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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Albert, Bow, E3
E3
E3 5JL
Pub Type
Craft Union (Stonegate)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Albert
It was mid to late Tuesday afternoon when I hit The Roman Road and I still had some time to kill before the nearby Eleanor Arms opened at 4.00pm, so thought I would poke my nose in this one to see if it is really as bad as Tris below would make you believe.
The pub itself is not too bad, being a commanding corner building on the junction with St Stephens Road and Roman Road. Internally it’s a plain modern interior with one clean and bright ( probably too bright when in gets dark as the bright lighting give you the drinking in a goldfish bowl effect) room that wraps around the curved bar. Two ale pumps but unclipped so no real ale and standard keg products only. I got the impression they move a lot of Stella and Fosters in here. A plethora of TV screens round the walls and assorted fruit machines and adverts for the Sunday Karaoke sessions. Lots of St George flags and although the smaller strung ones were probably for the current World Cup, I got the impression that the larger wall mounted England flags with their West Ham branding were permanent decoration. You get the impression that the main attractions here are Karaoke, Dj sessions and football.
Apparently Tuesday is market day on the Roman Road and the stalls had been or were in the process of being broken down as I strolled along towards the Albert. Consequently the pub was extremely lively with East End Market types and although, like Tris, I was out of my comfort zone I found it friendly enough and in a way thoroughly entertaining. Plenty of visible tattoos, expelling of air and industrial language and that’s just the women. And no, those shouty men are not having an argument, that is how they talk to each other. I cannot take credit for the following observation as I saw it on a Google review for this place. “Don’t pay your TV licence and watch EastEnders, just hang out in this bar, it’s even better than reality TV”. Even on the experience of my fleeting visit, it’s difficult to argue with that.
Clearly one that will not attract CAMRA card carrying members of society, but it does serve a purpose and is an experience that is fast disappearing from this part of London.
On 9th December 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Albert
The Prince Albert as it originally was, dates from the mid-19th century, but I suspect the current incarnation is an interwar-years rebuild.
The pub has recently been acquired by the Craft Union chain, which seems to specialise in stewarding extremely basic pubs and this is no exception. I had thought that this was going to be an Irish pub, but I didn’t get that impression, not least because of the Cross of St. George flag (with West Ham adornments) to the rear wall. It’s a resolutely locals’ pub - probably unchanged since Alan's review - and not the locals to be found at the Young Prince over the road either. It was quite dark inside, much light coming from football on the TV. It’s a very blokey pub indeed, though a couple of women were spotted. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I stood at the bar waiting to be served by the barman, who I think was ignoring me, certainly attending to regulars. The Neanderthal standing next to me at the bar let out a prolonged and very noisy belch. I wasn’t sure if this is standard behaviour in here – wouldn’t surprise me – or whether it was a warning, but either way, I’d had enough and beat a speedy retreat.
If you want something more representative of the area, there are good locals’ boozers in E3, such as the Little Driver, Eleanor Arms, Palm Tree, Green Goose and aforementioned Young Prince.
On 15th April 2022
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Albert
There's still no real ale here, and no sign of any food when I dropped at Wednesday lunchtime.
This is a simple bare-boarded pub. There's a bit of exposed brickwork about the place, and had a bit of the feel of an Irish pub about it, although there's no Gaelic or other pseudo Irish paraphernalia that I saw. Seating is mainly banquettes with normal tables, and I did see a large barrel doing duty as a tall table with its attendant tall stools. There are shelves above the bar counter and at the tops of the walls bearing jugs and the like. There was a TV on showing the racing, and this seemed to be the focus of interest in the pub.
This pubs OK without being anything special. A real ale would be a dramatic improvement. Although it was comfortable and friendly enough, I doubt whether I'll visit again.
On 6th September 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Albert
The Albert is situated at the end or start of the roman road shopping area,this road once had lots of pubs,all now closed including a Spoons,the pub looks a bit different to most pubs in this area of East London
Once inside there was an L shaped room with the bar facing,the seating was mainly normal tables and chairs,but there was a bench seat to the left,there was a darts board to the right,plus two TVs one to the rear left the other to the far right.
There were no real ales on the bar,i had a drink of John Smiths smooth crap which it was,the other keg bitter was Flowers bitter.
The pub was quite busy with locals,who seemed a bit rough and ready.
I was happy enough drinking in this pub,just a shame there were no real ales on here.
Pub visited 19/2/2014
On 19th February 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]