The Palm Tree Pub
The Palm Tree Pub
3.7
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Mile End • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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3.7
55 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
10
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
11
gillianweatherburn
Loughton, UK550 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
What a fabulous find. Was taken here by friends and had a brilliant night. It’s a real old east end pub with no pretentions. Nice staff , wine... one red one white. Decent beer . Top that off with a four piece band of men of a certain age singing frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett numbers and occasionally a modern Neil Diamond and its a perfect combination. Very mixed age group too which was nice
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LargelyMonk
Banstead, UK1,822 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
From the outside you could be forgiven for thinking this place is closed. It stands alone , a reminder of a time before the nearby flats and ecology park were created and survived the bombing in WW2 and the discovery of huge oil tanks on the other side of the once working canal. Inside, its a cosy , welcoming place with well kept beers and a great soundtrack which could easily lull you into staying a while. Take a long walk around Victoria Park and then head down the tow path for a beer.
Written 18 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mr C
3,937 contributions
Sept 2019
The Palm Tree pub sits in splendid isolation by the Regents Canal. The area around it has been redeveloped leaving a traditional pub behind. The pub serves well kept real ales. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. A traditional east end London pub.
Written 9 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon Sheehan
13 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
If you want to witness what it’s like to be in a real life episode of Eastenders then you must pay this pub a visit where you get added profanities! I came to visit last night as it was for my friends birthday and there would be many people buying drinks. Due to having such a long day I wasn’t going to be staying long just enough time to see my friend and then head home so all I wanted was tap water. When I asked the bar man he rudely insulted me stating he didn’t have tap water and only sold bottled water and that it was stupid I wasn’t drinking. He then continued to tell me to fu*k off out of his pub and that I wasn’t welcome if I wasn’t buying drinks as he said how could he survive if people don’t buy drinks. Baring in mind this pub is a cash only pub and by the few amount of drinks he actually rings through his manual old fashioned till I know how does survive! Mr Tax Men And Women would have a field day in this establishment going through what sales are missing and what he’s dodging! My friend then bought me a bottle of water as I had no money to which he continued to try and escalate the situation by mocking me that it’s a ‘1942 bottle of water and whether I want to taste it first’, telling me to fu*k off and go elsewhere again, and making me feel pathetic for not drinking. I genuinely didn’t know what to say as I had never experienced anything like this in my life. A rundown pub in the middle of no man’s land where I genuinely felt like I had witnessed an episode of Eastenders with Peggy Mitchell serving me just without any of the Charm and then with added insults and abusive language! This man is what’s wrong with the world!
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_of_N21
London, UK3,643 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
It was dark by the time I had picked my way across Mile End Park fully trusting that Google Maps was correct in taking me to what felt like no man’s land, and arrived outside what, to all indications was a closed pub with no visible signs that it was actually open. Everything I had read told me it should have opened at 4.00pm, so I tried the first door and it yielded, allowing me to enter into what I initially thought was someone’s photographic dark room.
Well this is quite a unique pub. Only the southernmost bar was open for my early midweek early evening visit and the cabaret-esque red lighting and the red and gold chintzy decor takes a bit of getting used to and it took a while for my eyes to acclimatise enough to pick out the signed pictures of long passed celebrities and forgotten jockeys that line the walls above the oval-shaped bar, and spaces that aren’t plastered with memorabilia are covered in gold chintz.
Two hand pumps on the bar but only Mighty Oak Malden Gold available for my visit, which was very good but was one of, if not the most expensive pint of the day.
The landlady and her accompanying dog were extremely friendly and welcoming and I presumed it was Val , of Val and Alf fame, who have presided over the pub for many years, but apparently not long enough to know how to change the Muzak system that was playing some excruciating cheesy Christmas carols.
This bar also has a small stage with a drum kit and piano set up in the corner and according to the landlady there’s live music (mainly Jazz), on Thursdays to Sundays and since there are no neighbours within shouting distance, these have a habit of turning into late-night sessions.
It is cash only here, as they still use an ancient mechanical till and they charge for tap water, something that has caused uproar with some pre Covid reviewers below.
Difficult one to rate as you don't come to the Palm Tree for great beer choice, and despite being CAMRA listed, the interior will not be to everyone’s taste, especially of a dark evening. But The Palm Tree is a remarkable survivor, and you do have to wonder what will happen to it when the present custodians do depart, and I certainly plan to revisit in the daylight of summer when the outside canal can be enjoyed.
But as a piece of history I have to give it five stars and the pub (and the current landlord and landlady) should be pickled in aspic so that when the world has finally gone totally bland glass and chrome, future generations can visit and see what East End pubs used to be like.
Well this is quite a unique pub. Only the southernmost bar was open for my early midweek early evening visit and the cabaret-esque red lighting and the red and gold chintzy decor takes a bit of getting used to and it took a while for my eyes to acclimatise enough to pick out the signed pictures of long passed celebrities and forgotten jockeys that line the walls above the oval-shaped bar, and spaces that aren’t plastered with memorabilia are covered in gold chintz.
Two hand pumps on the bar but only Mighty Oak Malden Gold available for my visit, which was very good but was one of, if not the most expensive pint of the day.
The landlady and her accompanying dog were extremely friendly and welcoming and I presumed it was Val , of Val and Alf fame, who have presided over the pub for many years, but apparently not long enough to know how to change the Muzak system that was playing some excruciating cheesy Christmas carols.
This bar also has a small stage with a drum kit and piano set up in the corner and according to the landlady there’s live music (mainly Jazz), on Thursdays to Sundays and since there are no neighbours within shouting distance, these have a habit of turning into late-night sessions.
It is cash only here, as they still use an ancient mechanical till and they charge for tap water, something that has caused uproar with some pre Covid reviewers below.
Difficult one to rate as you don't come to the Palm Tree for great beer choice, and despite being CAMRA listed, the interior will not be to everyone’s taste, especially of a dark evening. But The Palm Tree is a remarkable survivor, and you do have to wonder what will happen to it when the present custodians do depart, and I certainly plan to revisit in the daylight of summer when the outside canal can be enjoyed.
But as a piece of history I have to give it five stars and the pub (and the current landlord and landlady) should be pickled in aspic so that when the world has finally gone totally bland glass and chrome, future generations can visit and see what East End pubs used to be like.
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul M
5 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Whether it's lazy summer afternoons in Mile End Park watching the canal boats drift by or cozy winter evenings chatting and reminiscing about the old days, a visit to the Palm Tree is highly recommended for lovers of traditional pub culture. The interior, which hasn't changed in decades, is beautiful. It has featured in several films and TV series over the years. To encourage conversation, there's no telly. Indeed, the only concession to the modern world is an old fag machine in the corner. In another corner is a stage where a band plays jazz and old Sinatra classics on Fridays and Sundays. Apparently, the late Mike Reid (aka Frank Butcher) and Barbara Windsor used to drink here. Beer-wise, they have all the usual suspects plus the excellent Maldon Gold on tap. The till, which looks like a relic from the TV series "Open All Hours", only takes cash, so make sure you pass an ATM before you visit. So sit down, let Paul or Kerry pour you a drink and soak up the atmosphere in this beautiful time capsule of a pub.
Written 5 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben A
11 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
My son and I were brought here as the finale to a London pub explorer tour and it is honestly one of the best pubs I have had the pleasure of visiting. The building is an architectural gem, the interior is authentic, original and full atmosphere and the Govenor who has been there since 1976 was warm, welcoming and shared some lovely stories and history of the place. I can't wait to introduce as many people as possible to this unique pub.
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter L
2 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
What started out to be a pleasant evening with friends, having all bought (not inexpensive) drinks at the bar and sat outside for a short time, on re-entering the bar for the music my boyfriend and I were confronted by a hostile barman asking us to buy drinks or leave. Despite politely explaining that we had only just finished our drinks and obviously just put the bottles on the bar and backed up by our group of friends still drinking their half full pints, the barman proceeded to be extremely rude, physically shoving my partner twice and getting the entire group to leave despite them not having finished. We were left bemused and coming to the conclusion that this was likely motivated by homophobia as we are two gay men. Needless to say we won't be returning and would not recommend this pub and it's rude and hostile staff.
Written 27 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
loulou9998
Dublin, Ireland3 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
The bar man was aggressive and rude towards us for asking for a glass of tap water. He charged us one pound and shouted loudly causing embarrassment. This pub is not friendly or welcoming. It should be avoided
Written 21 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
themagictortoise
Buenos Aires, Argentina1 contribution
Sept 2015 • Friends
I gave the barman money for my drink. He then started serving someone else. I asked for my change and he insisted he'd given it to me or my friend. He hadn't and I said I was totally sure. was arsey with me. I wondered whether this was a regular scam as people especially women are unlikely to kick off over £2. It wasn't that busy and I was completely sober. Really rude
Written 5 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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