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Detail Pages
The Florist Arms, E2
E2
E2 0JD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Florist Arms
A first for us a few nights ago in this mid-19th century boozer which interestingly only gained its Arms in 2012.
The exterior is of brown tiles but what really stands out is the very fine array of flowers which festoon the frontage from hanging baskets. It also very sensibly sports an old Watney Combe Reid brewer's roundel with stag motif to the Globe Road façade.
Inside, and it's a slightly different matter. The floor is bare boarded but dark painted and scuffed. Like the Camel, there's red and black floral wallpaper with painted woodwork which is a bit chipped. There's much bare brick to the rear with mirrors and flashing lights, dark t 'n' g applied to the ceiling with the bar array looking authentic, sporting a brass footrail. Lighting comes in the form of hanging copper shaded lamps which would look more at home in a trendy wine bar; further lighting comes courtesy of fairy lights. There's music which played at perhaps too high a level for comfort and a TV was spotted, off.
Furniture comprises modern but traditional pale furniture which is a bit World of Pine. This is combined with some very low slightly tatty brown leather sofas with coffee tables - indeed the whole ensemble is a bit tatty, a little like a dive bar. Customers were a mixed bunch with a group of rather sweary youths crammed into a corner - I get the impression that this is more of a locals' pub than the Camel.
Staff were polite and very friendly, serving me up my keg pint of Five Points XPA at a very stiff £5.20. Real ale seems to have completely gone, but there are founts which seem to dispense German or Belgian beers.
This pub is a bit of a curate’s egg. It certainly makes for a decent double with the Camel, but I know where I’d prefer to spend the evening.
On 18th October 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Florist Arms
Update
Still an excellent no frills boozer, ELB Night Watchman and Cowcatcher were the beers on, upgraded to 8/10.
September 2015
A small pub unchanged from a visit I made a few years earlier, the exterior lives up to its name ,being festooned in flowers, inside its very much an unpretentious single roomed basic boozer,dark stained floorboards,Red floral patterned wallpaper and mixed seating around the room. Three pumps with two on offering ELB Foundation Bitter and ELB Pale Ale, I had a decent pint of the latter at £3.90. I quite like it here.
On 27th November 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Florist Arms
Decent little side-street pub with a 'U'-shaped bar and pleasingly traditional furniture and decor combined with a generally mixed young crowd of punters. Three real ales on offer, with Pale and Night Watchman from ELB and a decent pint of Five Points Railway Porter (£3.90) available on this brief visit.
On 27th December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Florist Arms
They had on two Darkstar ales when I was in here on Saturday – the ubiquitous Hophead, and Partridge, which turned out to be a rich brown ale. I was charged only £3 for a pint of Partridge, which is at odds with Maldenman’s experience. Maybe I was undercharged – but the barman clearly asked for £3 so that’s what I gave him, and I don’t suppose they had a happy hour on Saturday lunchtime. Anyway, £3 for a pint of anything half decent is good going in London these days. Food is mainly pizzas, at around the £8 - £9 range. They offer a two for one lunchtime special on Sunday to Thursday.
The default glass for beer is a dimpled jug, but I managed to stop the barman in time to ask for a straight glass. The distressed sofa, low upholsterd bench and low table is still there by the window, but the majority of furnishings are normal tables and chairs. The tables all bore, very appropriately, a sprig of flowers in a small vase. There is more black and red floral wallpaper in here, although this version is a bit more restrained than that at The Camel. Music was being played at background level, which is just as well as we were being treated to the dulcet tones of Stevie Nicks. The barman was knowledgeable about Darkstar beers, which was handy as they had on two of their ales. I quite liked this place, which I didn’t really expect as on the surface it looked a bit gastro-pretentious. I think it makes a reasonable pairing with The Camel a few feet down the road.
On 9th September 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Florist Bar
This place wasn't on my original itinerary, but having discovered the nearby Camel doesn't open till 4 in the week I decided to pop in having spied a couple of handpumps through the window. One room with a central square set bar, a handful of small tables and a couple of sofas. One sofa alarmingly seemed to be sat over and guarding the exposed cellar drop. Red papered walls, dark brown ceiling, most tables were "distressed", its all a bit bohemian and trendy shabby/chic. There is a pair of decks in one corner with a piano in front. The soundtrack was fairly quiet but you don't often hear Joy Division albums being played in pubs.
Fairly quiet mid afternoon on Monday, most punters seemed to be 30 something locals, some eating pizzas which is the pub speciality, there is a proper pizza oven.
Two beers on handpump, both from Dark Star, Hophead and Partridge, a new one to me. I asked for the Partridge but the barman was concerned it may still be dropping but pulled a small glass. It didn't look bad but he felt it wasn't quite ready. I plumped for the Hophead (£3.80!) instead, which was fine and he let me have the remaining drop of Partridge, which wasn't bad at all. I certainly have been offered and been expected to accept beers in a worse condition.
As well as the real ales we have Meantime LPA, Rothaus Pils, Estaminer and Palm, the last two both 5%ers from Belgium.
I quite took to this place and its laid back feel but I expect it is a livelier place in the evenings with the DJ in full flow. There is a quiz advertised too, not sure which nights though.
On 7th February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]