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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Moby Duck
Submitted on Sunday, 3rd March 2024
With picture contributions to 1045 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Holly Tree, E7
E7
E7 0DZ
Served areas
Reviews of The Holly Tree (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Holly Tree
A large pub quite plush and smart looking inside as described below, it veers toward the foodie end of the spectrum. There is an Adults only area which was a godsend as several of the little people were running around unchecked by staff or parents.The five hand pumps were offering up Vocation Devils Leap, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Whitstable Bay along with Five Points Green Hop Cascade which was rather nice. Despite the decent beer on offer the pub didn't really do it for me as I'd like to feel comfortable in any part of the pub rather than having to seek refuge in an adults only corner, the perils of weekend daytime drinking maybe.
On 3rd March 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Holly Tree
Forest Gate is not the most inspiring place to go for a drink. In fact, the first time I'd ever set foot in the area was to visit the Hudson Bay (Wetherspoon's) earlier this year. However, the Holly Tree has now replaced it in the Good Beer Guide. So, I decided to make a return visit to the area with a view to try 3 pubs/bars.
It was touch and go as to whether we would find the Wanstead Tap open, as it's published closing time on a Sunday is 4pm. Friends arrived there at 3:30pm to find it closed. Perhaps it no longer opens on a Sunday? Nevertheless, the Holly Tree became our first stop and very soon exceeded all of our expectations.
One of the pub's USPs is the miniature railway that works its way around the garden, an undoubted attraction for kids and their families. Indeed, there was a constant stream of families coming in for their Sunday lunches, of which the pub was doing a brisk trade.
We arrived at 4pm to find the railway just shutting for the day, with our former British Rail drinking colleague proclaiming that the driver looked like a throwback to the glory days of the railways. However, we did take a quick peak in the garden to view the railway, which winds its way around the various outdoor seating options. Despite being in a residential area of Forest Game, I imagine this would be a lovely place to sit in the summer.
We soon took up residence near the bar. Most families appeared to be in a conservatory area which overlooks the garden and from where the lunches were appearing from an open kitchen. Where we sat, the space narrows alongside the bar, before opening out again at the far end of the pub to create plenty of seating.
I wouldn't normally recommend a pub that is popular with families, but this pub tries and succeeds in satisfying all kinds of customers. Friends had sounded a bit concerned when I quoted Whatpub stating that the pub has 2 Shepherd Neame pubs and a couple of guests, but our fears were soon allayed.
Our aforementioned railway colleague enjoyed his Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay Pale Ale. I enjoyed their Late Red which was also on. Guest beers were Verdant Penpol & Black Iris Stab In The Dark. They also had a real cider that I'd never seen previously - Oliver's Wild Farmhouse Cider Summer Blend.
Craft beer fans are catered for too. The selection was Five Points Kipa, Beavertown Neck Oil, Soundwave Siren, Sureshot I Cannae Change The Laws of Physics, Play Brew Ruby Roo, Drop Project Glassy, Pretty Decent Dumm Sauer, Pomona Island Phaedra & Pressure Drop Petanque.
With a lively atmosphere and an excellent beer selection, I really enjoyed my visit here. With a couple of friends living fairly close to here and it being just a couple of stops away from the London Stadium on the Elizabeth Line, we may well return for another visit.
On 13th November 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Holly Tree
This pub dates from around 1880, the ground floor’s exterior clad in very attractive burgundy tiling, the green banded leaded lights a clear indication that this was once a Charrington’s house and featured on a recent list of London’s Top 50 pubs.
Done up following acquisition in 2019, the previous reviews probably no longer apply. Although I knew in advance, this is part of the quality Remarkable Pubs Group stable, their trademarks giving the game away immediately: dark velvet swag curtains, stuffed fish and fowl, ornate bar back with clock, jukebox but seemingly no map of the world. Otherwise, there’s a conservatory to the right, garden beyond with a large patio out front with views over to Wanstead Flats, then to what must be a first in a pub: a miniature railway (see gallery) which does laps of the garden, but sadly can only be ridden at the weekends, 1.00pm – 4.00pm, with no rail replacement service offered. Otherwise, the floor is pale boarded, the left-hand being done out in a very lovely Victorian style, another RPG nod, with wonderful Sheele’s green paintwork or near fuchsia, like the snug in their Lord Tredegar; furniture is resolutely traditional with some pews and a fireplace, which given the brand, will no doubt be lit in the colder months; TVs were seemingly absent, another trademark touch; lighting comes from spherical translucent white lamps, hanging from a glossy cream Anaglypta ceiling. Customers were younger trendy local types and a baby was spotted at near 9.00pm, which isn’t really on.
Given the pubco’s precedent, ales were fairly predictable, now sadly with sourcing in part from Shepherd Neame (Spitfire and Whitstable Bay), but on the upside still Five Points Best (£2.60 a half), nice and served by a very friendly barmaid, then Brew by Numbers Hazelnut Stout (£2.85 a half), nice and served by another very friendly barmaid; Oliver’s cider was also available.
This is a fair trek from public transport, but I really liked this pub. Ditching the Shepherd Neame offerings (in all their pubs) in favour of something more adventurous and/or locally brewed would nudge the score up, but this is certainly a lot better than the Rookwood Village though I don’t think it would make my Top 50 list.
On 1st May 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
View more reviews of The Holly Tree (5)
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- Official site of The Holly Tree - www.thehollytreepub.co.uk
- Facebook page of The Holly Tree - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Holly Tree - whatpub.com
Forest Gate, 0.53 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Leytonstone High Road, 0.91 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes - Right-hand half only. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes - Jazz, last Thursday of the month. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesdays 19.30. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 09 December 2019 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 07 April 2023 by Tris C
