This pub was voted as one of the best in Walthamstow by Londonist readers.
Finding the Wild Card Brewery is like slipping into some kind of secret wonderland. Hidden away on a small industrial estate at the end of a suburban road, the brewery shares its space with the incredible Gods Own Junk Yard bar and neon shop. Also nearby, you'll find the equally wonderful Mother's Ruin gin bar — also voted among the best in the area, but it would be stretching the definition of 'pub' a bit far to include it in this database of best pubs. Go check it out, though.
Brewery bars come in all shapes and sizes these days. Wild Card is about the size, nay exactly the size, of one industrial unit. About half the interior is given over to brewery paraphernalia, while the rest is a dimly lit bar. And very nice it is too. The exceptionally friendly staff immediately make us feel at home. Were this bar in Shoreditch or Brixton, one suspects it would be the preserve of a very narrow age range. Here in the Stow, the beers are flowing to every vintage of drinker.
The home-brewed trio of Jack of Clubs (ruby beer), King of Hearts (blonde) and Ace of Spades (porter) all go down nicely, and a good price at £3.30. You'll find a few bottles from other small London breweries in the fridge if for some reason you don't want to try the native brews.
