The Little Driver, Bow, E3

Tris C left this review about The Little Driver

This place dates from the late 18th century but was rebuilt in 1869, subjected to a refit around 1900, which gets it a place in CAMRA’s heritage pubs inventory, listed as being of Some Regional Importance.
I’m not sure of the name’s origin as there’s a depiction of a railway engine to the window, but I suspect this was once a drovers’ trail, along which drovers would drive their cattle to market.
This is a large pub with a commanding interior. There’s much rich wood carving in here with a deeply textured bar front which features a boarded apron, thereafter carpet (see photo). Still retained, are some partitions with cut and etched glass, similar to the bar back. There’s a column with ornate capital and very fine Victorian fireplace. Walls are off-white with a white Anaglypta ceiling, from which chandeliers hang, though much of the illumination comes from the multitude of TVs, which no one appeared to be watching, the customers being exclusively older males and very East End; the old-school landlady was chatting away to them animatedly, so she’s probably as much of an old fixture as many of the heritage fittings, the most striking of which is the massive gilded Hoare’s mirror (Hoare’s was based at East Smithfield to the north-east of the Tower of London and created Toby ale, both of which were acquired by Charrington’s in 1933). Furniture comprises normal tables and chairs and music played at a decent level, courtesy of a jukebox.
I had made an abortive attempt to come here about a week earlier, but was thwarted by not having access to something called ‘cash’. Having found some of this so-called ‘cash’, I returned only to find that like the previous reviewer, I was deeply disappointed to be confronted by a bank of three Pride clips and as no one could be seen drinking it, I decided not to take the risk so opted for a Neck Oil at the reliably unjustifiable price of £5.70, though cheaper than some, served by a friendly barmaid, though unquestionably a short measure.
This is an interesting pub, not least because of the heritage value. The ale choice – or lack of – is a bit of a disincentive to visiting on its own, but it makes a reliable contribution to a crawl of the area.

On 24^th September 2021 - rating: 5
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