East End Pubs, Then & Now
It is my pleasure to publish this collaboration with Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archive in which Spitalfields Life Contributing Photographer Alex Pink selected photographs of pubs from the collection, and then set out with his camera to discover which ones were still serving…
The Golden Heart, Spitalfields 1953
The Golden Heart, Spitalfields
The Artful Dodger, Royal Mint St 1989
The Artful Dodger, Royal Mint
The Star & Garter, Whitechapel 1982
The Star & Garter, Whitechapel
The Wentworth Arms, Mile End 1966
The Wentworth Arms, Mile End
The Prince Alfred, Limehouse 1978
The Prince Alfred, Limehouse
The Star of the East, Limehouse 1981
The Star of the East, Limehouse
The British Oak, Poplar 1981
The British Oak, Poplar
Galloway Arms, Limehouse 1981
Galloway Arms, Limehouse
The New Globe, Mile End 1954
The New Globe, Mile End
The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping c.1900
The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
The Experienced Fowler, Limehouse 1931
The Experienced Fowler, Limehouse
The Jubilee, Limehouse 1978
The White Swan, Limehouse
The Ship, Cable St 1981
The Ship, Cable St
The City Pride, Isle of Dogs 1990
The City Pride, Isle of Dogs
The Vine Tavern, Whitechapel 1903
The Vine Tavern, Whitechapel
The White Hart, Whitechapel 1960
The White Hart, Whitechapel
The Dover Castle, Shadwell 1992
The Dover Castle, Shadwell
The Londoner, Limehouse 1974
The Londoner, Limehouse
The Kings Arms, Cable St 1994
The Kings Arms, Cable St
The Grapes, Limehouse 1975
The Grapes, Limehouse
Duke of Norfolk, Globe Rd 1985
Duke of Norfolk, Globe Rd
The Artichoke, Whitechapel 1990
The Artichoke, Whitechapel
The Old Blue Anchor, Whitechapel 1973
The Old Blue Anchor, Whitechapel
Bromley Arms, Bow 1981
Bromley Arms, Bow
The Morgan Arms, Bow 1961
The Morgan Arms, Bow
The Dickens Inn, St Katharine Docks, 1975
The Dickens Inn, St Katharine Docks
The Alma, Spitalfields 1989
The Alma, Spitalfields
Prospect of Whitby, Wapping nineteen-eighties
Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
The Black Horse,Leman St nineteen-eighties
The Black Horse, Leman St
The Dean Swift, nineteen-eighties
The Dean Swift
Archive images courtesy Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
New photographs copyright © Alex Pink
Visit Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives for opening times, collections & events.
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Seeing the then and now pics here is interesting, a lot have made it with good makeovers. Specially as the pub trade as we knew it is in decline. They are not just drinking places now they are more family orientated with sport television they are todays social hubs still with the traditional ‘indoor sports’ such as darts etc. I understand some have removed skittle alleys because they take up too much space. I recently had an excellent pub lunch with a drink thrown in for £6 (not in London) nice. So the landlords have become business/staff managers they do work hard, those who diversify and provide a good public will survive. PS Had a good dish of jellied eels from a stall outside Woolwich Arsenal main gate some years ago. John
Good to see that a lot are still standing. Valerie
Places to drown our sorrows as an isolated nation and a ruined culture
It’s interesting to see how much change there has been between the 70s and 80s, and today. There’s quite a few still serving. When I grew up and started drinking in Winslow, Bucks, there were eight pubs. Now there are four. Of the ones that closed, one is now the vet’s, and the rest are houses.
I have always loved “then and now” pictures. And I was pleased to see there are actually more pubs still going than I expected there to be. But what on earth is that ghastly structure at the Experienced Fowler? Looks like a concentration camp complete with watch tower!
I love the ‘now & then’ format. I wondered if my families pubs might be included – not this time! Perhaps there will be more and I will get lucky!
Fine pictures. And after the BREXIT the “now pictures” have their own value: From now on the beer tastes twice as good!
My absolut Respect for this brave decision of the Britons! 😉
Love & Peace
ACHIM
I agree with Caroline, never before have I felt that the only thing to do is to take to drink, although I fear that it won’t be possible in my relative’s East End hostelry as that has long since gone. Ah well, c’est la vie as our French friends say.
Great to see the then and now pictures. I had no idea The White Swan was called The Jubilee before. ( or that what is now Butchers Row was part of Cable Street then.)
I love your blog. Really I do; you can tell that by the amount of times I tweet you (and I do try to remember to credit you, mostly). But, and don’t worry it’s not a big but, my only tiny criticism is this: when you post your ‘then and now’ photos, can you place them side by side – instead of like bunk beds? There, I told you it wasn’t a big but, didn’t I?
Thanks for including The Old Blue Anchor in Whitechapel. It was rebuilt in 1854 after a fire, by my gg grandfather George Church. The newspaper report: “Yesterday (Christmas morning) a fearful fire, by which several persons nearly lost their lives, occurred in the premises belonging to Mr Geo. Church, licenced victualler and proprietor of the Blue Anchor Tavern, No 67 1/2 Whitechapel Road….The Royal Society’s fire escape promptly attended, but as the machine drove up in front of the house, the affrighted inmates succeeded in leaving the building by the side door….owing to the large quantity of spirits in the place, the fire spread with alarming rapidity…the whole of the blazing building toppled over and fell into the street… The premises and contents are totally destroyed. Mr Abraham’s tobacco warehouse is also severely damaged by fire, and the contents by water. The coffee house of Mr C.Grove, No 66 is likewise greatly damaged, and so are the premises of Mr W. Plumpter, woollen draper, nos 68 and 69 by breakage and hasty removal. The losses will fall principally on the Sun fire-Office. The origin of the fire is enveloped in mystery….” George Church had several encounters with the law, and I can’t help wondering about the mysterious circumstances of the fire, which resulted in this fine building.
I’m surprised ‘The Rose & Punchbowl’ on Redmans Road and Jubilee Street, Stepney, not mentioned. Apparently it is no longer there. A retreat for the finest of East London Car Dealers in the 60’s. My parents managed the place for several years.
What a marvellous set of photographs! Absolutely splended. The sepia & black & white especially help to make everything so nostalgic. What a difference photography makes
to our lives. I think it is essential that we have the past to look back on as well as in print.
Wonderful to see people here in the reviews who have family related to the people or towns in these photos. Such a shame so many public houses are closing down. In Leeds, my brother informs me that all 15 public house that he patronised for over 3o years have all been pulled
down within the last 7 years. These were fine Victorian buildings that people loved to congregate and enjoy a drink, now they are devastated as they have no where to go! Such
a shame and such a waste.