The traditional East End (Tower Hamlets) has been purged of good pubs in the last 30 years and it really affects me that the cornerstone of cockney life and culture has been eroded in many parts of the Borough. Therefore when I hear of a rescue mission it gets the blood pumping and excitement levels hit 11. 

Named after the Greenwich Pensioners who resided in The Royal Hospital Greenwich, which was the naval equivalent of the armies Chelsea Pensioner, it has existed since at least 1842. Tucked away behind stunning All Saints Church it reopened in October 2018 with its fourth new licence in five years. It failed every time previously but is now in the hands of a first class Gentleman and is a roaring success. 

It took a while to get the word out, and to quote a recent comment from the Guv’nor to me: ‘I remember a time when it was just you and I of an evening at the bar and you were the only customer’. It warms my heart to see, with hard work and a clever business strategy, how Tadgh has grown the business into a thriving pub which is renowned for a warm welcome, live football with a relaxed atmosphere. Affordable quality Sundays Roasts and a fine craft selection with pizzas to boot make it a pub that ticks a lot of boxes for thirsty locals and office workers

Looking at old Ordnance Survey maps of Poplar and Canning Town, up until the late 1960s, there were close to 120 pubs on street corners or wedged in between terraces. In 2021 there are now just five. The fact this hidden gem, both architecturally and culturally, survives is of significance on a grand scale. Sadly I predict three of the other four will be gone within 5 years (partly due to Chrisp Street Market redevelopment) and eventually I suspect it will be the last survivor of a bygone way of life. Changing London.

I regularly commentate on the many reason why pubs have closed in such large numbers in this part of town. People are quick to scream changing demographics and although this is certainly one of the contributing factors, the decline and reasons for closures began long before the first waves of mass immigration in the late 1950s.

The Grade II listed façade speaks for its self and illustrates that Taylor Walker were able to gives Brick Lane brewery Truman’s a run for their money in the tiling stakes. Inside it’s a single room pub which has been lovingly cleaned up and the green colouring scheme really works complemented with the flowers and candle light on each table dancing against the walls.

Pictures of old beanos adjourn the walls along with branded relics from the pubs past. It has a contemporary feel in some respects but still holds onto and values the buildings history. The change is night and day from my first visit eight years ago and with so many flats going up in the area the warm welcome and atmosphere of this place is sure to pull in more thirsty punters. The garden is a little sun trap and I love the old Joanna bought over from The Duke of Wellington pub in Dalton. It looks right at home in its new environment.

The Guv’nor is the most gracious of hosts and certainly knows his beers as he keeps an impressive rig on the bar. Pop down and see him for a pint (open from 1600 in the week) or get there early doors on Marathon Day to grab something cold and a BBQ’d burger and cheer on the runners.