Ye Olde Black Bull, Stratford, E15

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Ye Olde Black Bull

I'd spotted that this place had made it into the latest Good Beer Guide and decided to give it a try before a recent game at West Ham's London Stadium. Trying to contact them to find their opening time in the week leading up to the game proved fairly fruitless, as nobody ever answered the phone. So, I had assumed normal midday opening for a Sunday.

I eventually arrived just before midday. I'd been killing time by going to the awful Hackney Bridge bar and ended up getting soaked again walking across Stratford to Ye Olde Black Bull. A friend of mine had arrived well before me just after 11am and had found it to already be packed. So, I suspect it may open as early as 10am on a matchday. The owner sits on a stool at the door controlling the crowds and vetting who comes in.

Inside, the pub has a nice, traditional feel. A matchday was probably not the best time to appreciate it. Nor was a matchday the best time to come to see why the pub has made the Good Beer Guide. I quite enjoyed my Wherry, but it was the only real ale on. Although, they'd apparently run out of a couple of other beers earlier (I think one was Tribute and the other was a Ringwood beer).

The atmosphere was quite boisterous, as you would expect. Live World Cup cricket was being shown on TV screens. I've yet to find a decent pub in Stratford. Despite its nice, traditional interior, I'm struggling to rate this a decent either. If only the Hammers were still at Upton Park and the excellent nearby Boleyn Tavern.

On 13^th November 2023 - rating: 5
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