Whitechapel - Pendar Sillwood Fri 6th Sep 2013

 

Whitechapel is a fairly rough and ready area but it does have a colourful character to it. It also has a lot of history: the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the bell for Ben Big amongst others; Jack The Ripper terrorised the area in 1888; the London Hospital is known for its association with John (aka Joseph) Merrick, immortalised in the Elephant Man film; the Sidney Street siege took place in 1911; the Kray twins terrorised the area in 1950s and 60s; and more recent attention to the area has been caused by the Whitechapel fictional TV series.

Since the last Whitechapel pub crawl (in 2003), the Lord Rodney's Head, the Grave Maurice, and the Black Bull pubs have all closed.

 

 

 

 

#1

 

6.15pm - 7.00pm

 

Blind Beggar
337 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU

- This pub is infamous for being the location where gangster Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell dead in 1966. For years the pub tried to play down the association but now seems quite keen to cash in on it.

These days it is far removed from its former tatty appearance and presents a clean, almost anodyne, establishment.

 

Urban Bar

 

#2

 

7.05pm - 7.50pm

 

LHT Urban Bar
176 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BJ

- A much improved pub and trendy with it. It is unrecognisable from the era when a full-scale brawl between The Krays and a rival gang took place and was reported in the press the next day as the worst gang fight in East London for years.
These days it has a much friendlier atmosphere with gig nights and comedy nights. There is also a jukebox, so our visit will no doubt see us putting a few coins into it.

 

 

#3

 

7.55pm - 8.35pm

 

Good Samaritan
87 Turner Street, E1 2AE

- Watering hole frequented by medical staff from the London Hospital. It's getting slightly tatty now but it still remains a favourite in the area.

 

#4

 

8.40pm - 9.25pm

 

Indo
133 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1DT

- Bit of a hippy place, with the incense sticks etc, and definitely worth a visit to contrast with all the other pubs in the area, man.

 

#5

 

9.30pm - 10.15pm **
(either this or the next one)

 

Rhythm Factory
16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW

- It's either this one or the next one but not both, unless there has been a problem with one of the previous pubs.
This one is more of a club than pub and doesn't really get going until the midnight hour. However, it's worth a glance on the way past. If it is looking ok and the pub crawlers like it, we'll go in.

 

#6

 

9.30pm - 10.15pm **

 

Bar Locks
21 Whitechurch Lane, Aldgate, London, E1 7QR

- A locals pub on the edge of the city and is notable for that only. It has got a darts board though. It was a choice of this one or the karaoke at The Archers in Brick Lane.

 

 

#7

 

10.20pm - closing

 

White Hart
89 Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 7RA

- A long standing favourite, the Jack The Ripper tours will have all long gone home by the time we get here.