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The Palm Tree, Mile End, E3

24-26 Haverfield Road
E3
E3 5RP

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Quinno _ left this review about The Palm Tree

I think that, extremely sozzled, I visited this one many years ago and there was certainly a faint glimmer of recognition as I entered even though much of the canal and parkland approach has been tarted-up in the last 15 years. The attractive Truman’s exterior remains and the CAMRA Heritage listed interior is also rather lovely, with a splendid curved island bar with tongue and groove wooden upper, leaded windows and heavy drape curtains; quite the timewarp and apparently the owner has been in situ for many years. Also of note are the signed photos of old-skool celebs (in many cases deceased), old jockeys and the startling gold foil wallpaper on one side. Gentle 1950s (I think) music was a rather beguiling background for a relaxed atmosphere. 2x Mighty Oak beers at the bar, my Maldon Gold was fine (NBSS 3) though came in a plastic cup due to someone in my party confusing the barman as to whether we would be drinking inside or out. Prices were very steep, but I suppose you at least get a decent quality pint and enjoyable surrounds. And it was cash-only which made me smile (then grumpy, as it turned out I was the only one in the group who actually had enough to cover the round). Like Steve and others say below, it’s a unique survivor and you do wonder what will happen when time catches up with the owners. Visit whilst you can – it’s good fun in an off-beat way.

On 27th October 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


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Steve of N21 left this review about The Palm Tree

It was dark by the time I had picked my way across Mile End Park fully trusting that Google Maps was correct in taking me to what felt like no man’s land, and arrived outside what, to all indications was a closed pub with no visible signs that it was actually open. Everything I had read told me it should have opened at 4.00pm, so I tried the first door and it yielded, allowing me to enter into what I initially thought was someone’s photographic dark room.
Well this is quite a unique pub. Only the southernmost bar was open for my early midweek early evening visit and the cabaret-esque red lighting and the red and gold chintzy decor takes a bit of getting used to and it took a while for my eyes to acclimatise enough to pick out the signed pictures of long passed celebrities and forgotten jockeys that line the walls above the oval-shaped bar, and spaces that aren’t plastered with memorabilia are covered in gold chintz.
Two hand pumps on the bar but only Mighty Oak Malden Gold available for my visit, which was very good but was one of, if not the most expensive pint of the day
The landlady and her accompanying dog were extremely friendly and welcoming and I presumed it was Val , of Val and Alf fame, who have presided over the pub for many years, but apparently not long enough to know how to change the Muzak system that was playing some excruciating cheesy Christmas carols.
This bar also has a small stage with a drum kit and piano set up in the corner and according to the landlady there’s live music (mainly Jazz), on Thursdays to Sundays and since there are no neighbours within shouting distance, these have a habit of turning into late-night sessions.
It is cash only here, as they still use an ancient mechanical till and they charge for tap water, something that has caused uproar on other review sights, as have reports of staff unfriendliness, (unless you're a regular), especially if you get on the wrong side of the landlord, although as stated my experience was the opposite of this in that respect with who I believed was the landlady.
Difficult one to rate as you don't come to the Palm Tree for great beer choice, and despite being CAMRA listed, the interior will not be to everyone’s taste, especially of a dark evening. But The Palm Tree is a remarkable survivor, and you do have to wonder what will happen to it when the present custodians do depart, and I certainly plan to revisit in the daylight of summer when the outside canal can be enjoyed.

On 10th December 2022 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


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Tris C left this review about The Palm Tree

Originally dating from around the 1840s and built at the corner of Palm Street and Totty Street, this was a pub which served a myriad surrounding houses, swept away as a result of bombing, in what is now Mile End Park. Another first for an E3 pub, into this Grade II-listed former Truman's house dating from 1935. At first glance it would be easy to assume that it was built by their in-house architect, A. E. Sewell in the so-called 'improved' style, but this would be a basic schoolboy error, as it was in fact designed by Eedle & Myers, architects of the legendary Angel, which gives its name to a part of Islington and a square on the UK Monopoly board.
I won't go into any real detail about the place as it's well documented below, on CAMRA's Pub Heritage website and that of Historic England, suffice to say that unsurprisingly nothing has changed and the couple who have run it since the 1970s are presumably still here.
Arriving with around 40 minutes to go before the 'new normal' last orders and what a shock compared to The Lord Tredegar over the road, not because of the obvious differences in architectural style but because of the customers: the Lord Tredegar was pretty much as full as the law allows with diners aplenty and probably all recent incomers to the area. Here, just one old boy who has probably been a regular all his life, chatting away to the staff behind the bar.
Entry required very little in the way of track and trace, just a notebook for names and numbers and a bottle of denatured alcohol to be splashed sloppily onto the hands without any little pump with most of it spilling onto the floor. As mentioned, the lighting in here is rather different (or traditional?) as there's little illumination beyond a deathly orange glow. Music flowed gently but was contemporary where one would have expected Glenn Miller or The Andrews Sisters wafting over a windup gramophone. The floor is carpeted but I doubt it’s original though. The lavs were ok, but what was a little alarming is that there's no gent's cubicle.
There was one solitary ale, Mighty Oak's Maldon Gold which was very good but at an absolutely excruciating £5.00, which is more than a substantially stronger pint at the Tredegar with its far more affluent client base. It also had to be paid for in cash which I had brought along specially, having been forewarned, though it didn't go into the cash register of yesteryear.
I'm glad I saw this place in all its original glory, but I doubt the interior will survive in its current state once the current landlord/lady move on, so best see it while you have the chance.

On 28th November 2020 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


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Graham Coombs left this review about The Palm Tree

Still as described previously, an imposing pub standing alone in a small park by the canal. Don't be put off by the lack of signs of life from outside; at first sight it can appear firmly closed but inside is a very traditional and unspoilt two-roomed pub. Still two ales on offer from Mighty Oak, although condition can be a bit variable, as can Alf's jokes! Definitely one to visit before it inevitably gets changed beyond all recognition.

On 14th March 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


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Bucking Fastard left this review about The Palm Tree

The very thorough PSM review needs little imbellishment.On my trip only the side bar was open,with it's small stage for live music and a very friendly welcome from the guv'nor.Val & Alf Barrett have been here since just after the War,and that is why so much has been preserved,so it's well worth a visit to this CAMRA Regionally Important Interior listed pub.No food and cash only,it's old school.The public bar opens when demand is sufficient.A lot of filming takes place both outside and in because of the authentic features.
The two handpumps were drawing Mighty Oak Endeavour and Maldon Gold (good nick,pricey at £4.50),and it seems Alf will usually stock their ales,he is rightly a keen fan of the brewer.
The muzak was gentle ballards creating a good atmosphere and this is a proper welcoming East End boozer.

On 30th August 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


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hondo . left this review about The Palm Tree

Standalone building just up from the canal that retains it Truman's exterior. 2 roomed traditional interior with a curved bar in the one I visited with reddish lighting giving everything a strange hue. Something completely different in a world of bland chain pubs. 2 real ales served.

On 26th November 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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Pub SignMan left this review about The Palm Tree

A combination of wartime bombing and the post-war creation of Mile End Park has left this fine 1920's Truman's pub in a somewhat exposed and isolated position alongside the Regents Canal. This makes the approach to the pub quite a sight, as the fine ceramic tiled exterior gradually comes into focus with its dramatic Truman's eagle perched high above. The pub has a traditional two room layout, with a small corner bar and a larger room to the right hand side. Sadly, on my mid-week evening visit, only the corner bar was open, so I was unable to explore the pub in full. The entrance takes you into a small carpeted room with a fantastic curved servery opposite, boasting a solid tongue and groove counter and a broad canopy with a curtained fringe. The bar back is fairly minimal, running through the middle of the servery and on into the other bar, but the undisputed highlight has to be the ancient looking, 'Open All Hours' style cash register, which takes pride of place behind the bar. The room has rather limited seating options, with bench and standard seating along the front and right hand walls and a short drinking ledge with high stools over in the rear right corner. However, a small stage area in the front left corner and a smart fireplace on the left hand wall rules out the chance of any seating on this side of the room, so I imagine the other bar would be opened up once the pub fills up a little. The walls have been decorated with some fantastic old wallpaper which gives off an atmospheric golden glow under the muted evening lighting. Elsewhere there is a large Truman's mirror above the fireplace, frosted windows with heavy drapes, a hop lined section of wall, a collection of plates and an extensive series of black and white photos of entertainers from yesteryear on the bar canopy, some of which are signed but none of which were familiar to me. Relaxing music played unobtrusively throughout my stay and the gentle hum of hushed conversation made this a nice place to relax with my paper and a pint.
There were two ales available on this visit - Wadworth Horizon and Mighty Oak Maldon Gold. The landlady had her back to me when I arrived, busily chatting to another customer who unhelpfully decided not to draw her attention to my arrival, but I was eventually served up a half decent pint of the Maldon Gold - perhaps a little past its best but still drinkable.
I really liked the spectacle of drinking here, from the imposing approach through the time-warp feel of the traditional interior to the moody ambiance with muted lighting and glowing wallpaper. The beer could certainly have been better and it was a shame to only see half of the pub, but this was a memorable experience and a pub I'd like to visit again.

On 18th April 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


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Alan Winfield left this review about The Palm Tree

The Palm Tree is a decent looking three storey pub that stands alone next to the canal.
Once inside i went into the front room,no alarms or having to have my drink outside,so i was now inside this pub,the main room is a decent sized square shaped room,there is a really nice looking curved bar with an old manual till,which the landlord was proud of.
The floor was carpeted this was slightly worn,the seating was basic bench type.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Portobello VPA which was a very nice drink,the other beer was Black Sheep bitter.
I had a good chat with the landlord who said he been running to pub for over 30 years,the pub was almost empty apart from one other younger male customer.
There was some background music playing of the jazz type,not my cup of tea.
I told the landlord about how i took photo's of every pub i went in,i then asked him to come outside to pose in front of his pub which he went ahead and did.
This is a pretty much unalterd pub,well worth the visit.

Pub visited 19/2/2014

On 19th February 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]


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Moby Duck left this review about The Palm Tree

A disappointing visit yesterday having arrived at about 12.50 lunchtime the only sign of life was a couple of staff/Landlady? chatting at an open side door,after inquiring if or not they were open we can open in a minute but you will have to have a drink outside for the time being.After lengthy discussion as to what was available or not we received three pints of Mighty Oak Snake in the Glass in plastic glasses,the beer wasn't an good condition and at £3.60 for a 3.5% beer we decided not to prolong our visit,and so left with out even stepping inside the pub. I have previously enjoyed my trips here and would rate it a good 7/10 but after yesterday it will now average 4/10, zero yesterday.

On 27th June 2012 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


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John Bonser left this review about The Palm Tree

A short walk away from Mile End Tube Station and close to the Regents Canal is The Palm Tree, a splendidly traditional old fashioned East End local.

Largely due to planning and demolition in the immediate area, the pub is oddly isolated, standing alone in the middle of a grassland park. It’s a former Trumans pub with the trademark tiled exterior and the eagle logo prominently positioned on a corner wall.

The main bar of this two bar pub is carpeted and features striking gold flowery wallpaper, half height wood panelling and leaded frosted windows. Seating is basic benches and unusual round tables with cork tops. The curved semi circular wooden bar counter has a gantry which is decorated with photos of various singers and musicians who have performed here over the years. In one corner of the room is a small stage with several drums and there’s live music on weekend evenings. Note also the old manual cash still in use behind the bar. We find some surviving features of its former Truman days – a Trumans mirror and the trademark black and white chequered spittoon around the bar.

A larger bar with a separate entrance appears to be the favoured location of the regulars. Here there’s a rarely seen London 5’s dartboard and a collection of boxing photographs, including one signed by Billy Walker addressed to “Alf and Val”.

The surviving features of this 1930’s pub merit a listing in CAMRA’s book of London Heritage Pubs.

There’s usually 2 or 3 real ales on. Pleasingly, these are invariably interesting selections rather than the usual suspects such as London Pride and Greene King IPA. On my latest visit last week, beers on were Robinsons Enigma and Newmans Red Stag Bitter ( Caerphilly ). The latter was an enjoyable pint, but, with an ABV of only 3.6%, was rather pricey, I seem to recall. The pub is in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012.

There’s something of a time warp feel to the place - it’s a real collector’s item. Do make the effort to seek it out

On 22nd March 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]

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