The Palm Tree — Restaurant in London

🚇 Mile End 🍺 £6.50 Fosters

The Palm Tree is located in Mile End Park next to Regents Canal in the East End. The pub is the final remnant of a once built-up, industrial part of London, destroyed in the Blitz. The nearest Tube is Mile End.

This Grade II listed pub was originally built in 1866, then rebuilt in 1935 by Truman’s Brewery. This pub has been run by the same family for over 40 years and is considered as one of London's most loved Heritage Pubs.

This is a two bar pub with the Public Bar located at the front and the Saloon Bar situated at the rear. The decor here is oldschool traditional which transports you back in time. The servery in the Public Bar is oval shaped with signed photos of bygone celebrities above the gantry, behind the servery is the legendary old cash register. To the right of the servery is an original interwar fireplace with an etched Truman’s mirror above. To the left of the fireplace is a small stage which hosts live Jazz sessions at weekends. To complete the oldschool charm of this pub, there are thick velour curtains, beautiful wood panels and a proper pub carpet.

The beer choice is straightforward and offers a selection of standard tipples and one cask ale. I decided on a pint of Fosters, my pint was lively, price point was a tad high. This pub is cash only, so if you hold your phone out to pay the chap behind the bar, he might think you want him to talk to someone. No food is served here.

I arrived around 6.30pm on a chilly Saturday evening in March. The pub was fairly busy with a mix of indigenous regulars in the corner and new inhabitants of the area spread about. The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial, the ambiance is seductive East End local vibes which stem from the dimly lit bar and red lighting. The service was great, I had a nice little chat with Paul behind the ramp.

I have visited this pub numerous times over the years and thankfully nothing ever changes, my fear is that one day it will. Visiting The Palm Tree is a simply marvellous experience, a true one off. If there was ever one pub to visit in London, then this is it.

📅 30th March 2024

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I’ve lived in this neighbourhood for nearly 10 years, and feel this pub is one huge missed opportunity. With its beautiful historic building and great location surrounded by greenery next to the canal, it could be an incredible community hub. Instead, the owners’ aggressive unfriendliness, not to mention obstinate insistence on cash only, drive people away. Today, in 30 degree heat, I went in and meekly asked the bartender (with barely any customers) if he could take a moment to fill up the kids’ water (small) pistols, as a number of local families were playing in the adjacent park. I would have been happy to buy a few drinks to justify the trouble. Instead, I was met with a scowl and a flat, rude, incredulous “no”. I looked taken aback for a moment, and he repeated, with a grimace, “no”. I’m not one of those entitled people who expect others to bend over backwards for my children wherever I go, but I really thought on a day in midsummer it wasn’t too much to expect a nice turn for the neighbourhood kids. Anyway, my advice - avoid. Plenty of other better pubs in the neighbourhood - go to The Victoria on Grove...

Few weeks ago: Was a nice place and I had previously enjoyed it a lot. I had gone 15/20 times as I live right next to it. but most recently had a friend visiting from the other side of the world, we had trouble getting cash out as the atms in the area were not working (went to 4) and non of them were working. We went to the bar anyway and had another friend buy us a beer each, when my mate went up and asked for a small glass of water the old guy got furious at him saying he hadn’t bought any drinks and threatened to kick him out quite aggressively. Really ruined the night. Then when it ended we were outside the old guy came out told him off again then starting talking to my other friends and kept asking for a kiss goodbye from one of my girl friends, it was really uncomfortable as he persisted after she was clearly not into it. Cool place the lady there is super nice and the music is great but watch out for the older guy and he is super temperamental and was a bit creepy that...