Leytonstone pubs

Only Leytonstone could inspire a man to flee his country for the bright lights and balmy climate of Hollywood, only to make a crap film about some useless people trying to escape from a small flock of birds. It has an air of unhinged mediocrity about it. Get off the tube, stubbornly ignore the motorway and head north though the delights of the High Street to a very large, very ugly roundabout. Follow the road signs towards Whipps Cross Hospital and you will be rewarded by two things. The first is the edge of Epping Forest, Whipps Cross Road seeming to forge ahead into infinity amidst a deluge of layby burger bars, the second is the truly massive Alfred Hitchcock pub and hotel. Consisting of a knocked-together grand Victorian terrace, the pub is a fascinating collection of little intimate spaces and some large expansive tables around a generous bar area. It has a charming atmosphere, and with its mixture of leather luxury and dark, spartan wooden areas, looks and feels authentic. This is rather an impressive feat considering the bar interior was designed in the eighties. It has a large beer garden to boot, and does an extensive (and expensive) range of food. I didn't see a TV, but that would be a rather churlish criticism to make of such a friendly pub. You can sit by the large windows watching the 4x4s race off towards Essex, track-suited men walking ravenous mutts in the forest and families with the physique of the michelin man chomp burgers by the roadside. It's a wonderful world. We are pleased to report that it hasn't changed and has lost none of its magic since we last reviewed the place 6 years ago. We love the easy going vibe, the great beer and friendly staff. Current and future guest ales are chalked up on a board beside the bar. One of the regular punters requests that the radio is turned off in favour of the juke box. The barmaid gladly obliges by feeding the machine and the pub is soon filled with classic Motown and Led Zeppelin. Apparently this place fills up when Leyton Orient are playing at home. It's almost a reason to become an O's fan. Its location next door to a cemetery offers an alternative possibility for this establishment as a Halloween-themed pub staffed by people dressed up as ghosts and vampires. Thankfully either the owners of this pub have not conceived this idea or they have quickly realised it would be a grave mistake (grave - geddit?). Those of you brave enough to walk past the very spooky graveyard will be rewarded by an impressive looking Victorian era pub that has so far managed to escape a needless refurbishment inflicted on other such establishments. On our visit the friendly landlord turned off all the televisions saying, "I hate TVs in pubs, they are a distraction from the drinking". Indeed they are, unless there is an important football match on. This is a man who knows how to run a pub. A woman then feeds the juke box which then proceeds to fill the pub with track after track of classic tunes. The pub begins to fill up as the working day ends giving the whole place a relaxing vibe as everybody inside collectively unwinds. Then there is the beer; real ales feature strongly here. St Peter's Organic bitter and Hopback Odyssey were on tap and both were delicious. This is one of those places you could happily spend hours in. Just sit back and gently descend into a satisfied drunkeness in this truly great London pub. Highly recommended. Not reviewed yet.

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