The Albion, Bethnal Green

I don't know why this pub hasn't attracted more comments/ratings. It's a great little pub just up from Broadway Market, opposite Hackney City Farm. This is everything that the Cat and Mutton isn't, and it's only 5 minutes walk away - it has friendly staff and customers, a good atmosphere, decent ale (the Epping Forest is especially good), a pleasant outside area, and its reasonably priced. I've started drinking here more and more. It also has a book club and some kind of walking group that meet there.

27 Apr 2009 14:22

The Angel, Angel, Islington

As Wetherspoons go this one isn't that bad. The usual collection of JD regular�s sit alone at tables nursing pints and mumbling to themselves. The ale is often chilled to near freezing point. The expected collection of lager and shots suit groups of people getting a few cheap ones in the tank before they disappear off to one of the many terrible bars nearby. Further along Upper Street they will be paying up to twice as much for the same drink alongside the same people who were in Wetherspoons earlier.

A good meeting point close to the station with friendly staff.

11 Jul 2007 12:53

Baxter's Court, Hackney

I think this pub has a policy of employing local people. This is a terrible mistake. As a lifelong Hackney resident, educated in the borough, I can vouch for the fact that the alumni of Hackney schools are often not equipped for working in the service industry. The staff here are nice, often witty and quite sharp, however they have little or no knowledge of beer, pubs, or drinking. They also dislike having the piss taken out of them, this Wetherspoon�s system of employing the bare minimum of staff doesn�t fit well with this.
On two separate occasions in the upstairs bar I have seen the lone barmen leave to find their colleague who suggested to us that we go upstairs to be served, rather than be served downstairs at their bar. On another occasion I saw a member of staff have a fight with a rude, drunken customer.
Although this place is cheap it is far from cheerful. Up-on-their-luck alcoholics sit alongside the seemingly deranged, while gaggles of local girls and boys loudly get drunk on cheap cocktails. If you want decent food and drink in a pleasant environment go to the Pembury. If you�re feeling a bit down and want to be cheered by the fact that there are others worse off than you go to Baxter�s Court.

11 Jul 2007 12:38