⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Ye Olde Rose and Crown (Walthamstow): A Pub with Character & a Hidden Theatre
Ah, Ye Olde Rose and Crown - a classic old-school pub with a surprise theatre upstairs and a staircase that should come with a health warning if you’ve had a few drinks.
We visited for the upstairs pub theatre, which is a great little space for live performances, though the venue itself has definitely seen better days (let’s call it ‘charmingly tired’). The staff were friendly and helpful, and while the pub was busy, it wasn’t packed - which says a lot about London nightlife these days.
Drinks? Good selection. Prices? Decent. Decor? Well-worn but functional. The bar area wasn’t too busy when we arrived, making it easy to grab a drink before heading upstairs. By the time we left around 8 PM, the pub had picked up in atmosphere, with more people filtering in and giving it a proper lively Saturday night feel.
Parking? There’s no dedicated parking, but plenty of on-street spaces nearby - free after 6:30 PM (a rare London luxury). The pub is on a busy high street, so if you’re driving, aim for the side streets.
Would I come back? For the theatre, definitely - a pub with a built-in performance space is always a win. For drinks? Maybe, but probably not my first choice for a night out. It’s got character, but it’s not exactly glamorous - just a solid, no-frills, good-time kind of place.
Excellent community “theatre pub” with a real buzz about it. The only puzzling thing the last time I visited was that the bartenders didn’t seem to know the lineup for the shows. Serves an interesting range of beers and cask ales, including Extra Strong Bitter (the Three Legs Brewery version rather than the Fullers version). Cosy sofas, with a kids’ section at the back. Unfortunately no beer garden in the back, but theres a few benches in the front facing the road. There’s also a food menu with a lineup of rotating chefs (Afro-Caribbean on Tue, Thu and Sat; Roasts on Sundays). There are also numerous community advertisements, posters and flyers.
Lovely place. Smashing staff, good range of beers on and a cracking set of friendly regulars. Inconceivable, but a cracking boozer that happens to be a top notch venue too. Be transported back to the eighties, but in a good way! Well quick update, we're post covid and every time I've been back, still been cracking... Happily made it through troubled times for pubs intact.
Another 2023 update, still the same great spot, lovely to see such a nice pub have a landmark "birthday"
2024 Update. Still rock solid with great people, great food and awesome range of quality drinks.
I went here to see the Diva Purple concert, it was amazing. Wide selection of drinks, kind and pleasant staff. I'll definitely be back and I absolutely recommend it.
I didn't eat there. I went to the small theater upstairs. They had a folk singing troupe doing their singing upstairs. They sang beautiful, sad songs about the fishing accident, which killed 58 men in the 60's.