The Wing And A Prayer

Just what London needs - another pub with a quirky name attempting to breathe life into Clapton's evolving nightlife scene. The Wing And A Prayer arrived with the usual fanfare of exposed brick, craft beer promises, and locals desperate for somewhere new to complain about gentrification over £6 pints. I approached with the weary resignation of someone who's seen too many "neighborhood gems" come and go.

But damn it all if this place hasn't wormed its way into my cold, cynical heart.

Let's address the name first - The Wing And A Prayer. Yes, it's trying a bit too hard to be memorable, like that friend who insists on having a "signature cocktail" at parties. Yet somehow, like that friend's questionable concoction, it works. The vintage aviation-themed touches scattered throughout are mercifully subtle, unlike the heavy-handed thematic sledgehammer most London pubs swing these days.

The bar staff, led by an enigmatic figure perpetually dressed in leopard print (a choice that should be tragic but somehow isn't), display that increasingly rare quality of actually seeming to enjoy their jobs. I've visited enough times now to confirm it's not an elaborate act - they genuinely care about what they're pouring and who they're pouring it for. It's almost annoying how authentic their friendliness is.

The space itself deserves mention, if only because it manages to thread the needle between "cozy local" and "Instagram backdrop" without falling entirely into either camp. The main bar area strikes that elusive balance of being both spacious enough to avoid elbow-jabbing warfare during peak hours and intimate enough to foster actual conversation. The basement space, which they'll let you book for events if you're so inclined, manages to avoid the usual dungeon-like atmosphere of most London pub lower levels.

Speaking of which, let's talk about their events. I attended one of their quiz nights fully prepared to mock the proceedings in this very review. Instead, I found myself reluctantly enjoying a well-organized evening that managed to avoid both the tedium of obscure trivia and the chaos of poorly managed scoring. The fact that they regularly host live music without the sound system turning everything into an assault on the eardrums is nothing short of miraculous for a London pub.

They've made some surprisingly smart choices with their drink selection. The beer rotation shows actual thought rather than just ticking trendy boxes, and their cocktail menu manages to be interesting without veering into pretentious territory. Yes, they serve natural wine - this is still East London after all - but they don't make you feel like a philistine if you order something more conventional.

Dog owners, rejoice - your four-legged friends are welcome here. And unlike many supposedly dog-friendly establishments, The Wing And A Prayer actually seems prepared for canine visitors, with water bowls appearing without prompting and staff who don't act like your pet is an inconvenience to their day.

The payment setup is refreshingly modern - they take cards, contactless, and yes, actual cash, without the increasingly common song and dance about card minimums or service charges. It's a small detail, but one that speaks to a larger appreciation for customer convenience that runs throughout the operation.

For groups, they've managed to create several spaces that can accommodate larger parties without turning the whole pub into a birthday party takeover zone. The layout works in your favor here - there's enough separation between areas that one rowdy group doesn't necessarily mean the end of civilization as we know it.

Look, I came to The Wing And A Prayer in London ready to dismiss it as just another addition to the endless parade of try-hard venues. Instead, I found myself becoming one of those irritating regulars who develops a proprietary interest in "their" pub. The staff now knows my usual order, which should be infuriating but is actually rather nice. I've caught myself recommending it to friends, then immediately feeling like I've betrayed my cynical principles.

If you're in Clapton and in need of a drink (and who isn't these days?), you could do far worse than The Wing And A Prayer. In fact - and it pains me physically to write this - you probably couldn't do much better. Go there before it gets too popular and we all have to find somewhere else to pretend to hate.