Being invited for a tour during refurbishment works of these majestic Gin Palace type pubs to document their transformation is an incredible honour.

 In the northern environs of E10 the magnificent exterior of the William hasn’t needed to be touched but the interior is now contemporary and also respectful of the past.

I enjoy an old man pub as much as the next booze hound but time doesn’t stand still and grand old gents such as the William have to update and diversify to a changing market place while offering something different to stay open.

All the old features have been retained including the grand unique shaped bar and the hostelry still oozes character. Wooden floors throughout, the original fireplace and a gold painted ceiling give the pub a fresh but traditional feel. Extra points for the parquet flooring, which always creates a warm feeling of intimacy and elegance.

It was always going to be hard to keep the old local clientele happy with a change of ownership here. This was on account of former owners, Welsh brewers Brodie’s, brewing on site out the back of the pub. The ability to run a Tap Room meant incredibly competitive pricing. Once Brodie’s sold up and the brewery closed prices were always going to increase with beers procured from elsewhere.

What I love is that the new operator have embraced this and its still very affordable. Some rebooted pubs charge crippling prices in vain attempts to increase margin (and often drive old school generational drinkers away) yet the William has food deals Monday - Friday along with a 4-7 Happy Hour at £3.50 a drink.

Two drinks for £7 is a winner in my book and illustrates how it strives to be an inclusive community pub. This is evident on any visit with a cross-section of local life in Leyton represented. Chatty old geezers at the bar, ladies playing pool, some Millennial’s watching the football on the box and a few local Romanian blokes smashing back the Heineken are usually in equally plentiful number.

The beer garden is intimate, there is a space in the old Brodie’’s on-site brewery for events and the staff are most hospitable. One to attempt to visit if visiting Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road or after shopping at Walthamstow Market.