With us entering Lockdown 2.0 it was probably the wrong time to start a new series on the blog. But I thought it would be nice to try out a new local pub and spotlight it. Hopefully this is the dawn of a new part of the blog when we eventually reopen. To me pubs are so important to communities and I think in these times, more than any, it’s good to heap a bit of praise on these British staples. So my first Pub Spotlight is ‘The Rookwood Village’ in Leytonstone London. Originally known as ‘The Lord Rookwood’ it was built in 1893 and had been closed for a number of years after being sold to a private landlord. However, it reopened in September 2020 as a part of South East pub group ‘Urban Village Pubs’.

The facade of the pub has been done nicely but the inside is really gorgeous. Although it has some of that slightly forced corporate coziness you see in pubs these days it really would be a minor criticism as the inside is bright, spacious and clean with a slightly rustic vibe. Lot’s of seating available with the majority inside in the form of booths. Perhaps the best feature of the pub is the great spacious outdoor area with lots of covered, and importantly heated, seating. Ideal for the recent rules changes in the tiered system.

The pub, at the moment anyways, uses an app for ordering. I presume they will do table service as understandably not everyone has a phone or the space for another ordering app. While a bit finicky to use it is relatively convenient. And when the discounts on our food didn’t apply the staff were happy to sort it out and take the order manually. Speaking of food, the pub has a set menu of your classic pub foods like your burgers and fish & chips. There’s a very wide array of options and a kid’s menu to boot. They have offers on regularly and my friends and I went on a 2-4-1 pizza day as they have a pizza oven in the kitchen! At £6.50 at pizza your are getting an incredibly tasty, and incredibly well sized pie. Absolutely no complaints from any of us and they even provide takeaway boxes for the guaranteed leftovers.

Last but not least the important bit, the beer! Craft wise they have a brilliantly diverse array of beers both on tap and in cans to drink in or takeaway. It’s slightly on the pricey side in all honesty but that is often the case with pubs in London (and craft beer in general). That said the selection is quality, I had a stout from Wild Beer Co. that was delicious and would love to grab a can to review. Importantly, for me however is that they support the local brewery. Pretty Decent Beer Co. (I’ve reviewed a couple of their beers) from right around the corner feature prominently on both draft and cask. It’s really lovely to see a bigger company like Urban Village Pubs showcase and highlight the local breweries in the area.

There’s lots I haven’t mentioned including a large function space, ping pong tables and even virtual darts but I hesitate to ramble on for too long. On the whole it’s a genuinely lovely pub with well priced food and a great beer selection. I’ll be back when everything opens to try the burger selection for sure. If you’re local and having a wander on Wanstead Flats or happen to be in the area I’d most certainly recommend popping in for a half pint and a bite to eat. It’s always good to see a pub restored rather than knocked down and turned into flats or a chicken shop!

Thanks very much for reading. Support local businesses and any advice on my writing is always welcome!

Additional Information:

Address: 314 Cann Hall Rd, Leytonstone, London E11 3NW

Website: https://therookwoodvillage.com/