WEST HAM ONE PUB ONLY? Pride of Spitalfields CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Just do this in Central London SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Black Lion CHANGES FROM GUIDE Closed - Black Bull, Britannia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Black Lion 59 High St. Plaistow   E13 0AD   T 020 8472 2351   G Tom Friel   F Home-cooked and freshly-prepared menu with steak and ale pie a speciality. Good honest pub food 12 to 2.30, 5 to 7.30, no food at w/e   CP   SK   JB O 11 to 3, 5 to 11 Mon and Tue, 11 to 11 Wed - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun           This job has some surprising fringe-benefits and the Black Lion provided something that certainly made an impression on this sports-mad Bristolian. Tom is a top geezer and the pub is one of the best, then to top it all, I was lucky enough to be given a chance to look around the West Ham Boys Club. From Terry Spinks to Nigel Benn, the Black Lion has provided that tradition that makes the East End famous in world sport.           The pub itself is an old coaching house complete with cobbled courtyard, stabled function room and a curious irregularly-shaped main bar. The pub will get very busy on matchdays but away fans reassure me there is always a great welcome and repeat visits are well-established over the years. My session was accompanied by the gentle murmur of young professionals and the more keen watchers of TV racing. Tom has a healthy Irish interest in horses and pro-am golf. The evening gives way to the post-work-pint of teachers and lecturers, before the real ale crowd arrive by tube to find new beers with refreshing regularity. I really enjoyed what is essentially a village pub in the East End suburbs, definitely a place to revisit. BWV Archers IPA, Golden, Courage Directors, Greene King Morlands Original, Mighty Oak On the Piste Coborn Arms 8 Coborn Road, Bow, London, E3 2DA Telephone 020 8980 3793 Landlords:  Norma & Peter Footman Food:  pub staples (my description) Noon – 2 pm & 6 – 9 pm 1 pm – 9 pm, Sats & Sundays MP SK BM D O 11 – 11.30  (midnight Thursday to Saturday)  Noon – 11 Sundays           Sitting equidistant between Mile End and Bow Road underground stations, the Coborn Arms is a traditional East End local catering for all.  A large horseshoe bar serves Youngs ales in a large open plan area, and to a separate room with a dartboard.  You’ll find patterned carpet and traditional pub furniture: comfortable but with few frills.  A pleasant outdoor area with large canopies looks on to a quiet residential street running off the busy Bow Road.           Football fans swell the number by only a handful or two on match days, preserving the community feel.  On Saturday lunchtimes the buzz is lively, with those not taking part in animated discussions probably watching TV sport; but I liked the low key atmosphere before my evening game best.  The chill December was warmed inside and out by soft yellow lighting; and locals, some perhaps returning home from work in central London, chatted amongst themselves.  While an office party was happening at one end of the pub, a pair of teachers discussed lesson plans on some quieter tables.           The Coborn offers one of the last refuelling stops before hitting the real ale desert of Upton Park, and proves cheering on a winter’s evening, even when your team’s at the wrong end of the league table. Chris Ackrill BWV:  6/12/06 Youngs Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer (also range of Young’s bottle conditioned beers) Pride of Spitalfields 3 Heneage Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 5LJ Telephone 0207 247 8933 MP TV BM D O Mon – Sat: 11 – 11 Sunday: 12 – 10.30           The Pride of Spitalfields is tucked down a quiet street running off Brick Lane.  Few can claim to have found the pub by accident, and I doubt it features on the itinerary of the Jack the Ripper tour groups.  With quality drinking options limited in this part of town it is a welcome oasis.  With its net curtains drawn the pub looked closed on our arrival, but once inside we saw several Sheffield United fans happily ensconced for a pre-match session, enjoying two fairly unusual beers alongside two Fuller’s offerings, including the mighty Extra Special.  The presence of well-behaved football fans didn’t detract from the friendly backstreet boozer atmosphere.           The pub is small, basic, and a little cramped; particularly in the smaller side room.  Sociability is to be encouraged when the pub is crowded, but calm reflection is possible in quieter periods.  Old prints of London line the walls, adding interest to the pub’s East End community feel.  The wife said it felt like someone’s front room.  The open fire would make this a cosy place in the winter, while the few outdoor seats would satisfy those of us who enjoy breathing in the fumes on East London’s curry mile.           Aldgate East underground will get you to Upton Park, or Whitechapel will get you to Millwall.  As with most inner London pubs, parking is difficult, so you’re best advised to come as a pedestrian.  For another traditional East End experience you can double up with the Black Bull on Whitechapel Road. BWV: 25/11/06 Crouch Vale Brewer’s Gold, Fuller’s ESB, London Pride, Sharp’s Doom Bar Chris Ackrill LOCAL CAMRA LONDON  BOROUGH OF BARKING AND DAGENHAM STADIUM, VICTORIA ROAD     BOLEYN GROUND  LOCAL BREWERY Brentwood Brewing Company Frieze Hall Farm Coxtie Green Road South Weald Brentwood CM14 5RE    01277 375577 www.brentwoodbrewing.co.uk WETHERSPOONS The Hudson Bay  1-5 Upton Lane  Forest Gate  E7 9PA  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am