Bow pubs

You don't normally think of modern day Bow as a hot bed of political anarchism, however on this particular Saturday night we had just witnessed the burning of a wooden replica of the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Park. The whole event culminated in spectacular firework display across the skies of East London to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the failed plot by a certain Guy Fawkes to bring down the establishment. After all the excitement had died down, fifty thousand thirsty people spilled out into the streets outside the park. We knew that finding a pub that wasn't heaving could be a bit of a challenge, but we made a beeline for the genteel streets near the well-healed Tredager Square and happened upon the Coborn Arms. This attractive looking Young's Pub is set back from the road and has a small front terrace for fair weather drinking. Being November we decided to settle inside instead. The bar room extends back towards a strategically placed plasma screen, which was showing a re-run of one of the day's earlier football matches. There was also a slightly raised seating area to the right of the bar containing a darts board. The beer is up to the usual Young's standard. On this occasion the obligatory Bitter, Special and Pilsner were complemented by Winter Warmer Ale. This pub is a clear favourite with the locals as by the time we were on our second round of drinks the place was full with people of all ages. This made for a great atmosphere and everyone enjoyed themselves. This place gets a definite 'thumbs up' from us. Not reviewed yet.

Want to review it? A wonderful canalside pub with the whole of Mile End Park as its beer garden. I have warm fuzzy memories from my student days of lock-ins that lasted into the wee small hours. Its isolated position away from the main road makes such jollity possible. On the inside, the walls are decorated with beautiful gold leaf wallpaper, probably original. The bar, horseshoe-shaped, serves a variety of beers including one guest ale, which was Maiden Leg Over on our visit. The curved space above the bar is filled with photographs of stars from the stage and screen from John Hannah to Jim Bowen. The music drifting across the bar transports you back through the decades to a somehow more innocent age. Bullseye. As I walk in I quickly discover that the erstwhile old man’s boozer I remembered from my student days has evidently coughed on its last Woodbine and gone to the great bar in the sky. It has now been transformed into a dark indie-themed pub aimed at a young and hip crowd. What it lacks in beer (which comprises all of the usual crap plus some bottled Youngs/Wells beers) is compensated by some great music. I probably would have loved this place as a student with its varied attractions including regular live music slots and DJs, cinema nights and reasonably priced student food such as marmite on toast and fish finger sandwiches. Bizarrely, they also sell cupcakes to take away. Cupcakes in a pub? Have they gone barking mad? As odd as it may be, perhaps this place represents the future of urban pubs.

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