Picture of Elderfield, E5 0LF

Historical version 5 of Elderfield, E5 0LF (view current version)

This is very much a residential pub, and one well hidden from even the shoppers along Chatsworth Road, let alone Lower Clapton Road or central Hackney. However, there's a lively crowd of people who have discovered it and made it their home, so best not to let word slip any further.

For your efforts, they have four pumps of ale. Timothy Taylor Landlord and London Pride are on, as are Adnams and Harvey's. They have the standard lager options, as well as Hoegaarden and Leffe (though these have not always been well-kept). However, there's a good wine list and tasty bar snacks as well. The food is a small menu of pizzas and paninis which has been recently added, and certainly nothing compared to the wonderful offerings of the Pembury Tavern. The panini I had tasted slightly buttery even, but the chips were perfectly tasty, a good thickness and well fried.

What this pub has especially in its favour is a great atmosphere, with beautiful wood panelling throughout and very friendly staff. (Interesting music selection too, as we've heard BBC Radio 4, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and The Magnetic Fields all playing recently...) There are DJs and live (piano) music some nights, and a quiz on the first Tuesday of every month. Some boardgames are stacked on a windowsill (though I couldn't guarantee all the pieces are present), alongside a selection of dog-eared books should you be without a playing partner.

Please note that it is in the process of changing its name (following, we believe, a dispute with the chain of cocktail bars over the other side of London). As of this writing the outside signage is blank, but it will become The Elderfield. (Its former name, before being known as The Eclipse, was The Priory Tavern.)

Last visited by Ewan, Jo and others on 19 Sep 2007.

OS X co-ord: 535531 OS Y co-ord: 185656 (Latitude: 51.553012 Longitude: -0.044920)
This is version 5 (as of 2007-09-20 00:43:09). View current version. List all versions.