The Bancroft Arms — Restaurant in London

🚇 Stepney Green 🍺 £4.50 Carlsberg

The Bancroft Arms is located on busy Mile End Road opposite Queen Mary University in Mile End, East London. The nearest station is Stepney Green.

This pub dates from at least the mid-19th century and was rebuilt in the interwar-years. This former Truman’s pub has thankfully retained its original Truman’s signage, the leaded stained windows are also a nice feature.

This is small one bar pub that is simply decorated. The servery is centrally located with the bar area forming an L shape around it. The decor consists of a dark boarded floor, grey wall panels, beach washed planks and a mix of seating including stools around Guinness barrels. To the right of the servery is a dartboard, plus there are a few screens around the walls showing live sport. There is also a tiny walled smoking area through a door by the dartboard.

The beer line up is straightforward and offers a selection of well known familiar keg beers. I decided on a Carlsberg, my pint hit the spot, price point was excellent at under a fiver. There is no food served but plenty of crisps and nuts are available.

We arrived just after 4pm on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon in January. The pub was busy with an upbeat atmosphere, there were a few locals in, a big group of lads gathered around a table and a few others having a game of darts. The service was great, the team member who served us was welcoming and friendly.

My Brother and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit here, there is a nice local feel to the place and we felt like we were in an a proper East End pub. The beer is cheap and the service made us feel welcome. I love the architecture of this pub, especially the Truman’s heritage, the only minor criticism would be to get rid of the grey both inside and out. This is a lovely East End local, I would definitely recommend a visit.

📅 18th January 2025

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15/4/2023 After a meal and some drinks at wetherspoons for my friends birthday, myself and 5 girlfriends wasn't ready to go home. Walking in the pouring of rain to the Brancroft. Lucky for us it was Kareoke night, just what us girls needed a good old sing and dance. When we walked it the pub was full of a great crowd of people, a mixture of different ages. Which was really nice to see. It was lovely to see the owner of the pub enjoying watching and listening to everyone enjoying themselves, she even came and had a dance with us, we all loved it. On the 28th April there will be another Kareoke night. Every 2 weeks so head down to Enjoy a good night. In-between those nights, The Bancroft Arms have a live band, so we will head down to one of those nights, that's for sure. It was great to watch and listen to others sing and dance it got everyone in the mood. Drinks flowing, banter, chats, laughter, what more could you ask for. Met some lovely friendly people, people that wasn't out to try anything, just out to enjoy a night of fun. So felt safe to be around everyone. I Look forward to going again. Thanks Bancroft Arms for a great...

Went in to watch football and have a few pints, but the reviews about harassment from locals and bar staff etc are 100% true. Place was packed when stepped inside so was thinking should we stand and stay here or try and find somewhere with seats, but genuinely and I mean pretty literally after 2 seconds of standing without ordering something a local and a barman started screaming and repeatedly asking what we were gonna order in an aggressive tone and all like you can’t come to a pub and not order a drink. Mate shut up I’ve been here for barely 3 seconds. Better places about than this pathetic excuse for a pub. I’d recommend the rusty bike right next to Mike end station. Lovely staff, food and...