Black Lion, Plaistow

A number of Victorian and inter-war fixtures survive in this fiercely traditional pub which has changed little in over forty years – perhaps longer.

Some sources claim the pub – or a part of it - is 450 years old, others that it was rebuilt in 1742. Its frontage was installed in 1875. Inside there are two distinct rooms. Originally there was no access between them but now there is an unusual arrangement whereby customers may walk through the bar servery from one room to the other. 

The smaller left-hand room has an old vestibule entrance. The bar counter frontage has fielded panelling that appears to be inter-war. The bar-back looks to be Victorian with bevelled mirrors and columns with capitals topped by a decorative cornice.

The larger right-hand bar has a long, elegantly curving counter with fielded panelling below it that dates from inter-war times. Like the counter in the left-hand room, it sits on a stone plinth that does not look to be of any age, suggesting a more recent re-fitting. At the far right is a smaller room down three steps; it appears that this was once an entirely separate building into which the pub expanded many years ago. Or could it be that this part was in fact the original pub and it expanded to the west?

At the rear, the pub’s old coach yard is a potent reminder of olden times.