Spitalfields' Watering Holes
Spitalfields' Watering Holes
Spitalfields' Watering Holes
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Spitalfields is an often-overlooked part of London, but not when it comes to the most endangered of all species - the traditional boozer.
Bordered by the City to the west, Brick Lane to the southeast and Shorditch to the northeast, the old fruit and veg market has been redeveloped into offices, restaurants bars and shops. But this hasn't got in the way of some of the area's historic spots.
The Gun, on the corner of Brushfield and Crispen Streets, is a regulars' pub mainly filled with blokes drinking beer pulled on hand pumps. Please don't let that put you off. It does a decent bit of lunchtime grub and its location, within five minutes walk of Liverpool Street Station, makes it an ideal meeting place. The outside tables provide an idyllic people watching spot to enjoy your drink while watching the diverse mix of office workers, locals and bohemians go about their business.
The bar area of the Water Poet on Blosom Street is a collection of rooms, including a poolroom, showing Sky Sports throughout. Its pub food is of restaurant standard without the pretence of so-called 'gastro-pubs'. You can do far worse than spending a summer's evening in their beer garden with barbecue, or a Sunday afternoon enjoying a traditional Sunday roast and listening to live light jazz.
The Ten Bells, on the corner of Commercial and Fournier Streets, was built in 1753 and retains some of the decorative wall tiling that at least, allegedly, one of Jack the Ripper's victims would have been familiar with. The bar area is not large so the smoking ban is most welcome here, and it's filled with an eclectic mix of chairs, benches and tables, including a unique piece made from a suitcase. The beer selection is fair and it's ideal for a social outing, providing your plans don't include eating or watching Sky Sports, as it can get very lively in the evening.
Finally, the Golden Heart on Commercial Street is located close to Brick Lane. My last lunchtime visit there didn't get off to the best of starts as I learned they didn't serve food, then inadvertently sat on bench with a nail sticking out of it. Nursing my pint and my sore backside things picked up a few minutes later when local girl Tracey Emin appeared in the doorway, meowed like a cat and then left.
Given the total deficiency of any reaction from the regulars I can only assume this is a normal occurrence. This is in essence a regulars' pub. The lack of food rules out the majority of passing trade, but if your lunch is liquid or you are on your way out to Brick Lane then give it a try. It carries a good range of beers, a large stock of music on the jukebox and a visiting cat impressionist.
The Gun, on the corner of Brushfield and Crispen Streets, is a regulars' pub mainly filled with blokes drinking beer pulled on hand pumps. Please don't let that put you off. It does a decent bit of lunchtime grub and its location, within five minutes walk of Liverpool Street Station, makes it an ideal meeting place. The outside tables provide an idyllic people watching spot to enjoy your drink while watching the diverse mix of office workers, locals and bohemians go about their business.
The bar area of the Water Poet on Blosom Street is a collection of rooms, including a poolroom, showing Sky Sports throughout. Its pub food is of restaurant standard without the pretence of so-called 'gastro-pubs'. You can do far worse than spending a summer's evening in their beer garden with barbecue, or a Sunday afternoon enjoying a traditional Sunday roast and listening to live light jazz.
The Ten Bells, on the corner of Commercial and Fournier Streets, was built in 1753 and retains some of the decorative wall tiling that at least, allegedly, one of Jack the Ripper's victims would have been familiar with. The bar area is not large so the smoking ban is most welcome here, and it's filled with an eclectic mix of chairs, benches and tables, including a unique piece made from a suitcase. The beer selection is fair and it's ideal for a social outing, providing your plans don't include eating or watching Sky Sports, as it can get very lively in the evening.
Finally, the Golden Heart on Commercial Street is located close to Brick Lane. My last lunchtime visit there didn't get off to the best of starts as I learned they didn't serve food, then inadvertently sat on bench with a nail sticking out of it. Nursing my pint and my sore backside things picked up a few minutes later when local girl Tracey Emin appeared in the doorway, meowed like a cat and then left.
Given the total deficiency of any reaction from the regulars I can only assume this is a normal occurrence. This is in essence a regulars' pub. The lack of food rules out the majority of passing trade, but if your lunch is liquid or you are on your way out to Brick Lane then give it a try. It carries a good range of beers, a large stock of music on the jukebox and a visiting cat impressionist.
Here Is The Writer : Martin Gallagher
Martin Gallagher has never played for West Ham or England, nor had a number one hit single, but he has worked in the City for many years (for what that's worth). A life-long Londoner, he made the migration from east to west a few years back and is still trying to get used to the absence of fried chicken takeaways and the over abdundance of coffee shops. Martin is married, has two daughters, and is also interested in travelling, football and writing. He hopes to publish his first novel 'sometime in the future'.
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