Star Rating

* * * * * * * * * *

The Flowerpot 

128 Wood Street

Walthamstow   

London, E17 3HX   map

Tel 020 8520 7138

I’ve been visiting The Flowerpot on the odd occasion for about 30 years. I can remember watching ‘Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game’ on the huge Ferguson TV that used to hang precariously in the corner of the saloon bar while drinking the clearest and best pint of draught Bass I had until then tasted (I was, I hasten to add, very young!) The television is now of the Sony flat screen variety and looks considerably safer, and while watching TV in the Flowerpot is now somehow less exciting, the beer has retained its quality and remains the best pint of Bass I’ve tasted. On Saturday evenings the locals still have one eye on their pint and one eye on Brucie and little else has changed. This pub may be the closest you’ll come to walking into the Queen Vic and oozes East End atmosphere.
Live music (an East End tradition sometimes referred to as a ‘knees-up’) is one of the Flowerpot’s main attractions with bands covering well known tunes three nights a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The classical central bar makes you feel as if you’re just lining the edges of this smallish pub, which of course you are. The ale, as I’ve mentioned, is excellent and the lager is very good too.
The smoking ban has driven puffers into the small garden at the side of the pub and despite some efforts to make this area appealing it remains a chilly, draughty area most of the year. The Flowerpot has retained its character for many years and there aren’t many pubs like this one left – so long may it continue. Put your gladrags on one weekend and give it a try.

“Didn’t they do well - let’s have a look at the old scoreboard’’…

December 2008