The Hare — Restaurant in London

🚇 Bethnal Green 🍺 £6.10 Budvar

The Hare is situated in the heart of Cambridge Heath in the East End of London. The nearest Tube is Bethnal Green, Cambridge Heath overground is also close by.

There has been a pub on this site since the late eighteenth century, the pub you see today is an ex-Truman’s boozer built around 1860.

This is a traditionally decorated one bar pub that is set out in an ‘L’ shape. The servery is a decent size and follows the line of the bar. Around the edges of the bar are long banquettes with sturdy tables in front. To the left of the servery is a pool table surrounded by framed Arsenal shirts and photos. There are also a few screens to watch sport and a Jukebox if you fancy listening to a few choons. To cement this pub’s status as a ‘proper pub,’ there is deep red carpet running throughout.

The beer choice was solid and included mainstream lager, cask ales and beers from local London breweries. I decided on a pint of Budvar, my pint was excellent, price point was average. This is a wet-led pub that doesn’t serve food, there is a @yardsalepizza menu if you want to order in.

I arrived just after 12pm on an overcast Saturday lunchtime in June. The pub was geared up for the Euros with lots of flags across the front of the pub. The atmosphere was relaxed, there were half a dozen or so punters in, a couple of lads were playing pool, the rest were locals having the craic around the bar. I had a chat with the Guv’nor about the Arsenal, The Hare and his time spent running an East End pub. The service was friendly, I was served by a bubbly member of the team who was all smiles.

The traditional East End pub is a dying breed, but I’m glad to say it is alive and well here at The Hare. I loved the Truman’s architecture, the traditional pub decor, the local pub atmosphere and the welcoming and engaging Guv’nor. If want to enjoy a true East End pub experience, be sure to add The Hare to your must visit list.

ℹ️ Info correct on...

I don’t normally do a lot of reviews online but I think it’s important to let people know how good The Hare is. The drinks, for example, are well looked after (excellent cask ales, good range of keg beer including an actually drinkable tasty non-alcoholic option) and whilst they don’t have a kitchen they are entirely amenable to outside orders from people like the delicious Yard Sale pizza people.

They also show as much football (and rugby) as they can, on a range of screens.Their boast of “if we’ve got it we’ll show it” is honoured whenever possible, even for minority clientele like me.

Mostly though, The Hare needs a review with as many stars as can shine for the people. The people who drink there are a genuinely disturbing demographic of lovely, slightly hammered and excellent at pool and conversation maniacs. The staff are uniformly excellent at the essential skills of listening, efficiently serving the correct drinks to the right people and not putting up with any nonsense. I am very lucky to have found this place and look forward to frequenting it as frequently as is possible. Big up to Julian and the crew for running a properly essential place in the...

Staff were cracking, no faults there.

Bit of a doss pub with older regulars who clearly feel they own the place.

Went in with a Korean friend and it didn't take long for the older lads to start making pointed comments about "How do these Chinese/Japanese whatever they are keep getting in?".

Gives me Northern pub vibes to back round where I live where you get the EDL types rocking up. Mind you, I'd expect they'd get a hernia putting up an Ikea shelf so it's not threatening really. Just ignorant and a bit of a vibe killer when you're looking to relax on a Friday after work.

Probably mint if you're white and not foreign sounding to the dole crowd. Give it a skip if you're not into Bri'ish and proud type spots.

Once again, not a reflection on the staff. Friendly, great banter, and reasonable prices/deals. Just a shame about...