Many pubs, although excellent hostelries, are just your average run-of-the-mill local boozer that provide a service for the community.

They are priceless assets to those that use them but don’t set the world alight merely existing as part of the local landscape. There are thousands like them across the country functioning efficiently but anonymously.

Then there are others whose past defines them and means they have a place in history that is regularly championed and saluted. These treasures often see pilgrimages made to their doors by cult fans to pay tribute to their glorious past. Sometimes this is on account of evil deeds but mostly because of an association with someone or something that did remarkable work and affected a special group of people.

The Cart & Horses at Maryland Point in Stratford is synonymous with British Heavy Metal legends Iron Maiden who played many early gigs in the late 1970s on the small stage here. It is an iconic building for fans of the band and as a disciple since a young boy myself this particular walk around capturing the boozer in transition was a very big event for this Trooper.

Iron Maiden logos adjourn the exterior walls proudly displaying that the band cut their teeth here and it stands as a marker of local pride. When I first heard it was closing I thought it might either end up in purgatory or in the well populated pub graveyard of East London; just like Maiden’s two other “homes”, The Bridge House, Canning Town and The Ruskin Arms, Manor Park. I’m pleased to report, not so here.

I was very kindly given a tour by Site Manager, Paul in March 2020 and I’m delighted to report exciting plans are being delivered. In the vast basement they’ve dug down 1.2m which keeping with the buildings tradition will be a gig venue accommodating c.80 people. Complete with band dressing rooms and a bar it will preserve and continue bands like Maiden’s legacy of local talent being showcased in E15. Street level will continue to be a pub serving the community and on the top floor new flats.

The front exterior will pleasingly remain exactly the same. Also, whilst on site, I had sight of the plans and can’t wait to see this building, that is dripping in London music history, be a hallowed place once again. Sadly the Covid-19 global pandemic has meant that the pub is unable to open and ex-members of Iron Maiden have kindly donated music for a fundraising CD ‘Cart & Horses Wasted Year 2020’ to give the pub much needed funds.

As soon as the latest lockdown restrictions are lifted, so that pubs can reopen indoors from 17 May, I’ll be back to capture the completed changes and raise a glass to Iron Maiden, to Eddie and all the boys who have kept this vital piece of East London music history alive. The legacy of the Beast lives on.

Up the Irons!