London Fields Brewery Tap and pubs on the Black Path to Hackney

London Fields Brewery Taproom

The programme for the 33rd Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival at the Round Chapel, Clapton, included a feature by Stephen Harris about Hackney pubs 'Along the Black Path' on pages 12/13.

Stephen writes that 'The Black Path is an old drovers' route from the wilds of Essex, through Walthamstow and Hackney to the slaughterhouses and markets of the East End. It is surprisingly still visible on the ground and links a series of good pubs in a largely traffic-free environment.'
Inspired by this article, I planned a trip to visit some of these pubs and the London Fields Brewery Tap which I missed on a previous trip near this area, featured in my previous post 'Brewery tap rooms from Bethnal Green to Walthamstow - part 1'.

My trip would start at London Fields Overground station, and end near Hackney Central Overground station, allowing a side trip to the CAMRA Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival afterwards.

London Fields is served by Overground trains from Liverpool Street, via Bethnal Green, every 15 minutes during weekday daytime hours. It was a bright, crisp morning on Tuesday 29 November, 2016, the opening day of the 33rd Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival.

From London Fields station, head south along Mentmore Terrace which lies in the eastern shadow of the elevated railway line.

On the way you will pass the brewery site and some street art. The taproom lies at the end of Mentmore Terrace and extends into the space beneath the railway.

There is plenty of seating and it was nice to find it warm inside on a cold day.

On this occasion, I ordered a flat white coffee and would later purchase bottles of London Fields Brewery beer to take home.

Food options included a Berlin brunch to share and Berliner Stulle (open topped sandwiches) from Noemi and the friendly Brünch team who have experience providing Berlin style pop up events.

Reading matter, including a magazine from Berlin, is available.

Another nice touch is finding (Ventnor Brewery) green bottles of water and glasses on the tables.

Before leaving I had a chat with Jack who gave me advice on which beers to buy. Jack, who was previously at the South Western Arms in Southampton, recommended a visit to the Cock Tavern in Hackney, so this would be one of the Black Path pubs I would visit later. Jack admitted to being an Ullage reader so I was pleased to leave him with autumn and winter issues of West Berkshire CAMRA's magazine.

The table above summarises a few notable points from my subesequent visits to four of the pubs on the Black Path. I only stopped for a half pint of pale ale from a local brewery at each pub. On this occasion I didn't visit The Albion (Goldsmiths Row), Cat & Mutton (Broadway Market) or Oslo (Hackney Central) which are featured in Stephen's Black Path article.
A few photos follow. Click on the headings below to visit the website for each pub visited.

Regent's Canal - under Cat & Mutton Bridge

 The Dove

The Dove, Broadway Market

Ceiling of The Dove

Pub on the Park

Pub on the Park, Martello Street, London Fields

 Old Ship Inn

Old Ship Inn - Front entrance - Sylvester Path

Cock Tavern

Cock Tavern, Mare Street, Hackney

Cider range - Cock Tavern

After a late lunch and coffee, I walked to the Round Chapel, for the Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival, via the walled garden walk just beyond St Augustine's Tower which leads to Sutton Place and then north along Urswick Road.

Sutton Place

The Round Chapel

Postscript

This section of the Black Path is a walk worth repeating especially as some pubs were missed.
Broadway Market, between the Cat & Mutton pub and the bridge over the Regent's Canal has a variety of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants including several bookshops and F. Cooke - a traditional Eel, Pie and Mash shop. On Saturdays a street market is based at Broadway Market.