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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th April 2024) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Pembury Tavern, E8
E8
E8 1JH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Pembury Tavern
Milton ales predominated during my visit on Saturday lunchtime. They all had an ancient theme – Nike; Dionysus; Tiki; Nero; Pegasus; Sparta; Minotaur; and Abeona all being available, plus a couple of ales from other breweries. The pump clips for the Milton ales offered no clue as to ale style, so I took a lucky dip for the mid range ABV Pegasus, which turned out to be a decent drop of ale. A wall board might be helpful in giving punters a clue as to ale styles when they offer so many rarely seen ales. There’s enough room for one on the walls, and they do have a board for the range of decent bottled beers that they do. There was a food menu on a board above the bar, but pizzas (or “le pizze” according to the menu) seem to be the main food item.
The pub itself is something of a monolith standing on a major junction in Hackney. Inside there’s nothing traditional or cosy about it, being essentially a sanitised drinking space. But on the plus side there’s a pool table and bar billiards – oh, and ten ales as well. This is a destination pub for the ale drinker or someone looking for interesting bottled beers – just don’t expect a traditional boozer.
On 16th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Pembury Tavern
First visit to this pub having heard good reports,I wasn't disappointed,of 16 handpumps 10 were on early afternoon ,good management in quiet times of day,wasn't put off by the large barn like interior, although I could imagine it would be very noisy when busy.As with the pub most if not all the beers were new to me so I asked who I took to be the Landlord for a recommendation ,hoppy,citrus and not to high an ABV ,I was pointed in the direction of Buntingford Galaxy, an excellent choice and proved to be beer of the day.An enjoyable visit and it won't be my last.
On 27th June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Pembury Tavern
ORIGINAL REVIEW Oct 2011
The solid doors give the immediate impression of night club or exotic dancers,but once inside this is clearly a drinkers paradise.As others have mentioned ,the interior has been stripped out and with a lot of well worn tables and mixture of chairs it has the feel of a students refectory.Free wifi also means a lot of people are focussing on their laptops,but the customer mix is not exclusively students and it is always good to see some attractive ladies sampling the wares together with the committed ale drinkers.There is a bar billiards table,a pool table and the pub is dog friendly even though food is being served.The barstaff are very friendly and helpful( samples are given to help ale choice) and the regulars are a good bunch so despite being cavernous there is a good atmosphere.16 handpumps,not all working but with a very full complement of Milton beers and several guests leading to a wide choice of beer styles.We sampled a good number on out trip and found ale quality to be consistently high.There is also an extensive choice of continental lagers,single malt whisky and ciders.The food menu is also quite varied and many punters come here for the food which looked good.A real ale oasis,I would gladly return.
UPDATE
No real change,still offering a range of 6 Milton ales on my trip with a wide variety of strengths ,two guests and a scrumpy cider.A large wooden banquette has been added to the left of the front door,there are still ranks of tables in the centre but the smells from the kitchen really were tempting me to give the food a go.There is an impressive list of single malts,rums and Belgian bottled beers so I would thoroughly recommend a trip in here if alcohol consumption is your game.
On 23rd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Pembury Tavern
I popped into this pub early one Saturday evening to find they were having a beer festival and was therefore faced with the task of trying to pick one beer from a selection of 16 on handpull and a further 8 on stilage near the front door. A massive beer list at the bar which detailed countless more ales that were either due to come on or had already gone was little help in whittling things down, so I plumped for a pint of Milton Minotaur, given that the pub serves as a regular outlet for the brewery. I enjoyed my pint very much and it seemed that most of the other customers were quite rightly getting stuck into the very impressive range of beer that stood before them.
The pub itself is a little bland, with bare floorboards and plain white walls in the large open area opposite the bar counter and in the smaller seating areas either side of the bar. There were a few modern art prints on the walls, seemingly for sale, one or two adverts for the Milton Brewery and a collection of pump clips snaking around the beams, but otherwise it all felt a bit bare and sterile. Seating was mostly standard chairs around tables of various sizes, but there were one or two benches and pews here and there.
Food was being served and I spotted a decent looking pizza menu that seemed quite popular with the locals. A pool table was in constant use in the left rear corner of the room and a bar billiards table was situated nearer the front. I also spotted a book swap scheme.
I quite liked it in here, despite the drab surroundings, although the lively atmosphere may have been helped by the beer festival. The staff were polite and patient and the beer is clearly the star of the show, which is always a plus in my book. I'd certainly return again and would be interested to see the place on a normal night.
On 28th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Pembury Tavern
Very close to Hackney Downs station this is something of a real ale emporium. As mentioned in the previous excellent reviews, the pubs is cavernous but the friendly welcome, pub dog and assorted computer users contrive to create a warm atmosphere.
Food looked good and came from a Mediterranean inspired menu although I didn't try any.
Beer: As a Milton boozer you's expect a fair smattering of their brews and the following were on: Sparta, Dionysus, Minotaur, Marcus Aurelius and Nero. Additionally Northumberland Sheepdog, Moonshine Barton and Lurcher Stout were on as guests. We tried two or three of these and all were crisp and drinkable. There's also a wide range of foreign beers available listed on a blackboard above the bar.
Very well worth seeking out.
On 15th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Pembury Tavern
When we visted in late July 2010 there was a mini beer festival iwth casks racked up in a separate ares near the main entrance. Big high ceiling pub with sanded floor boards, more of a hall than a cosy pub, but we were there for the beer so the decor was not of top concern to us. All the ales we tried were in top condition. It is well worth the journey to either Hackney Central or Hackney Downs station to visit this pub.
On 19th August 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Pembury Tavern
This is definitely one for the real ale fans as Fosters swigging football fans need not apply. There is a pool table and bar billiards, but this place is basically a large sparsely decorated room with no TVs, but eight or so well kept bitters and a couple of premium lagers.
This is more ‘ale hall' than pub and it is good for a few beers, but I wouldn't want to stay all evening.
On 20th May 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Pembury
I find the Pembury a bit of an enigma, so many plus points but, as has been pointed out before, it is partly let down by a rather uninspiring interior and at times, rather sedate and hollow atmosphere. It is easy to pass by the Pembury without actually realising it is open, such is the rather unappealing entrance (although there are apparently plans to put in glazed doors and make things look a bit more welcoming from the outside). The interior will hardly have designers foaming at the mouth; basically a shelled, knocked through old pub, a bit cavernous and with décor that can at best be described as monotonously plain. If it were not for the 1890's photo that appears in the pub and London Drinker adverts, you could be forgiven for thinking that it is a converted Bank or Building Society rather than a long standing Victorian pub. Little, if anything, remains of any original internal features although to be fair, the pub was the victim of a major fire in the late 90's. Modern art prints mix it up with old local black and white photos but there is not enough at the moment to cover the vast expanses of bare painted wall (the pub is openly requesting any old photos that people may have to add to their collection). An ever increasing collection of pump clips is beginning to wind its way around the ceiling beams and above the bar, the pub name is picked out in letters that resemble a junior school playgroup project. The tables are well spaced out but there is a distinct lack of small tables that means if there are just 2 of you, you will inevitably end up sitting at a table big enough for 6 or 8.
Where the Pembury excels is, of course, the beers. 16 hand pumps and even on the quietest evening there will be 8 or 9 in use. The majority of Ales come from the Miltons range and I have tried several different pints on my 2 recent visits and have no issue over quality or price (most are in the £2.80/£2.90 range). Also, it is worth noting that they serve in oversized glasses so don't try and shout about short measures as I nearly did! There is usually a mild and real cider available as well as good selection of bottled beers, whisky and wines. Everything is listed above the bar including the forthcoming beers. Regular beer festivals are also a feature.
The pub does have a wonderful approach to pub traditions with classic board games available over the bar, unobtrusive pool table and bar billiards, knowledgeable and approachable staff and a surprising mix of customers of both sexes. The atmosphere may be a bit subdued in off peak times with no music or TV's but this is not necessarily a bad thing and it can be a pleasure to drink in a place that is non threatening and amongst people who are in the pub for the right reasons, quality beer and social interaction. There is an ongoing programme of improvements which I am sure will address some of the negative aspects in due course but, as things stand, it is still a pub well worth seeking out.
On 25th June 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Pembury
A cavernous echoing barn but a superb selection of beer for the discerning drinker. A rare London outlet for Cambridge's Milton brewery, serving seven of them yesterday, most tasted, perhaps all actually, and on very good form. Also available were two from Great Oakley, Delapre Dark, and Welland Valley Mild plus Tydd Steam Swedish Blonde, Black Friars Spring Tide and Gwatkin real cider. A tremendous selection. A pool table(with purple baize) and also a bar billiards table add to the attraction. Lots of old pump clips from the guests. Board games available. Very impressive all round.
On 31st May 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pembury Tavern
What a great place. Excellent range of Milton and guest beers. Plain and functional decor, but it is probably the ale that you are here for anyway... SPBW London Pub of the Year 2007.
On 15th March 2008
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]