The Hungerford Arms
Old school East End watering hole with friendly bar staff, a pool table, jukebox & beers on tap.
About
Just when you think London's traditional boozers have all been converted into overpriced craft beer temples or soulless luxury flats, The Hungerford Arms in Shadwell stands as a defiant middle finger to gentrification. And God help me, I'm actually grateful for it.
Let's be clear - if you're seeking artisanal small plates or Instagram-worthy cocktails served in vintage teacups, you've stumbled into the wrong establishment entirely. The Hungerford Arms is the kind of place that would make your craft-beer-sipping friends clutch their pearls in horror. Which is precisely why it's fantastic.
Built in 1851, this Commercial Road survivor still sports its original Watney Combe Reid brewery signage, worn like a badge of honor rather than a desperate grab at heritage aesthetics. The interior is exactly what you'd expect - long, narrow, and decorated with the kind of lived-in charm that money can't buy and designers can't fake. It's the architectural equivalent of your favorite pair of jeans, comfortable precisely because it's not trying to impress anyone.
Here's the thing that initially made me suspicious - the prices. In a city where a pint can cost more than a small car payment, The Hungerford Arms maintains the kind of pricing that makes you wonder if you've accidentally stepped through a time portal. A pint of Fosters (yes, Fosters - clutch those pearls tighter, craft beer enthusiasts) will set you back less than £4. I kept waiting for the catch, like maybe they'd charge you for breathing the air or using the loo.
The jukebox - and yes, it's an actual jukebox, not a Spotify playlist curated by someone named Sebastian - plays everything from classic rock to reggae, creating the kind of authentic atmosphere that corporate pub chains spend millions trying to replicate. The pool table charges 50p a game, which in modern London feels like some sort of clerical error that nobody's bothered to correct.
But what really gets me, what really makes me angry about loving this place, is the people. The bar staff know their regulars by name and drink order, yet somehow manage to make newcomers feel equally welcome - provided you're not the type to ask for a deconstructed gin and tonic or gluten-free bar snacks. The clientele is a brilliant mix of old-school East Enders and anyone else who appreciates a proper pub without pretense.
Outside, you'll find the traditional congregation of smokers engaging in the time-honored pub tradition of solving the world's problems one cigarette at a time. Inside, the horse racing might be on the telly, conversations flow freely, and not a single person is taking photos of their drink for social media. It's gloriously, unapologetically real.
The amenities are basic but functional - yes, there's a bathroom, and no, it doesn't have hand-crafted artisanal soap. They take cards (including contactless), though watching someone pay for a sub-£4 pint with their phone feels somewhat sacrilegious. There's even some outdoor seating, though calling it a "beer garden" would be stretching the truth further than I'm comfortable with.
Located a stone's throw from Shadwell DLR and Overground stations, The Hungerford Arms is surprisingly accessible for somewhere that feels so thoroughly removed from modern London's usual suspects. It's the kind of place that makes you realize how much of the city's soul has been slowly eroded by progress and property developers.
Look, I'll admit it - The Hungerford Arms has won me over, despite my best efforts to maintain professional cynicism. In a city increasingly dominated by identical chain pubs and overpriced themed bars, it's a reminder of what London pubs used to be, and what a precious few still are. If you're brave enough to venture beyond your comfort zone and smart enough to appreciate authenticity over artifice, you'll find something increasingly rare in modern London - a real pub, with real people, at real prices. Just don't you dare tell them I sent you.
Contact Information
Address
240 Commercial Rd, London E1 2NB, UK
London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Phone
+44 20 3732 1820