The Pride of Spitalfields London

A busy "hidden gem" off the tourist beaten path. On the sunny Thursday we visited, the outside patio (and street) was packed with patrons. The small and cozy inside seating was available. 4th stop on our pub crawl.

Classic London 'boozer' with loads of character. Locals and regulars in there. London Pride on tap. Pub carpet - old school style !

The Pride of Spitalfields – A Time Capsule with Heart Tucked just off Brick Lane, The Pride of Spitalfields is the kind of pub that feels like it’s been waiting for you — with its wonky charm, threadbare carpet, and the kind of East End warmth that’s hard to fake. It’s not trying to be trendy, and that’s exactly its magic. The ale selection is solid — ESB, London Pride, and a few rotating casks — poured with care and priced with generosity. No screens, no gimmicks, just good beer, good company, and the occasional cat curled up in the corner (yes, Lenny the pub cat is real and beloved). The crowd is a mix of old-timers, curious wanderers, and locals who know this is one of the last true boozers in the area. Service is friendly in that unhurried, familiar way. You might get offered roast potatoes at the bar if you’re lucky — a nod to traditions that most pubs have long forgotten.

A proper gem of a pub, this place nails the basics with style. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming with just the right blend of charm and character. What really sets it apart though are the pints. Perfectly poured, ice cold and consistently top quality. Whether you are after a crisp lager, a smooth stout or a hoppy craft ale, there is something here to satisfy every taste. Staff are friendly, service is quick and the locals add to the laid back vibe. Ideal for a casual pint or a long session. Easily one of the best spots around. Cheers!

Great place, small and cosy, lots of locals, pint of ESB for £5.5, what’s not to like?

🚇 Aldgate East 🍺 £4.80 Fosters The Pride of Spitalfields Is tucked away down a side street just off Brick Lane in the East End of London. The nearest Tube is Aldgate East. Built in the mid-19th century, The Pride of Spitalfields was previously called The Romford Arms. Intriguingly, two suspects in the Jack the Ripper murders are reputed to have drunk here. This is a cozy, one bar pub that immediately makes you feel warm and welcome. The servery, complete with brass rails and wood paneling, is located on the right-hand side. To the left of the servery is a food serving area titled "Mary's Pantry," while to the right is an intimate and inviting snug. The decor features velour banquettes with matching stools, historic images of the East End, a lovely stock brick fireplace, an ol’ Joanna and the icing on the cake, a proper pub carpet. The beer selection offers the cultured imbiber five cask ales, familiar favourites and some local brews. I decided on a pint of Fosters, my pint was great, price was reasonable at under a fiver. The food offering is sandwiches, the salt beef tends to be the sarnie of choice here. I arrived just after 11 am on a sunny Saturday morning in April. There were about half a dozen punters present, most of which were seasoned regulars. The atmosphere was convivial; the solo drinkers, myself included, were having a good old chinwag about the joys of this wonderful pub. I could have stayed here all day, but once the pub gets busy, it's standing room only. The service is fantastic; the staff here are personable and immediately make you feel right at home. As the old saying goes “If ain’t broke don’t fix it” which is definitely the case here. I last visited this East End bolthole back in 2018, and thank God, with the exception of a new carpet, not much has changed. This is one of London’s most delightful boozers, you’ll find remnants of the old East End, a great choice of beers, friendly locals and one of the most relaxing environments to spend time in. This is a must visit London pub, but make sure you visit early before everybody else does. 📅 12th April 2025 More London pub info on socials @londonpubmap 🍻

"Our pub" in London was great. It had a wonderful 'old-fashioned' atmosphere. The place gets full later in the afternoon, so it's good to be early if you want a seat. However, on a warm day, most customers are outside, so you'll probably find a seat. The beer is cheap, no wonder it's so popular!

Fantastic pub. Was a ‘regular’ during my few nights in the Smoke recently. Proper music night on Monday. Tuesday night piano sing-song is brilliant. Good prices, a real mix of clientele, and friendly locals—what’s not to like? I’ll be making the trip again just to go back. I would give one star - just to keep it a hidden gem :)

Great vintage East End Pub. It's a proper East End Boozer many have had their day this one hasn't changed in over 30 years. Amazing Salt Beef sandwiches for lunch, London Pride on Tap, and the Best pint of Guinness about a few weeks ago and came back for a night to check it out, with friends. The staff are all lovely and welcoming, Monday night was Vinyl night, great night out. Not too busy but a good amount to have a good atmosphere. Cannot fault this pub at all, will be back again soon. It's a must visit if in brick lane area.

We stopped in for a pint and ended up having a couple. This is exactly what we pictured when we were looking for a local pub. We stopped in around 11:30am on a Sunday and there were some regulars drinking and hanging out. The barkeeper made sure we had drinks right away and we started with some cask ales and I switched to Guinness for my second beer. The booths are velvet and it gives off old school vibes in a fun way. As we stayed longer more people made their way through and it was fun listening to the banter and sipping on some good beer. Great spot for a quick pint or to hang out for a while.

I had such a wonderful time in this establishment. It is the perfect "off the beaten path" London experience, and full of history, as it is in the neighborhood of the Jack The Ripper murders. In fact, one of the patrons of this bar, George Hutchinson, met with Mary Kelly, the famed "last victim" of Jack The Ripper, after drinking here in 1888. I came here during the day, was treated with kindness even though I was just like any touristy American on a Ripper walk. Such a down-home, country village vibe tucked away on a cobblestoned street in Whitechapel. The interior is that old-world vibe of wooden paneling and red upholstery. The prices were reasonable and unpretentious. Please, please, please make this one of your stops when you visit London.

Dive bar off of brick lane (where there are lots of curries and excellent food). You must get some grub on Brick Lane and drink here at the Pride of Spitalfields pub! 110% recommend. Hidden gem, hole in the wall (but classy), cheap drinks, super friendly bartenders, and overall an authentic British Pub experience. So happy we found this place! It gets packed! We luckily found seats, but this place gets pretty busy. You HAVE to visit!

It's a classic English pub with warm beer, no tv and made pure for locals. The owner pretty much didn't want us in there because we weren't locals. That's fine so you get the reviews you deserve.

I looked for the main website of this establishment and this is the only way I can send this. Forgive me. I am autistic and ran into multiple problems with the staff. I had a rough conversation with the barmaid but it got rectified quickly. Then the manager barman proceeded to pry and try to prove I was autistic. I was okay about the incident with the barmaid but that was inappropriate with him. I then ordered my second drink with him and asked about a bottled brand and he gave me attitude, didn't know what it was, and got impatient with me. The pub was too loud so I had to go outside to calm down before I had a meltdown. I was then told by a drunken staff member I had to go inside. This pub is NOT good for anyone.

This pub is in the heart of Shoreditch (kind of the London's Brooklyn), and we were the only tourists at the place. It has a good beer selection, plus the prices aren't jacked up to cater to tourists, and we had a great time getting to know people from around the neighborhood. There is indoor seating, but on nice evenings, people often linger outside and drink on the curb. I would definitely recommend if you're looking for something slightly off the beaten path.

We just stumbled upon here after dinner. Pretty sure we were the only tourists, which was an interesting experience. Make no mistake, it is a dive bar, but the beer is really cheap compare to other London pubs. The decor is a bit dated, but that's the theme, right? It was really crowded, with lots of people drinking outside (like every single pub I've been to), lots of energy and they're all really nice lads. There are lots of seating, and we had no problem sitting since most people wanted to be outside. It was a nice little break from all the Indian restaurants around.

The Pride is an odd place. In terms of juxtaposition, a real boozer being located in this part of town is the equivalent of plonking a full-scale rave in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. But if you're looking for an antidote to the greased-up mess of Shoreditch on a Saturday night, look no further. It's safe to say the Pride is a little gritty in parts, but you can predict some real ale and conversation from anyone you happen to bump into in the rather confined but fadingly charming space. There's definitely an unpredictable side to this pub too. The first time I visited, there was a dodgy geezer from the local flats shining a massive green laser down the street and in through the windows. Another time my companion met an old school friend at the bar. Something always seems to happen when we visit.

This is one of my favourite pubs in the east end. It's just hidden away off the beaten track of brick lane and so the tourists tend to pass by it. You'll find a genuine local crowd here with the occasional 'trendy' who has managed to stumble across this gem. This place has a genuine old school feel to it, it's homely and offers a warm welcome. They serve a good range of beers and there's a great atmosphere here. I've never managed to get a seat inside this place so i've always been sat on the curb outside and i loved every minute of being here. I have totally fallen in love with this boozer and if you do fancy a bit of a dance later in the eve you have an array of clubs just around the corner. I think this is a great place to go with a few friends or family and you are guaranteed great service.

It's probably just a 'me' thing, but I'm not really into tightly squeezed and poorly ventilated drinking establishments. What with the smoking ban, they make everything a little more smelly as cigarettes fail to disguise more malevolent odours! So it's with a heavy heart that I have to banish this local pub to two stars. Just a word about the real ale though. Offering Fuller's Pride and Brewer's Gold, I'm informed this a real treat for any serious ale connoisseur. One redeeming feature is a lovely piano offset against the garish, 80s red carpet, so if you're feeling musical and can sing in key then jump off the main drag of Brick Lane and woo a captive audience.

Just what you'd expect when you think of an East End pub. Small, wonky, scruffy, but honest. Good price on drinks and efficient service. Full of lots of local types, and even though it looked heaving with the crowd outside, we had no trouble getting seats inside. There was a small TV showing Wimbledon with the sound off, which was no distraction. We were happy to see the pub cat, who was very friendly but not bothering anyone. Plus, we were there at around 6.30pm on a Friday and they came around with plates of roast potatoes and mini sausages. What's not to love about that? I wouldn't make a special trip across town to come here over other pubs, but if I was in the area, I'd walk a few extra minutes to get to it.

I don't think you could get a more British boozer than the Pride of Spitalfields. Firstly, there is a great selection of ales on tap and the staff are friendly. Plus, considering it's a London pub, the prices aren't horrific! Sure the decor is dated, but frankly if they ripped everything out of the place and updated it all then I think it would lose quite a lot of its charm. But it does go up to four stars from me for two particular reasons. Firstly, it has a cat - and that cat enjoys stroking. So if you want the cat cafe experience but with a beer, come here. It was just curled up on a chair minding its own business when we arrived but perked up when someone was stroking it. The other reason? Well this is a little unusual but well... they came around with free plates of roast potatoes and little sausages. This was unexpected to say the least. but hey, I can get onboard with it! You might not have aircon, the table might be pretty wonky, but you give me those little sausages and you're going to have me thinking very positively of you!!! It was a Friday evening when we visited on a warm night, so it was very busy, but considering that it is just off all the Indian restaurants down Brick Lane it could have been worse, and we managed to get a table without any problem. Considering the number of pubs around London, I wouldn't travel that far to come here, but if you're in the Whitechapel/Brick Lane area then I'd recommend the journey.

*Cat napping in the pub* alert! I'd never been here before but was assured that it was a proper old school east London boozer, therefore a mecca for hipsters, obviously. This place is so popular that I could hardly get in the door at 5.30 on a Sunday night. It's also quite small, so that could be part of it. I squeezed my way in and internally squealed at the sight of the cat nonchalantly napping on the back of a couch. Forget your poncy cat cafe, this is the real deal. Once I made my way to the bar, I ordered a Bulmers (no pear, just traditional) and a packed of proper Irish crisps. Taytos! You can't get these anywhere in shops in London, they only have them in certain bars. Oh man, I love it. The bathrooms are a bit tiny and gross, but you'll have to deal with it. Football on the big screen TV too, well you'll have to deal with that too.

A proper old skool pub, I never thought these would become so rare in London! I wish I was more into beer as the wine is old skool awful ... but the large G'n'Ts went down a treat! The barmaids are proper barmaids and the pub is packed with punters of all ages and backgrounds, just like in the old days. Lond live the Pride of Spitalfields!

Well, if you're looking for "authentic" British pub, this could be it. "Cosy", shabby, and looks like its been in need of some renovation since the 70s. Seats are wonky, tables are wonky, and the football is projected on a wall with lots of marks obscuring the image. So authentic then. Like 90% of bog standard British pubs up and down the country.

In two words: wonky and cat. Wonky because I'm pretty sure both my table and chair were wonky. And so were the walls. That may have been the beer though. Cat because they have a cat. I'm a dog person so I steered clear but my girlfriend is a cat person (it'll never work) and she tells me it's called Nelly. Small, chilled, played the football, not a huge selection of beer but there is only so much space for taps... If you're in the area I recommend it if you want somewhere to chill. I also hear there is a lunch spread but that may just be hearsay.

Dive bar for real. Looks like my grandma's living room BUT, it has cheap beer and friendly bartenders! Walking there we saw some rather interesting characters but overall not unsafe I would say. It's tucked away on a small side street. There was a very festive hen and stag party going on outside and the inside was full so it seems it's relatively popular!

Not sure what I did to be treated rather unpleasantly here. Perhaps I did something embarrassingly touristy/American. I just wanted a real ale which was not an option at the other bars in the area. This was the only place I felt so completely unwelcome during my 9 days in the UK.

The Pride of Spitalfields is an unassuming little (and I mean little) pub hidden just off Brick Lane and it's one of my favorite places to go in East London. I mean, two pints for under 6 quid is a bargain in that area. Every time I walk in, I get what I like to call the Locals' Look--you know, when you walk into a place full of only locals and, because they don't know you, they all look up at you for a minute. In most places, the Locals' Look can make me feel a bit unwelcome.. but not here. Here, I think they genuinely just want to see if I'm someone they know. The reason I say this is because eventually, if you stick around for at least a pint, someone starts talking to you, getting to know you. It's nice. Most pubs I go to don't really provide the 'relaxing pint' I so often need in crazy London, but the Pride of Spitalfields is always an exception to the rule.

A real old boozer - one where you should stick to the beers and the spirits. The red wine I had was like vinegar....really undrinkable...(fair enough I suppose). Other than the wine, it's a nice old school boozer, full of locals and where you can still get a round of 5 drinks for under £15!! Great - except for the wine....

A friend of mine once had a blind date at The Pride of Spitalfields and concluded that it was a better venue for a friendly drink than a romantic rendezvous; this authentic little East End boozer being favoured by some rather interesting - and loud - East End characters as it is. Literally the size of a postage stamp, The Pride of Spitalfields is located just off Brick Lane, right in the thick of the area's famed curry houses, and is a diminutive but charming pub with two large tables outside making it perfect for a drink during the summer away from this area's invariably madding crowds.

After all I had heard about this place I was sure it would be a 5 star pub for me. Instead I found a lovely pub, down a side street..but one that somehow didn't quite live up to the hype (I suppose in the area it is in it is probably the best pub by farcompetition is poor). They served a handful of real ales, looks like one of them was a guest ale, which is always a good thing. The pub cat I had heard about did not make an appearance, but then you can hardly blame it considering how busy the pub is. I would not have shown my face if I was in its paws.

Great little boozer and cheap as you like. Great atmosphere and friendly locals and staff. A few ales which were spot on.

i love pubs with cats in. They feel warmer somehow. I came here one night this week to do an interview/photo shoot with a magazine. (Le Cool since you ask, I'll be in there in couple of weeks.) We'd looked about for some other pubs, but they were all full of city boys. This is a little off the beaten track and really worth it. It's tiny. Feels like someone's living room. There's some good ales one, and the locals are friendly. That said, I wasn't really in the mood for chatting to them, so to be honest it was a bit annoying that I couldn't have a conversation without being interrupted by someone who had also be to wales about twenty years ago! But I'm sure if I was feeling more chatty this would have been fun. Great pub if you're in the area. And by the way, two pints, less than £6. Brilliant.

Great old-fashioned East End pub. Good selection of beers, Pride, ESB,Brewer's Gold, Doom Bar etc. Seafood on Sundays. Much better since the smoking ban came in. However if Sky tv is not your thing, avoid on Sunday afternoons. The pub cat owns the place, by the way. ;-) Oh and Brick Lane is adjacent, curry before or after or both.

Looked OK from the outside but once I walked in I thought I'd gone back in time. The worn carpet and shabby well shabby everything really immediately make you feel about 30 years older.

A nice break from Brick Lane! The bartender was a friendly lady who poured me a proper real ale at a fair price. I was meeting a friend here but had no problem enjoying my beer and checking out the locals while I waited. The cat was sleeping in one of the booths, then decided to move on to the more exciting barstool. The regulars cheered on the slightly chubby cat as it wiggled its butt and dug its paws into the ground for lift-off. After a few more wiggles, it just barely managed to jump onto the stool with very little grace and was rewarded with pets and a few treats. Shortly after, a woman came back from the bathroom and exclaimed her seat had been taken by the furry regular but smiled and resigned herself to enjoying her beer while standing. Good beer, good price, and a free show; what's not to like?

Tucked away off Brick Lane, this is a traditional old London pub, with a traditional old London clientele. The beer is fine, cheap and lunch here will set you back £3.50-4.00 ish excluding the beer. It's simple pub fare but all cooked on-site unlike a lot of the pseudo-old-pub Wetherspoons places. If you work around Bishopsgate it's defintely worth a visit.

A great little local with a resident cat that owns the place. Makes a good change from the hipster bars when you fancy something more old school. Chips is served with all meals.

Nice vibe, not stuffy, good service, and a good selection of drinks on tap! I've been several times after work and there's a nice outside area where people congregate. Inside can get busy, but if you go around 6, you should still be able to get some seating :) I've heard rumor of them serving free potatoes, but I've never experienced it myself yet!

Fantastic pub that isn't part of a chain, has a lot of character, and does not feel hipster at all. Great location, near brick lane but not directly on it. Feels off the beaten path. Can get quite crowded, but I've actually only had good positive interactions with others here, and have gotten in a number of conversations with random people. There's a great selection of beers here, a fact which they proudly tout with a nice collection of beer badges.

When I walked in, I noticed it a very small pub/ a very large living room. I did see the cat. I thought the place seemed nice enough to get a drink, and when I asked the bartender if there were any extra seats for me to sit down on, and he looked at me funny. He asked another bartender behind my back, and she said "maybe, i don't know" to him. He did not tell me anything, and I guess I was not supposed to hear that message. He literally stood there and looked at the floor while I stared at him. He did not take my order or anything. I think it was because he did not want me there, and I suspect racism because the street perpendicular to this one was all Indian/ Pakistani, and he did not want me to eat there because maybe he thought I would have changed the vibe of the place. However, I am an American, and I was so offended by his rudeness that I left.

The first time i tried this pub out was because it was a Saturday night and Brick Lane was teaming with people. Tucked a little way from this hubbub of activity is the Pride of Spitalfields; the pub serves a very large selection of real ales and attracts an almost exclusively local crowd. Whilst popping outside for a sneaky fag with a friend he heard someone snigger "Here come the trendies" which was a source of much comedy as i am not trendy in the slightest, but that shows the crowd that this place attracts. They go to the races and drink real ale; and they're AMAZING! The jukebox has some brilliant tracks - Tina Turner, Queen, the usual cheesy suspects, and once everyone is well oiled the place turns into a mass singalong. There is also a snack bar inside open during the day charmingly called 'Mary's Pantry'. A welcome distraction from the uber cool crowd that inhabit Brick Lane.

This is my favourite pub in London I think. I cant go to Shoreditch without paying a visit to this little gem of a place. Hidden away off Brick Lane it is filled of all ages and characters. It has a very local feel to it but they welcome everyone in their doors. If you are lucky enough you may even have the pub cat join you for a pint! Went in there on Monday for some of their lovely Guinness and it was a great evening listening to the 45's they were spinning. Cant wait to get back

We were wowwed by the proprietor of the pub, a cat who seemed to lord above us all. He even deigned to come rest a while on a seat at our table. His manners were so good, he didn't try to walk on the table. Down a dodgy looking alley, tucked away so you wouldn't know it's there (except for all the people hanging out on the street in front) and serving good, cheap ales. This one feels like a real pub.

Yes, this pub is very original and old. But nowadays when everything gets cleaned and renovated beyond recognition this is really like stepping back in time. For me/us that is almost entirely positive. There are enough clean and boring places elsewhere. There are not only older people there and 10-20 years ago nobody would mention that at all. We were introduced to the place by a friend who is a born East Ender - that was alright. When we came without him, we got funny looks. Two blokes we joined at a table performed a really hostile look. I just read their thoughts and said, You dont look too pleased that we join you. Dont worry, we will behave (+ smile). With a peculiar grin they accepted us. Also the people behind the bar are OK. Anyway, they have a few real ales as well, even ESB.

Nice boozer staff friendly shame these type of pubs are going extinct not sure about cat though

I love this place & the people in it. I only go on Monday nights & they usually take turns to play a few tracks from a little DJ box/counter. I almost always like the music! Sometimes you get a few pretentious types in, but actually this just keeps it interesting! Fortunately the (small) TV has never been on when I've been there. It's frightening how some bars in this area now feel the need to destroy the ambiance with massive screens. Negatives: It takes a while to begin to be treated like a regular & sometimes (not often) you feel turfed out when others can stay. The DJs sometimes get a bit single minded with the music volume (they need to be a little more mindful that most punters are enjoying conversation) we want the music (we love it!), but want to be able to chat without feeling the need to shout. One last thing, & this is recent: They've started stacking the chairs onto the tables (right next to you) whilst you're still enjoying your beer (before closing time) this feels very unwelcoming & as it take about a minute to do, I really wish they wouldn't. It's a shame because the barmaid who does it is lovely & thoughtful. This alone could put me off in future. I want to enjoy the atmosphere & this is really unsettling. What is scary is that this is amongst my favourite pubs ever. The pubs are being systematically destroyed by government & corporate companies. We pay the price of a pint, we deserve more! And let's have some acoustic music in these pubs. No need for lot's of ampage (the places aren't usually big enough!) We don't want deafness, but we do want a heart & soul to a place! And this pub (by London standards) generally has it!

Top localgreat staff, beer (esp Doombar), customers.Monday night some Tamla 7 inchers get played on an old turntable thru crackly speakers fantastic. Couple of pints here followed by curry at Al Badar opposite then another beer or a wander around the delights of Spitalfields and Shoreditch what could be better?

Proper old school pub, with a pub cat! Just off Brick Lane so it has a slightly different clientele and is less trendy, for the better. Real ale, real pub.

I love this place & the people in it. I only go on Monday nights & they usually take turns to play a few tracks from a little DJ box/counter. I almost always like the music! Sometimes you get a few pretentious types in, but actually this just keeps it interesting! Fortunately the (small) TV has never been on when I've been there. It's frightening how some bars in this area now feel the need to destroy the ambiance which massive screens. Negatives: It takes a while to begin to be treated like a regular & sometimes (not often) you feel turfed out when others can stay. The DJs sometimes get a bit single minded with the music volume (they need to be a little more mindful that most punters are enjoying conversation) they want the music (we love it!), but want to be able to chat without feeling the need to shout. One last thing, & this is recent: They've started stacking the chairs onto the tables (right next to you) whilst you're still enjoying your beer (before closing time) this feels very unwelcoming & as it take about a minute to do, I really wish they wouldn't. It's a shame, because the barmaid who does it is lovely & thoughtful. This alone could put me off in future. I want to enjoy the atmosphere & this is really unwelcoming. What is scary is that this is amongst my favourite pubs ever. The pubs are being systematically destroyed by government & corporate companies. We pay the price of a pint, we deserve more! And let's have some acoustic music in these pubs. No need for lot's of ampage (the places aren't usually big enough!) We don't want deafness, but we do want a heart & soul to a place!

Went in last week after a 2 year gap and pub has gone far down hill. Stood patiently waiting at the bar trying to get served for 15 minutes and the 2 women bar staff were like rabbits in headlights just kept serving whoever came in front of them. Bear in mind the bar is only 6 foot wide and you can guess the frustration. Finally spoke up when a customer replaced someone who had been served and was served immediately and saw that I was waiting but got told off by the bar staff who said how could they know who was next! I pointed out that it was their job? Really small pub and so loud you can't have a conversation or hear yourself speak. We used to always go here pre curry but never again..

like the shabbiness of the interior and the smallish size. charming if not a bit loud and crowded. obviously popular on good and bad weather days. exactly what i imagined a pub should be like.

Very nice pub off Brick Lane with mostly locals and very few tourists. Great choice of beers and very decent pub lunch on weekdays. Pub cat is a great bonus!