Pallavi Singh uncovers the quirks and charms that make up E11’s finest pubs

A Sunday roast at the Leytonstone Tavern, Credit: Beth Crockatt

Leytonstone isn’t short on quirks, and its pubs are no exception. Here, a Friday night pint might mean dodging prams at the bar, sipping craft beer in a modern boozer, or watching drag queens call bingo numbers in what looks firmly like a traditional old man’s pub. From historic haunts to fresher-faced neighbourhood favourites brimming with personality, these are the boozers that give E11 its charm, character, and a decent excuse for “just one more”.

North Star Pub

My previous review crowned Papis Munchies, North Star’s permanent pizza residency, the best pizzas in the borough, but this pub holds its own as a charming, vibrant boozer brimming with an eclectic mix of millennial craft beer drinkers, and your more traditional lager lover. If you’re walking over from busy Leytonstone High Road, prepare to be quietly awed by the Cotswold-esque Browning Road Conservation Area, which the North Star sits in the heart of.

Leytonstone Tavern

The undisputed purveyor of the finest burgers in all of Waltham Forest, the most surprising element of the ‘Tavern is the constant presence of children. It is Leytonstone’s premiere watering hole for the neighbourhood dads who love a post school pick-up pint, and one long stroller traffic jam on a Friday night.

Northcote Arms

A firm favourite of Leyton Orient FC fans, the Northcote Arms is perhaps at first glance, a typical ‘old man’ pub. It leans into its weathered furniture, dimly lit rooms, musty dusty atmosphere, but then turns around and puts on drag queen bingos on Sundays, the occasional oyster and seafood pop-up, and has evenings dedicated just for dogs. It truly reinforces that you truly can’t judge a pub by its outward appearance.

Red Lion

Before pilates studios, M&S, and trendy Italian restaurants like Forno opened their doors, the Red Lion undertook an ambitious renovation, the first true signal of a new era in Leytonstone. The pub was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the area, and it would be untruthful of me not to say there were many occasions where the sticky floors, beaten down couches and food did not appeal at all, so it’s safe to say I’ve welcomed the pub’s facelift with open arms (and wallet).

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