Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
Formerly the Britannia, this huge park pub is such a treasure that we're still puzzled as to why it didn't make a top five appearance on our poll of best pubs in near Victoria Park (but later winning the vote for Hackney borough). For starters, it's tied in to Brighton's excellent Laine brewing company, ensuring a wide range of ale styles on keg.
The main room is informally decorated, with lounging sofas, wooden benches and stonking nozzle lampshades that look like they fell off a passing space shuttle. A smarter dining area lurks to the east, but you can scoff away anywhere.
The bulging beer garden forms a vesicle-like protrusion into Victoria Park itself. It's near impossible to walk past on as sunny day and not consider a quick stop-off. Dozens of benches, discrete little beach huts and a shady area offer plenty of seating options, most with heating. The garden has its own bar, too, helping with the queues inside.
Images below are from 2015 and may no longer represent the look of the pub. We keep them in for historical interest.
