As with most Irishmen I have an in built aversion to being too nice about the English - forget…read moreabout the enlightenment, Shakespeare and the Rolling Stones, your legacy is the potato famine, Martin Johnson and Piers Morgan. However, the English do pubs well and in particular do roast dinners in pubs well. If you need a pig belly roasted go to the Foresters, wash it down with some real ale and for a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon you'll love the English.

This is my local pub, though I don't often have time to pop in, it's great to know that a great…read morelocal is there for when I fancy a relaxed hour or three. There is always a good range of beers, typically including Adnams and Doom. There is a long bar counter in the main lounge, service is friendly and fast. The pub is not dominated by music, though there will be some playing unless there is a big sporting event on. The quiet bar has a smaller counter. Quiet is a relative term, there's usually a good friendly hubbub. Food is served at mealtimes, check the website before you go if you intend on eating there. Portions and flavours are robust. Menu choices are not extensive, there will be pies, omelettes and sandwiches on the menu at reasonable prices. It's great to get a square meal now that so many pubs have gone gastro. The pub is probably one of the oldest buildings in Plaistow, thought the frontage is only a century or two old, and the windows are far more recent. Stand back across the street and you can see what looks like a medieval roof line. There is a beer garden at the back, and at the front there is a seafood stall in the car park.

If you're getting off the tube at Plaistow, your pub options are going to be quite limited, unless…read moreyou fancy a Wheatherspoons drink-factory or a face-full of broken glass. But even with the bar set low, the Black Lion was a very pleasant and welcome surprise. Who would have expected an historic, CAMRA-award-winning Tudor pub, complete with thick-hewn timbers, ambered-glass windows and excellent beers on draught? Not this traveller. The handles carried Doom Bar, John Courage, and two guest beers, all of which were fresh and well-poured. There are three mid-size TV screens (only one was on, and the sound was very low), and this is a pub that welcomes the sporting type, but it is neither loud nor yobbish. The crowd at this Free House is almost exclusively locals, ranging from fringe-hipsters to racing fans. You are not going to get smiles and high-fives, but everyone doesn't stop and stare when an "outsider" walks in either, thankfully. Service was a mixed bag--one friendly bartender and one aloof blonde girl who negligently smoked a vapourizer and looked as if she wouldn't cross the street to piss in your mouth if your teeth were on fire (i.e. not very friendly). The lass had sass, though, and what are the stubbornly non-trendy areas of NE London about if not a bit of attitude? Plaistow is no place the weak of heart or slow of wit, after all. If you want some doofus with a perma-grin that stops dead at the eyes, go to a Kensington Starbucks (or, better yet, just leave London).

This is a cozy pub with a local community feel to it that just invites you to come in and stay…read moreawhile. That is, unless it's a Sunday afternoon, and most of the seats have been booked; in which case you feel like a fish out of water, hoping that one of the busy waitresses notices you and feels bad enough to help you snag a seat. Yes, that was my experience. But I was too hungry and too cold to be deterred from having to find my own little corner. One thing I've never liked about pubs is that you have to figure out what to do first: Find a table or order your food at the bar. If you're alone, that adds an extra challenge, as you either have to leave your stuff unattended at your table, or risk your spot being taken by someone else as you order. Still, cons aside, I still think the pros outweigh them. Namely, the Sunday Roast here is amazing! As is usual, they have at least 3 different kinds, including a vegetarian/ vegan version, which is what I ordered. Don't ask me why, even though I'm a meat-eater, I keep going for the "healthy" stuff. The veggies they used were mostly the green kind, with a few carrots and what I believe to have been sweet potato sprinkled in, as well as a strip of seitan in there for the protein. The gravy was okay, but I have to say, this dish was a bit on the bland side, overall. I am not at all upset, though, because the Yorkshire pudding they topped it off with was one of the best I've ever had. Crispy, flaky, a bit chewy in the center; I could have just eaten that and the gravy and been happy. I also splurged a bit on a boozy affogato with a shot amaretto for dessert, but the whole thing turned out to be on the soupy side, and the flavor wasn't what I was expecting. I definitely think this is a pub worth coming to, but if you're coming on a Sunday, make sure you book in advance to avoid any excess wait times.

Trendy Clapham pub with average Clapham Prices…read more The decor is attractive and there is food (individual and sharing plates) available, but for my taste it's a little too dark and noisy when it's busy (which it is in the evening).

What an extraordinary place. Really, I can't think of another place in London that comes close for…read morethe experience of a classy escape to 1930s Paris or 1930s anywhere for that matter. Step inside, and you could be forgiven for wondering what just happened. One minute you're wandering down a quiet back-road in Battersea, overlooked by council houses and the odd school. The next, you're in a low-lit room, a bar ahead of you lined with upside-down wine glasses, candles and fairy lights, wooden chairs and tables to your left and right and small, elegant plants against the walls, in between scores of 1930s vintage pictures. If you've arrived after 8pm, the live music will be playing. Usually gypsy jazz, but often other types of recognisably 1930s jazz too: A piano, some vocals, a woodwind instrument.. It's easy to imagine yourself as an extra in the English Patient or whatever your favourite film set in the 1930s is. The service is friendly and quick. The food is a mixture of French, central European and north African, and pretty good too. The wine, beer and spirits list is basic but good enough to accompany the food or quaff slowly whilst enjoying the music. QueCumbar's website quotes local press as saying this place would be perfect for a first date. I'd go further than that. If your girl/guy has a just a hint of a musical soul or a smidgen of interest in the 1930s/40s, I'd say that taking them to QueCumbar will firmly tilt things in your favour! If they're big fans of the era or jazz... best get planning that second date! It's cheap too. Arrive before 8pm and the music is free. After 8pm and it's just £5. Food is in the £10-£15 range and drink is the usual. Overall? Well worth checking out, whether you're into jazz, 1930s vintage, or want to go somewhere original and unique.

I spent a lovely night filled with gypsy jazz music and good food last night. and most importantly…read morefriendly service ! the place is really different, cosy and some how old. Nothing fancy at all just the right place to have a special night out. the band (Viper's Dream) was phenomenal- we had waited for 2 hours for them to begin playing but it was really good music. the food is good- french- and reasonably priced. the bar hosts a bi weekly music nights the only downside to this place is the location- literally in the middle of no where and toilets need cleaning

It's harder to find a decent bar in central London than it is for a rich man to enter the gates of…read moreheaven on his yatch, wearing loafers. Seriously, central points are best avoided in any city of the world I find, but there is something extra painful about the bars and clubs in central London, maybe because I live here, understand the rubbish that people say and know there are at least a thousand better places in any other direction on the compass. This is why the Phoenix is such a winner. The bar staff are attractive in a cool, beardy and understated way. Not to objectify them, but a pint is so much tastier when poured by someone with good arms. My favourite thing about this pub though is the music. The last time I went in on a Tuesday afternoon they were playing a tranquil collection of underground hip hop and electronica, not Celine Dion's greatest hits or Westlife: the usual selection of shit music courtesy of the clueless bar staff in central. They also do club nights with decent DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, have a £10 a bottle wine night on Tuesdays and open mic nights on Sundays. The food is of decent pub grub standard, they have the genius and cunning to sell a fish finger sandwich for £4.10 (over priced but essential eating). There is a cosy relaxed atmosphere here and a great selection of beers and wines, in this pub it is almost possible to sit back, relax and forget where you are.

Came here for Sunday roast. Was actually quite intimate since we got a room upstairs just for our…read morefamily. Everything was great. Served warm and large portions. My cousin had the vegetarian roast, I think it was a nut roast- surprisingly good! The staff was really nice and accommodating.

I am a regular at the the Talbot an since I was diagnoses with cancer I have found that Leslie…read morethe owner the staff and regulars have been extremely supportive and caring towards me. its a great pub that has change over the last year under Leslie's caring and thought full guidance the beers great mines a Harveys food good. but its the people that make it great it is difference ever time I come in thank you to all of you as I have made it into 2016

Ahh the Talbot. What a great little find, especially if your a thirsty morsel, running aimlessly…read morearound south london. What better place to land. Firstly, great food and great drink. Secondly, Great decor and charming folk. When I got down there, our group of friends were outside, it was fairly chilly but there was tons of space. The beers were flowing and it wasn't hard to get to the bar to be served which is quite important. The owner had two great beautiful dogs that charmed all of us while we were there. Felt very warm and cosy did the pub and look forward to heading back there soon.

If you're looking for traditional British fare, look no further. This is a great pub with fish and…read morechips that will be the best you've ever had. It took a while to receive the food, but otherwise everything was amazing. Definitely give this spot a try.

I can only speak to the rooms at the Admiral. They are quite nice. Some very close to each other so…read moreyou can hear the other guests a bit much. Charming old pub in an area I really like. Nice food and walking options nearby. It's a bit of a climb up stairs to get to the rooms so if you can't handle it not a place for you. I liked how cozy the rooms were, nicely updated and very clean. Loved walking out to the river or strolling through the naval college. Worked for me. Not super convenient for transit travel to central London but if you're not in a hurry it's alright. Getting back from central late night bit of a hassle but oh well. Staff were kind.

We stayed at the Westin around the corner. This pub is under rated. Although they do not have a…read morekitchen, this was a perfect spot for us to end each day; share our experiences and get ideas for the next day's adventure from fellow patrons. I found it odd that there was a different bartender every night but was jealous that this was not my neighborhood pub back home. Would return on my next trip back to London.

Don't know why this pub has some low ratings?…read more Guess they were just with the wrong crowd? Fantastic service, great pulls, cocktails, ambience and straight up fun! If you want a classic visit the Sea Horse!