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On the hunt for Bethnal Green’s best pubs? These are the best places to booze in the area.
Traditionally a working class area of London, Bethnal Green is now becoming a desirable place to rent for young folk who can’t afford inner city prices but still want to live somewhere with a bit of a scene.
As such, Bethnal Green’s pub culture is an eclectic mix of traditional old boozers, nightlife-focused, and trendy craft beer spots.
Whether you want a quiet pint or a wild night out, or you’re the type of person who wants to compare flavour profiles with a barman who rocks a pomaded moustache, you can find it all in Bethnal Green.
The Best Pubs in Bethnal Green
The Blind Beggar
The Blind Beggar was the local boozer of East-End criminal legends the Kray Twins.
Remember that scene in Legend where Ronnie walks up to Georgie Cornell at the bar of a pub and shoots him in the head? That actually happened. And it happened here.
The history of the pub goes back a bit further than that though. The pub you see now was built in 1894 on the site of an inn which had been there since before 1654. These days you’ll find it a nice gloomy watering hole with a mix of locals and morbidly curious visitors.
Bethnal Green Tavern
As the East End and its neighbourhoods come into the radar of young folk looking for a cheap area to rent in, and then start demanding nice coffee shops and craft breweries, the typical Bethnal Green boozer has become just as much a spot for a cocktail of a hoppy pint as it has to nurse a pint of Guinness in a gloomy corner.
That whole notion is typified by Bethnal Green Tavern where you’ll find regular beers from across the pond and an emphasis on cocktails that would raise eyebrows behind the typical British pub.
It’s not all shiny and new though. Bethnal Green Tavern’s Sunday roast is as hearty and traditional as you like.
The Well and Bucket
The Well and Bucket has claim to being one of the oldest pubs in the East End by the fact that it opened in 1818. It closed down in 1989 though, and reopened in 2013 with what feels like an all original interior.
The place oozes character and has an extensive menu of rotating cask ales that will keep you at your seat for more drinks than you intended to come here for. When the night runs over make sure you grab something from their menu. Food has no business being this good in a place this cool. It just doesn’t seem fair.
The coolest thing about this place? The downstairs cocktail bar where you’ll be finishing the night.
The King’s Arms
You’d not be a fool for thinking, upon sticking your head through the door of the King’s Arms, that you’ve found yourself a tidy little gastropub. You’d be wrong though. The sleek decor job of off-navy paint and planked wood walling are what’s going to throw you off.
Get to the bar though and you’ll see their only serious focus is on the drinks. Casks of real ales and an extensive list of hipster craft beers are the g-to here, but they’re not afraid to stray into natural wine and classic cocktail territory either.
If you get peckish they do have a menu of bar snacks to nibble at, but if you’re at the King’s Arms it’s probably going to be a liquid lunch for you.
The Carpenters Arms
Situated at the top end of Brick Lane, The Carpenters Arms is the traditional boozer of choice for both locals and shoppers coming off the vintage markets. There are a couple of nice pokey back rooms to perch up in if you’re looking for a quiet pint, and a beer garden out back if the sun has made an appearance.
The walls are adorned with photos of the pub and Bethnal Green through the years, which is always a sign of a good community pub.
Behind the bar they’ve got all the usual continental lagers on tap, and a good selection of world beers by the bottle. It’s no wonder this is one of our favourite pubs near Bethnal Green.
The Star of Bethnal Green
Known for wild parties that roll on it to the early hours, when the weekend comes round The Star of Bethnal Green ain’t the place to go for a quiet pint. Friday and Saturday they usually chuck a DJ behind the decks and usher in flocks of weekend warriors until the place heaves with people.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Regular themed brunches are a thing at the Star of Bethnal Green. As are belters sung too-many-pints deep on their karaoke machine, and the presence of celebrity guest DJs – apparently Idris Elba span some tracks here once.
If you’re an old fart or a bit of a killjoy, give this one a miss. Or as the young hip crowd would probably say: jog on!
The Approach
Tucked on the corner of Victoria Park is The Approach, so named because it is on the approach to the park. It’s a spacious pub with plenty of seating for meals if you’re getting hungry.
They also have extensive outdoor seating for the warmer months of the year, some of which looks onto the park itself. Our favourite touch? A giant blackboard, that when there’s nothing important to write down, is used to tell a joke.
You gotta love a landlord with a sense of humour.
Sebright Arms
If you’re looking for a bit of entertainment with your pint, head down to the Sebright Arms. It comes from the team behind the notorious Old Blue Last in Shoreditch. Like there, at the Sebright they regularly have shows of live music covering every genre from metal to cabaret.
This pub in Bethnal Green stocks a decent selection of craft beers and they’ve got a stellar food menu to match. It’s the kind of drankin’ food you’ll want to be eating alongside a pint of something craft-brewed, while you debate lobbing a chip at the bloke on the stage.
