please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Went past recently and it's become another curry house.
|
CLOSED ,and given the way the area is changing I would be very surprised if this place reopens as a pub.RIP.
|
A visit recently found the Bar Nakoda aka Black Bull closed and the interior being ripped out. Nothing visible as to what was happening (refurb/change of use, etc).
|
Now called Nakoda, which meant 5 minutes asking a number of passers-by who I suspect don't drink alcohol for religious reasons where the Black Bull was!
The inside certainly isn't the best - spartan, shabby and lacking any real charm. I was also subjected to the pointlessly loud TV - the volume level being even more pointless as I was one of only 4 other customers on a Saturday afternoon.
The beers (all from Nethergate) were well kept and well served. Had a bit of a chat with the barman and one of the regulars, so a mark for that.
It isn't a pub worth going out of the way for unless:
a) You're well-up for a Nethergate beer
b) You happen to find yourself in the area
In which case I'd recommend it.
|
Popped in lunchtime - 3 Nethergate beers on all in good nick, also ale happy hour(s) 2-7pm �2.30 per pint. Pub very quiet but I wish them well.
|
mintyboom - i heard they sold up and moved to Spain. I think the loss of custom when the nearby drama school closed was the final straw.
the TV screens are a nightmare - was in there a few Saturdays ago and the staff put Prime Instinct on four tvs. No wonder the place closes early most nights,
This Tv thing is becoming increasingly annoying in loads of pubs -
tombs - 23 Jan 2008 16:37 |
Just as a matter of interest, does anybody know what happened to the people that used to run the place before it changed hands?
|
Beer was fine, but I was in there on a Saturday night and I was on my own (just past nine). And I mean on my own. The staff had popped outside for a smoke break.
TV screen had the snooker on, and it dominates this single bar pub.
|
nice beer nice pub
|
This is now open as Bar Nokada and I dropped in for a quick pint last night.
There were three Nethergate beers on tap - the one I had was fine albeit a touch on the warm side.
The relatively comfy seating has gone and the bare tables and chairs make the place look a bit spartan.
Still has the big screen TV, blasting out inane pop crap - bloody annoying.
Not very busy although there was one bloke who'd clearly had enough to drink and decided to lie down on the floor. None of the bar staff bothered and carried on regardless...
The jury is still out - the decent beer is still available but it doesn't seem to have the old ambience.
|
A great shame if this place is not going to re-open as a pub. I used to enjoy the occasional pint or two in here when I was in the area.Too many pubs are closing in this part of London.
|
We had another wander past on Sat (30th June) and it is still shut - there's an advert for an Indian chef in the window...
|
Walked past yesterday (Sun 24th June) and the sign read "Re-opening soon under new management". As the place has been closed for a while now, I suspect the future is grim.
|
Does anybody know exactly what's happening with this place? Are the same people still in charge? I used to enjoy going in here for a couple of pints in an afternoon, and the two lads who served behind the bar, Tony and Ben, plus their dad were always welcoming and friendly. Rumours about it being turned into a gastro-pub really do worry me, as I liked the place the way it was - a genuine drinker's pub with a decent atmosphere which I used to enjoy visiting on my trips to London from the north. Still, whatever happens I'll have good memories of the place!
|
We went past the Black Bul yesterday and it was still shut - all dark inside so couldn't tell if anything was going.
The rumour is it will be a gastro-pub when it reopens - possibly even an Indian gastro-pub? Should be interesting IF they keep the real ale....
|
Have just found out that the pub is only closed for refurbishment and should be open again in a week or so
|
Was closed at 5, on Fri 20th of April, is this permanent?
|
PS I forgot to mention, the gents urinal is in full view of the District Line, I could see 200 commuters on their way home to Upminster...I just hope they didn't see me, for their sake!
|
I left this pub feeling like a smoked kipper, lots of city workers unwinding with a packet of fags after a stressful day. Didn't really enjoy the Old Growler, perhaps after a gruelling Tube ride, my taste buds weren't ready for something so sweet. Then on came Nethergate brewery's Umbel Magna ale, a dark porter like Growler but with corriander. Very nice providing you like the said herb of course.
|
Didn't know what to make of this place on my first visit - however, now I've been going there quite a while I like it. Sure, it's a bit rough and ready but at the end of the day it's a pub, not a palace. The bar staff are always cheerful and friendly, and that says a lot. Usually drink Guinness when I'm there but have also been known to try the hand-pulled Nethergate ales which are always good. A welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of Whitechapel Road and will continue to be so.
|
Okay - I would never suggest that anyone goes to Whitechapel specifically to drink in this place...or for any other reason to be honest...but if you're misfortunate enough to find yourself around here (ie. you've been dragged out for dinner in Brick Lane, or you've awaken from a coma in the Royal London Hospital), try to swing by this place. Great ales are always available. A traditional pub in a far from traditional area that could use as much support as it can get.
|
The only reason to drink in Whitechapel - decent cask ales on rotation, friendly enough staff (Think you caught him on a bad day mrBean) and frankly having stumbled upon this in a bid to get away from the LHT I can safely say I will probably be back if I can bear the idea of drinking in Shitechapel...
anonymous - 20 Dec 2006 15:04 |
visited yet again 26-10-06 and spot on. very quiet but friendly and decent beers.
|
The customers are rough but friendly enough. The real ales are less common ones, including today Nethergate India Pale Ale. I do enjoy a quick drink in this pub after a visit to Atlantis.
|
Traditional old-fashioned no-frills high street boozer in one of London's traditionally working class areas. Everyone seemed friendly enough and as a fan of Nethergate beers it was particularly good to find four of them on handpump, with countless pumpclips displayed above the bar indicating that they sell all the seasonal and special edition brews from the Nethergate brewery. I'd have preferred my pint to be served a little cooler, but it was a very hot day and I tried the Suffolk County, Umbel Magna and Old Growler, all of which were kept in excellent condition.
I think I might have encountered the barman who was criticised in another message although he didn't give me any cause for complaint, and I was also served by another barman who was especially welcoming so on the whole decent enough service.
The current East London & City CAMRA pub of the year.
|
Excellent pint of Nethergate - barman was fine.Mixed clientele. Can recommend
mally - 21 May 2005 18:45 |
visited again 10-5-05 and bit dissappointed...not as friendly as before.....punters okay but tubby arrogant barman with specs was a bit of a bellend...yeah you fatso!..you spoil a good pub. Beer ok but not the standard of last visit... talking of standards why is nowt done abouut the smell in Brick Lane and garbage everywheres and all those illegal mini-cab drivers pestering you...you gettin' on me titz.
|
Good pub. No allround very good pub. First visit and friendly, excellent beer, nice and clean. Nothing like the smelly Blind Beggar up the road.
|
Great pub for a pint. Friendly owners and staff. no tiger stripes on the outside.
tombs - 16 Mar 2005 13:23 |
Friendly, family-run pub near Whitchapel market. One of only 2 or 3 London outlets for Nethergate beers. Usually Suffolk Bitter plus 2 others rotated regularly, often including Priory Mild.
Steve - 30 Aug 2004 23:00 |
