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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Sports Bar 19, Ilford
Gants Hill
Postal town: Ilford
IG2 6JX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Sports Bar 19
Now a funeral parlour.
On 27th August 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bar
Having read a very complimentary article in London Drinker we decided to make this our first stop in our Central Line east crawl. It’s an unlikely-looking venue for some good ales and indeed it only started stocking them seriously a couple of years ago. Ascending the escalator out of the lovely Art Deco tube station (the pub is almost directly outside Gants Hill) I saw a couple of ads for The Bar, with a large ice-covered font being the central graphic. Located in the middle of what seems like a gigantic roundabout, the exterior looks exactly what it is, a converted shop; indeed the exterior signage wouldn’t look too far removed from an upmarket hairdressers. We were the first customers of the day and the landlord was getting ready for the first game of the Six Nations, attaching the requisite flags to the walls. Whilst the gigantic iced font depicted in the pubs advertising loomed large, I was very happy to see the promised four pumps to its left, with three ready for action dispensing two Mauldon ales and Fullers Seafarers. Two Westons boxed ciders were also available as well as a few wines chalked up on a blackboard. I was even more pleased to be offered, without prompting a CAMRA members discount. The ales we tried were all in good shape as befits this new GBG entry. The small-sized interior is very much a bar, with leather-upholstered seating, minimalist décor and a number of screens for the heavily-advertised sport (the football was already on the go). A snake of old pump clips across the top of the bar attests that some interesting and eclectic ales can be had here. The owner, Darren, introduced himself to us; a friendly chap who talks ten-to-the-dozen. He is obviously very proud of his bar and the success of his real ale offering. We stayed longer than expected and it started filling up quite quickly. The two ladies in our group were welcomed and made to feel at home. Live music was also advertised (where do they fit??).
Whilst this won’t necessarily attract the traditionalists, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I’d recommend this for a visit, especially if you enjoy a good ale with your football. This is the sort of format that I think could work well in other areas. I wish Darren all the best and I’ll make an effort to get back here again.
On 24th March 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]