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Rochester Castle, London

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Operator: Wetherspoon
143-145 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, London, N16 0NY (View on Google Map)

With some fine tiling in the front section and a large skylight at the back, this is a welcome outlet for cask beer. Children's licence until 20.00 (last food orders an hour before). in existence from 1702 as the Green Dragon and subsequently demolished and rebuilt by Richard Payne from Rochester (hence the name) although it was briefly the Tanners Hall in the 1980s. It is now Wetherspoon's longest trading pub.

Following CAMRA's updated definition of "real cider", pubs such as this selling for example Old Rosie and Orchard Pig or other ciders such as Thistly Cross, Stans, Gwynt Y Draig, Broadoak etc. no longer qualify for the "Real cider" tag.

Historic Interest

Grade II listed:- The Rochester Castle Public House, Stoke Newington High Street. 1892-93 by Messrs Crickmay and Sons, architects. EXTERIOR: three storeys plus attic. Ground floor with a projecting central bay set between Doric columns of red granite; glazing renewed. Flanking side pilasters also of red granite. Doors (renewed) on either side, with mosaic decoration to thresholds spelling name of pub; tiled decoration on inner walls of entrances, with decorative moulded tiles (that on south wall with a panel showing a grape-cutting maiden). Fascia of grey granite. Projecting central shallow segmental bay rising up to an elaborate stepped gable; twelve-light mullioned windows to first and second floors; decorative cartouches at second floor level, with putti frolicking with garlands amid acanthus leaves with a central cartouche. Plainer side bays with tall windows to first floor within moulded, pediment-topped surrounds, and framed windows with aprons to second floor; windows are of plate glass, with moulded mullions to upper lights. Mansard with pediment-topped dormers. INTERIOR: The pub has lost its original partitions and the bar counter has been moved back against the north flank wall. The compartmented ceiling is carried on slender cast iron columns. The front part of the side walls retain glazed tiling with arabesque-enriched pilasters and mirrors: figurative panels depicting the Seasons, set within borders, remain in situ along the north wall. To the rear, a top-lit extension with a Jacobethan style frieze beneath the (renewed) lantern. Upper floors not inspected. HISTORY: this is a characteristic and exuberantly decorated pub from the height of the 'Gin Palace' phase of pub building. Stylistically it looked to the early 17th century for inspiration. It has undergone considerable alteration, but remains a fine example of the type, with unusual tiled decoration. The architects, Messrs Crickmay and Sons, were specialists in the field. Permission to erect the pub, on behalf of a Mr Heaven, was sought from the London County Council in November 1892.

Information for this venue is provided by the North London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Tanners Hall
Local Authority
Hackney
Last updated
12/03/2025
Last surveyed
03/02/2023
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Wetherspoon
Pub ID
NLD/5769
Asset of Community Value

The pub has lost its original partitions and the bar counter has been moved back against the north flank wall. The compartmented ceiling is carried on slender cast iron columns. The front part of the side walls retain glazed tiling with arabesque-enriched pilasters and mirrors: figurative panels depicting the Seasons, set within borders, remain in situ along the north wall. To the rear, a top-lit extension with a Jacobethan style frieze beneath the (renewed) lantern.

The pub has lost its original partitions and the bar counter has been moved back against the north flank wall. The compartmented ceiling is carried on slender cast iron columns. The front part of the side walls retain glazed tiling with arabesque-enriched pilasters and mirrors: figurative panels depicting the Seasons, set within borders, remain in situ along the north wall. To the rear, a top-lit extension with a Jacobethan style frieze beneath the (renewed) lantern.

General information about historic pub interiors
Monday
8:00am - Midnight
Tuesday
8:00am - Midnight
Wednesday
8:00am - Midnight
Thursday
8:00am - Midnight
Friday
8:00am - 1:00am
Saturday
8:00am - 1:00am
Sunday
8:00am - Midnight
Monday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Friday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday
8:00am - 9:30pm
Sunday
8:00am - 9:30pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 6 changing beers and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot Premium Bitter • 5%
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot

Premium Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
GREENE KING IPA PUMP CLIP FRONT
Greene King - IPA Session Bitter • 3.4%
GREENE KING IPA PUMP CLIP FRONT
Greene King - IPA

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 3.4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar Session Bitter • 4%
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Thornbridge - Jaipur
Thornbridge - Jaipur New World IPA • 5.9% Spotted 6 times
Thornbridge - Jaipur
Thornbridge - Jaipur

New World IPA

ABV: 5.9%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago
Windsor Knot, available all year
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot Session Bitter • 4% Spotted twice
Windsor Knot, available all year
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot

Session Bitter

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 4 days ago
East London - Cowcatcher American Pale Ale
East London - Cowcatcher American Pale Ale Premium Pale Ale • 4.8% Spotted 6 times
East London - Cowcatcher American Pale Ale
East London - Cowcatcher American Pale Ale

Premium Pale Ale

ABV: 4.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago

Source: National


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Cask Marque Cask Marque
CAMRA Voucher Scheme CAMRA Voucher Scheme
Transport
Close to bus routes (100m)
Closest station (1650m)
Hackney Downs
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (500m)
Stoke Newington

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