Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 26 and Version 25 of King Edward VII, E15 4BQ

Version 26 Version 25
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There are four handpumps on the bar, which on a March 2012 visit offered Eddie's Best (the house ale, brewed by Nethergate), St Austell Tribute (£1.70/half), Bombardier, and Woodeforde Wherry. The options have been roughly similar to this on all our visits, going back to 2008.
 [[Kake]] and James visited late on a Monday evening in March 2008. The place was quite full but we managed to grab a table in the back room. There were a number of interesting beers on, all at £2.60 or £2.70/pint; Nethergate Suffolk County, Bombardier, Woodforde Wherry, and Nelson Trafalgar. The Trafalgar was very tasty. Background music was reasonably interesting, and just on the right side of "too loud".
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When [[Kake]] and James visited late on a Monday evening in March 2008, the place was quite full but we managed to grab a table in the back room. Background music was reasonably interesting, and just on the right side of "too loud". On a Thursday evening visit by [[Kake]], [[bob]], [[ilmari]], and Ryan in September 2008, it was very busy and they'd closed the kitchen for walk-in diners since they had a couple of large groups who'd reserved tables for dinner and the kitchen had reached capacity. We again sat in the back room and this time had a little trouble hearing each other speak over the music and the conversations of others.
 [[Kake]] visited again on a Wednesday lunchtime in August 2008. There were a fair few people in eating lunch, but I had no trouble getting a table. The music was jazz this time, quiet enough that it mostly hid behind the noise of conversation. Beers available on this visit were Bombardier (£2.80), Eddie's Best (their house beer, brewed by Nethergate, £2.60), Broadside (£2.90), and Woodeforde Wherry (£2.70). I had the Wherry, and it was fine.
== Line 8 == == Line 8 ==
However, when [[Kake]] visited on a Wednesday lunchtime in August 2008, there was no trouble getting a table even though there were a fair few people in eating lunch. The music was jazz this time, quiet enough that it mostly hid behind the noise of conversation. On a Friday lunchtime visit in March 2012, it was much the same, with several people in eating lunch but plenty of choice of tables.
 I also tried some food; the lentil, mushroom, and coconut dahl with rice (&pound;8.50) <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2743075742/ photo]</small>. Unfortunately, this was quite disappointing. The dhal was overly sweet (it obviously had some kind of sweet chutney mixed in; I suspected this from the flavour and it was confirmed when I found a few chunks of the stuff). Extremely indistinct spicing too; I couldn't distinguish a single individual flavour. It reminded me of the curry powder/banana/desiccated coconut "curries" my mum used to make in the 1980s. The oddness of the dish was only amplified by its being served with rocket. The rice was fine though, and both rice and dhal were provided in generous portions. Another nice touch was the enormous linen napkin I got brought. I do suspect this dish was a one-off "miss", as a couple of people have told me how good the food normally is, and I would be more than happy to give the kitchen another chance.
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Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat and noon-9pm Sun. The menu changes regularly but examples can be viewed [http://kingeddie.co.uk/food-menu.php on their website] or on Kake's Flickrstream: [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2352891584/ March 2008 menu], [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2746844998/ August 2008 menu], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/6865523036/ March 2012 menu]. The style is pub food, but on the interesting side; it's not just freezer-to-microwave stuff. They also usually have some specials written up on a blackboard (the one on Kake's August 2008 visit was "mushroom soup with soft herbs" at &pound;4.75).
 In September 2008, [[Kake]], [[bob]], [[ilmari]], and Ryan attempted to give the food another go, but the place was very busy (it was around 8pm on a Thursday evening) and they'd closed the kitchen for walk-in diners since they had a couple of large groups who'd reserved tables for dinner and the kitchen had reached capacity. The beer was fine though. We were sitting in the back room/restaurant and had a little trouble hearing each other speak over the music and the conversations of others.
== Line 12 == == Line 12 ==
[[Kake]] tried the food in August 2008. The lentil, mushroom, and coconut dahl with rice (&pound;8.50) <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2743075742/ photo]</small> was quite disappointing. The dhal was overly sweet (it obviously had some kind of sweet chutney mixed in; I suspected this from the flavour and it was confirmed when I found a few chunks of the stuff). Extremely indistinct spicing too; I couldn't distinguish a single individual flavour. It reminded me of the curry powder/banana/desiccated coconut "curries" my mum used to make in the 1980s. The oddness of the dish was only amplified by its being served with rocket. The rice was fine though, and both rice and dhal were provided in generous portions. Another nice touch was the enormous linen napkin I got brought.
 Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat; noon-9pm Sun. The menu is small, and although it does include some pub staples such as sausages and mash (&pound;8.25 as of August 2008) and fish and chips (&pound;8.50 as of August 2008), it also has a number of more interesting dishes such as crab on toast (&pound;6.50 as of August 2008), brie and spinach spring roll with mushroom ragu (&pound;9 as of March 2008), and Spanish-style fish stew with mussels, clams, and tomato (&pound;11 as of March 2008).
== Line 14 == == Line 14 ==
Pub quiz is on Sunday night, and there's an open mic almost every Thursday (but not <i>every</i> Thursday &mdash; call ahead to check).
 The menu changes regularly but a [http://kingeddie.co.uk/food-menu.php sample menu] can be viewed on the King Edward website or on Kake's Flickrstream: [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2352891584/ March 2008 menu], [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2746844998/ August 2008 menu]. They also usually have some specials written up on a blackboard (the one on Kake's August 2008 visit was "mushroom soup with soft herbs" at &pound;4.75).
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[[Kake]]'s verdict: I like this as a pub, though I much prefer it in the daytime to the evening. I do suspect my not-very-good lunch was a one-off "miss", as a couple of people have told me how good the food normally is, and I would be more than happy to give the kitchen another chance.
 Pub quiz is on Sunday night, and there's an open mic almost every Thursday (but not <i>every</i> Thursday - call ahead to check).
== Line 29 == == Line 29 ==
* [http://www.qype.co.uk/place/198768#reviews Qype comments]
 * [http://www.qype.co.uk/place/198768#PlaceReviews Qype comments]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], March 2012. Opening hours and food times taken from the King Edward website, March 2012.</div>
 <div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], [[bob]], [[ilmari]], and Ryan, 24 September 2008. Opening hours taken from the 2008 Good Beer Guide and verified with the King Edward website, September 2007. Food times taken from the King Edward website, September 2007.</div>
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Pub near Stratford Station, offering a rotating range of bottled beers as well as guest cask ales and interesting food. Also known as "King Eddie's" or "The Prussia", the latter being a reference to its pre-WWI name, "The King of Prussia".

It has three interior areas, as well as a beer garden out the back. The front bar has seating for maybe about 30-35 people, at sturdy wooden tables with upright chairs, and a small amount of standing room. The saloon bar isn't incredibly obvious, but is reached via a door to the right of the bar; it's sometimes booked out for private parties. Finally, there's another room reached via a half-flight of stairs to the left of the bar; this one is more spacious, with a couple of sofas too photo.

Kake and James visited late on a Monday evening in March 2008. The place was quite full but we managed to grab a table in the back room. There were a number of interesting beers on, all at £2.60 or £2.70/pint; Nethergate Suffolk County, Bombardier, Woodforde Wherry, and Nelson Trafalgar. The Trafalgar was very tasty. Background music was reasonably interesting, and just on the right side of "too loud".

Kake visited again on a Wednesday lunchtime in August 2008. There were a fair few people in eating lunch, but I had no trouble getting a table. The music was jazz this time, quiet enough that it mostly hid behind the noise of conversation. Beers available on this visit were Bombardier (£2.80), Eddie's Best (their house beer, brewed by Nethergate, £2.60), Broadside (£2.90), and Woodeforde Wherry (£2.70). I had the Wherry, and it was fine.

I also tried some food; the lentil, mushroom, and coconut dahl with rice (£8.50) photo. Unfortunately, this was quite disappointing. The dhal was overly sweet (it obviously had some kind of sweet chutney mixed in; I suspected this from the flavour and it was confirmed when I found a few chunks of the stuff). Extremely indistinct spicing too; I couldn't distinguish a single individual flavour. It reminded me of the curry powder/banana/desiccated coconut "curries" my mum used to make in the 1980s. The oddness of the dish was only amplified by its being served with rocket. The rice was fine though, and both rice and dhal were provided in generous portions. Another nice touch was the enormous linen napkin I got brought. I do suspect this dish was a one-off "miss", as a couple of people have told me how good the food normally is, and I would be more than happy to give the kitchen another chance.

In September 2008, Kake, bob, ilmari, and Ryan attempted to give the food another go, but the place was very busy (it was around 8pm on a Thursday evening) and they'd closed the kitchen for walk-in diners since they had a couple of large groups who'd reserved tables for dinner and the kitchen had reached capacity. The beer was fine though. We were sitting in the back room/restaurant and had a little trouble hearing each other speak over the music and the conversations of others.

Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat; noon-9pm Sun. The menu is small, and although it does include some pub staples such as sausages and mash (£8.25 as of August 2008) and fish and chips (£8.50 as of August 2008), it also has a number of more interesting dishes such as crab on toast (£6.50 as of August 2008), brie and spinach spring roll with mushroom ragu (£9 as of March 2008), and Spanish-style fish stew with mussels, clams, and tomato (£11 as of March 2008).

The menu changes regularly but a sample menu can be viewed on the King Edward website or on Kake's Flickrstream: March 2008 menu, August 2008 menu. They also usually have some specials written up on a blackboard (the one on Kake's August 2008 visit was "mushroom soup with soft herbs" at £4.75).

Pub quiz is on Sunday night, and there's an open mic almost every Thursday (but not every Thursday - call ahead to check).

Accessibility: One step down to get in. Half a dozen steps up to the back room, from which the toilets are also accessed. Not sure about the saloon bar.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, bob, ilmari, and Ryan, 24 September 2008. Opening hours taken from the 2008 Good Beer Guide and verified with the King Edward website, September 2007. Food times taken from the King Edward website, September 2007.

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