The Tommy Flowers — Restaurant in London

🚇 East India 🍺 £5.30 East End Lager

The Tommy Flowers is tucked away in Aberfeldy Village, Poplar, East London—just a short walk from East India DLR.

Opened in May 2018 in a former retail unit, it’s named after Thomas ‘Tommy’ Flowers (1905–1998), who was born nearby on Abbott Road. Flowers worked for the Post Office before joining Bletchley Park to assist Alan Turing on the Enigma project. In 1944, he led the team that built Colossus—the world’s first modern computer.

This cosy, two-room pub blends traditional and modern character. The main bar at the front has a good-sized servery, butterfly and dragonfly stamp wallpaper, a few tables and chairs, a projector screen, and a boarded floor. Artworks line the ceiling and walls. Through to the back room, there’s a dartboard, a wall of community photos, a Scottish flag, a tartan carpet and two framed newspaper cuttings highlighting today’s pub trade challenges. Out back there is a small decked beer garden.

The beer list is simple—keg beers and Guinness. I went for the East End Lager: excellent pint, just over a fiver. It’s a wet-led pub, so no food, but there’s a good choice of bar snacks.

I arrived just before 5 p.m. on a sunny Saturday. A few regulars were outside enjoying the weather. Inside, I was warmly welcomed by Nick the Guv’nor, who was funny, friendly, and very welcoming. He pointed out the four candles on the counter, a nod to the classic “Two Ronnies” sketch. We chatted about the pub’s role as a community hub in this hidden corner of the East End.

Truth be told, I wish I’d stayed longer. Nick and the regulars made me feel instantly at home. It may not look like a classic boozer, but it functions just like one—a place to talk, laugh, and connect with locals. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. @tommy_flowers_aberfeldy is well worth a visit.

📅 14th June 2025

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A tiny pub that's big on atmosphere. Nick, the owner is a great host, and he ensues the small selection of draft beers are quality stuff. Very good wines too. Tommy's is a small old fashioned boozer with a modern twist. Event such as karaoke and quizzes occur regular. It's handily placed on the 308 bus route... The bus stops about 10 yards away.. and Access to canning town tube is simple. It has an outside smoking area, has vegan beer and winep plus bar nibbles. Top music played at a very reasonable level too. All in all a top quality boozer that's well...

Recently opened, this community driven micro pub sits in the middle of a large residential community! The pub is a combined drinking establishment and arts related project!

The pub has a simple but detailed theme, decorated with books, echoes of the past and maps. It’s not just the venue that echoes the past, the prices are not bad too! Well worth a detour to visit and certainly quirky enough to grab...