The Black Lion, 59-61 High Street, Plaistow

The Black Lion, 59-61 High Street, Plaistow, E13 0AD

This is a true East End family run pub with a very friendly atmosphere. Look around and you see the customers are as varied as the beers. The pub itself has a lot of character, not a straight wall or square corner anywhere, the original crooked house. There is a massive beer garden for the long summer days where a nice cold pint or two can be enjoyed. Being a free house a good selection of ales always seems to be available. Good pub grub is served lunchtime and early evenings, the portion size is large and the price is very reasonable.

For the weekend afternoons horse racing and football are the flavour and dominate the TVs, there's a smaller lounge bar without the TV for quiet drinkers. The jukebox has both new hits and golden oldies on it with most in between; if you're in there long enough you'll hear it all. It can get very busy around West Ham home games. Being less than a mile to the ground it's used by both home and away supporters before and after the game.

Reviewed by Kitbag, Jan 2007

Low-ceilinged, smoky, noisy and convivial. This pub has indefinable magic, some secret ingredient that is all too rare. It possesses a television, a Juke box, a dartboard, the most dubious dance floor ever (totally unused) and a back room that can only be reached by walking behind the bar. One of the truly great London pubs.

Reviewed by Fred Flange

Telephone: 020 8472 2351

Nearest station: Plaistow, Zone 3 (190 metres)