The Hungerford Arms - Shadwell

Sized about the same as a double garage; this is a proper East London outfit - it doesn't really feel right to call it a boozer (which may have you thinking what it's doing on our list) because it almost has no distinct identity. The music choices are erratic, the lights are sterile, the choice of beers are weak.

The Hungerford is a haven for the lost souls of the East End, one in particular was an ageing maestro of the baize. I distinctly remember him wearing a full Sergio Tacchini tracksuit and hovering around the pool table waiting for people to challenge him to a game of pool. He's probably not paid for a game since the tracksuit was in it's height of fashion (the mid eighties). I don't know why but I've decided to call him Tommy, he kind of suits the name (see below).

Anyway Tommy actually popped the cue ball in his pocket whenever he made a trip to the gents which made me laugh, as it blatantly disallowed anyone from having a game of pool unless he was involved in it. Finally he was beaten after several games after slapping about a bunch of soppy bollocked students who'd probably just moved into the area and with his pool cue back in it's box, shook everyone's hand and wished them a good weekend, leaving a whiff of Brut in his wake.

He kind of saved this review, because without him I'd have really struggled what to write. It's a rather forgetful pub without the people and I was just lucky to turn up on the right evening.

Even a punter asking the landlady for some money to pay off an unannounced visit from a rather handy looking debt collector didn't make the main topic of this story, but it was a rather humorous sight to see a man beg for £3...

#eastlondon #beer #pubs #boozers #london #shadwell #ale #pints