This will be partly a return to old favourites, and it will be interesting to see how they have changed in the years since we were last there. We will be majoring on traditional old London corner pubs, in all the various formats that they have adopted, and let’s be thankful that enough of them are still there to be enjoyed, with decent beer available.

Travelling to the end of the Victoria Line at Walthamstow Central, we can probably walk the 450yds or so up Hoe Street to the Olde Rose & Crown, 53-55 Hoe Street E17 4SA. Despite what is said on WhatPub, their website insists that ‘alcohol’ is not served before noon although the pub is open from 10.00. Any early arrivers will be able to get breakfast from 9a.m. in the Goose, which we will pass on the corner as we turn into Hoe Street from the Tube station. The Olde Rose & Crown has 6 handpumps serving changing beers from SIBA and local breweries. Walking further (350yds) up Hoe Street to the large road junction with Forest Road, on the opposite side we will find the Bell, 617 Forest Road E17 4NE. This one has 8 handpumps serving beers from local and regional brewers and has a spacious bar with nice views of the traffic. It opens at 12.00.

I suggest we now take a bus – 97 or 357 would avoid a change at Walthamstow Central – back down Hoe Street to the junction with Lea Bridge Road and the King William IV, 816 Leyton High Road E10 6AE. This is the home of Brodies Brewery, and I can well remember the first time I went there (c. 2011 or 2012) I could not believe a) how wonderful their beers were or b) how many different brews they could make in that tiny Brewhouse out back and serve at any one time with all being in perfect condition. There have been recent rumours of a loss of quality – I really hope it’s not true. Apparently they now have guest beers too. If all goes well we may be there for some time I think! They open at 11.00 if anyone would rather start the day there.

If timing is right, we can carry on by bus down Leyton High Road to Leyton Technical, 265B Leyton High Road E10 6AE (opens 4p.m.). This oddly-named pub was originally (1896) a Technical College and latterly Leyton Town Hall. We first encountered it as a pop-up pub during the 2012 Olympics. Being owned by Antic, its late opening on weekdays is no surprise. It should have 8 changing beers including local ones.

(N.B. If we are too early for Leyton Technical, the next pub could be visited first, via Leyton Midland Road and Leytonstone High Road Overground stations, returning to Leyton and Leyton Technical later via the Central Line.)

Proceeding 150yds down the road, we take the Central Line from Leyton station one stop north to Leytonstone.

Fairly close to Leytonstone Tube station is the Red Lion, 640 High Road, Leytonstone E11 3AA where we should find 10 handpumps with a changing selection from small breweries. There may be music going on here if we are late enough.

From here we can travel back towards town on the Central Line to Stratford where we look for Westfield Shopping Centre and Tap East, 7 International Square, Montfichet Road E20 1EE. Opened in 2011 in Europe’s largest shopping mall, this brewpub is at the far end of the lower mall, towards the International station. I think we may be in need of a drink by the time we find it, and they should have 3 of their own beers plus 3 guests on sale.

Our route home from Stratford could be via Central Line to Oxford Circus then Victoria Line to Victoria, or via Jubilee Line to Green Park then ditto, for a train home.

N.B: All 6 of the above pubs are in the 2017 Good Beer Guide, so if you don’t like them complain to the local branch! I tried to find some other good places that we have not been to but these still come up as the best.

I hope to see you all out on this trip; I plan to get my usual 09.37 off Barnham (09.30 off Bognor) which joins at Horsham with the 09.40 off Chichester and should get us to Victoria at 11.10. Our Super-Off-Peak Travelcard from the Chichester area will cost £15.80 with a Railcard or £23.90 without and will cover us for all Tfl and National Rail travel within the London zones 1-6. Please be aware that with the Super-Off-Peak ticket you cannot leave the London zones to return home between the hours of 4.14 and 7.16pm.

Anyone who is lost or delayed on the day please ring me on 07849-838198 to arrange an alternative meeting point.

Would all those who are definitely intending to come please so indicate by email to the above address. If there are any questions about the pubs or the trip please ask and I will do my best to answer.

N.B: The next TTLP outing will be TTLP36 on Saturday 22nd July, when I plan to take us on a Thames Clipper catamaran eastwards through the Thames Barrier to the Woolwich Arsenal area and the Taproom where Hop Stuff beers will be featured among others. We will later visit at least one more pub in Woolwich and then gradually work our way back westwards on land, using the Docklands Light Railway (a first for TTLP!) and taking in at some time the new Craft Limehouse pub. Please put it in your diary. All please note: The Thames Clipper fare is not included in Tfl Travelcard tickets, but if you have a valid Travelcard you will get a 33% discount. The single fare to Woolwich Arsenal with discount appears to be £5.80; you can buy it on the day at the pier or in advance on line (you must be able to print it).

Cheers,

Pete Brown