Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Forest Tavern, Forest Gate, E7
E7
E7 9BB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Forest Tavern
A spacious open plan pub owned by Portobello Brewery, I didn't get any hipster vibe from the place but nothing else either really. There are three handpumps, two were loaded with Portobello Star clips the other with Five Points XPA which I found in drinkable condition but not the best. An OK start to a day out but probably wouldn't bother with this one again.
On 3rd March 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Forest Tavern
Something of a 'hipster' pub in a much messed-about-with building, with various exposed brickwork, girders replacing beams and various musical instruments and other bric-a-brac strewn around the walls. One large room at the front and a similar-sized restaurant area to the rear, with a few tables on the pavement outside. However there were a couple of good local ales on offer, in nice condition (Cask Marque) and the food was not unreasonably priced and quite good. I would quite happily return, and it is very handy for the station opposite which will shortly benefit from the Elizabeth Line..
On 28th July 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Forest Tavern
Real ales on here were Burning Sky Plateau ((£3.90), Volden Session Ale (£3.40) and Pale (£3.90), and Five Points Railway Porter (£3.90), plus Harry’s Scrummage Cider on handpump. There was no sign of any menus when I was in at early doors (4.00PM) on Wednesday, but judging by the cutlery and condiments on the tables they must do food sometimes.
Inside it’s typically Antic. Obviously things have been ripped off the walls revealing bare brickwork, and of course furnishings are cheap and recycled mismatched tables and chairs. They have left a bit of wood panelling on the walls, where there are walking sticks and golf clubs as decorative features. They have also introduced some steel pillars and girders, presumably as a nod to structural integrity as they surely cannot be for decoration. As in other Antic pubs, they have an old piano and a table football lurking in one of the corners. At the back, around to the left of the servery, is another very learge room that seemed to be more for dining than the front room.
Antic pubs are fine if you’re not looking for uber luxury and class; possibly not the place to take a lady on a first date. Mind you, I took my wife to see Crystal Palace lose to Wolves at Selhurst Park in the old first division on our first date and that seems to have worked for me!
I would visit this one again if it wasn’t such a pain to get to.
On 17th November 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Forest Tavern
Quite a bare stripped out interior serving 6 real ales "craft keg"and food.
On 22nd March 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Railway Tavern
This opened tonight (05th Spetember 2013) as the Antic Forest Tavern, another very welcome addition to the ever improving East London pub choice in an area where the pubs have all been pretty grim for as long as I can recall. Even the Spoons on my one visit was poor.
It's still Work in Progress as the kitchen has yet to open.
Sadly it doesn't open until 16:00 on weekdays.
On 5th September 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Railway Tavern
I thought that this pub was a bit grim and it felt as though it has been in decline for some time. The service was polite enough, but there was only a limited standard draught selection available and the Guinness I was served was short measured and undrinkable. The bar is located at the front of the pub and the larger rear can best be described as a dance floor with DJ booth and glitter ball. Maybe there are functions here at the weekend, but during my recent Thursday afternoon visit this area was dimly lit and there was a pool table in the centre of it. There used to be a projector, but this has been removed leaving a single screen in the front bar and the only sign I saw of Sky Sports was a sticker in the window for the 2007/2008 season.
There are a couple of picnic tables in the concreted back yard and I also found a dead plant in a pot that I poured my Guinness into.
I’m sure this pub has seen better days since it was rebuilt in 1925, but at the moment it is not worth seeking out in my opinion.
On 30th June 2010
- rating: 2
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]