a West Ham match, whilst several other screens around the room were showing Sky Sports News. I also spotted a jukebox, a lovely pub mirror and a fake road sign with the pub’s name.
On the bar, handpulls were dispensing Fullers London Pride, Taylors Landlord and the local Five Points XPA. I’d just had a rather disappointing pint at the Five Points brewery tap, but risked the XPA and found it in excellent condition, served to me by a friendly, old school barmaid. There was a good Thursday night crowd, to the point that there were no seats available, so I had to sit at the bar instead.
This is a very good traditional boozer that seems to be doing just fine amongst the flood of gentrified pubs and fancy modern bars, which is enough in itself to make it worth investigating. The good service, excellent beer and homely environs elevate this place above most other such East London local’s boozers and I'd definitely call in again if I were passing by.
On 25th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hare
This pub has existed here since 1792 but was rebuilt for Truman's around 1860, the attractive tiled facade probably added in the 1930s, the long-term cracked window added at a much later date - I hope.
As described below, this is a basic locals' pub, part carpeted and part bare boarded with vinyl banquettes to the periphery with traditional/modern furniture. Walls are painted black with a white Anaglypta ceiling; there's a pool table to the rear with a door out onto a patio garden. The bar is modern field panelled with mirrored back which may be older, reflecting a myriad bottles, inverted with contents dispensed by optics. Lights are quite traditional with a few hipster filament bulbs, perhaps trying to attract incomers, possibly a bit bright but could be reduced if the windows weren't obscured with louvre blinds.
Décor comprises some old prints and framed pictures of the old Highbury stadium, flanked by a few Arsenal players; no doubts then as to the pub's football leanings. To the left wall, there's a huge night-time aerial panorama of London. There are a multitude of TVs, all showing different channels; there's an additional projector, possibly only when Arsenal are playing? There's also a flashing games machine.
The pub serves a range of 12 Scotches as well as 12 taps dispensing craft from the local Five Points Brewery and the likes of fizz as well as Guinness and Strongbow. Amazingly, there were three ales: GK IPA, TT Landlord and Five Points Pale at a very agreeable £4.20 and on good form, served up by a friendly old-school landlady, who seemed to be on very familiar terms with her obviously loyal customers, cackling away with them.
Seemingly clean and tidy, this is an ok pub and something of a last stand amidst a sea of hypsterfied pubs in this now very trendy area and long may it survive, but I would prefer something a little less sport orientated and perhaps a little less linguistically earthy; there was no sign of the aforementioned pub cat.
On 15th July 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Hare
Nothing special here. One room with bar to the right rear. Further room to the left. Large map of East London on left wall. Four hand pumps, two reversed, others weak in strength.
On 17th September 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hare
A rather basic locals pub, GK IPA, Abbot Reserve and Landlord were the ales on, fine for locals I'm sure but there's not much here for the casual passer by.
On 17th December 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Hare
This pub has an attractive and distinctive old brewery facade (Trumans possibly), but inside it’s very basic. It’s carpeted, which I like as it tends to reduce ambient noise, has some classic plastic covered banquette seating around the sides, tall stools at ledges circling the pillars in the middle of the room, and some normal tables and chairs. There’s a pool table at the back to the left of the bar counter, and wall decor seems to be restricted to framed football shirts (I didn’t recognise any of the teams, but that could be because I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so could be some other sport). There were several TVs on the walls and behind the bar, all on showing different channels, but muted. It was doing a good trade on Saturday afternoon, but the pub cat was totally unfazed by all the activity going on around it, lying trustingly in the middle of the floor.
There were two ales on – GKIPA and Timothy Taylor Landlord. I had a pint of the latter of course, which although good value at £3 a pint, wasn’t in great nick. I didn’t see any signs of food being available. This is a basic locals’ pub. There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s nothing special – just an ordinary down to earth pub.
On 8th August 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]