This historic pub is well known for an infamous shooting involving the Kray Brothers who once ruled the East End. These days, however, Whitechapel locals know this as one of the best pubs in the area.

The Venue
The Blind Beggar is an impressive pub that immediately appeals thanks to its welcoming beer garden. Even in the winter, it beckons you inward. A large sign declares its presence, and it’s easily spotted on the corner of Whitechapel Road and Brady Street, just around the corner from the local Sainsburys superstore - a two minute walk from Whitechapel tube station.

The main exterior of the pub extends back to show off its main feature – the beer garden. Easily spied through a gate, the sprawling patio area complete with parasols, plenty of benches and even an outdoor pool table in the warmer months looks inviting and is always pumping – especially in the summer. That said, in the winter it’s under cover and heated making it an all-year-round attractive option for drinkers. The music sounds loudly enough to permeate across, giving the garden a feeling of inclusion to the main body of the venue. Fairy lights sparkle, complementing the outdoor lighting, providing an oasis of calm to the quite downtrodden area, only broken by the loud chatter and laughter of the punters inhabiting it. Be sure to gaze over at the Koi Pond complete with small Buddha statue, a calming and attractive centrepiece.

Inside, the pub has undergone a transformation from the days when it offered a predominately red colourscheme and battered leather sofas that had most definitely seen better days. The pub has since been given a more neutral - and far cleaner - lick of beige paint, although it’s kept charming and warm with heavy wooden pew-style seating areas, the old wooden fireplace and attractively framed pictures that relate to the pub’s history, including a rather charming souvenir machine.

The Atmosphere
The clientele here consists almost entirely of locals, with the odd student from nearby Queen Mary University thrown in for good measure. Everyone from groups of lads to couples snuggling up on the sofas converge here, alongside your typical salt of the earth East Enders. Unlike many of the pubs along this stretch, the Blind Beggar isn’t intimidating, nor is it peppered with the rough around the edges hard nuts that you can find nesting in these bars. Instead, it’s a laid back, enjoyable little local that’s easy to dip in and out of. The staff help to perpetuate this with a friendly and efficient service, welcoming newcomers as warmly as the regulars.

The Food
The Blind Beggar is a bit of a strange one as far as the food goes. This is as far from a gastro pub as you can possibly get, but the menu offers dishes that sound better suited to a restaurant than a boozer. The dinner menu consists of such options as mussels in garlic and white wine, and salmon and fruit salsa alongside more what you’d expect like nachos, jackets and paninis (£4-£7).

Mains attempt to edge towards the finer things in life and include such dishes as duck breast with pancakes and black pudding, sea bass with roasted potato quenelles or a sweet chilli prawn stir fry. With no dish breaching the £10 mark, it’s hard to imagine where exactly this food fits in with the pub’s East End image but the cheap price tags keep its feet firmly planted on the ground.

The Drink
Following alongside the bizarrely upmarket food menu, the drink selection tries to compete with a far larger than you can possibly imagine Champagne menu, consisting of 13 bottles that include everything from the house Champagne (£30) to Dom Perignon 1999 (£110). Alternatively, you can indulge in the Blind Beggar red, white or rose house options for just £3.20 a glass.

However, the spirits and beer selection are the main draw. There’s a decent selection of draught lagers, including the rare draught Bulmers – a well kept, delicious cider that comes served with (optional) ice, making a perfect after work tipple. Prices are reasonable and far cheaper than in the pubs and bars of nearby trendier Shoreditch. You can get a round in for three people for less than a tenner (provided you're not ordering Champagne or vodka Red Bull, of course).

The Last Word
The Blind Beggar is steeped in East End history but in its present day form it appeals thanks to its impressive beer garden and laid back, happy-go-lucky atmosphere. Certainly one of the only pubs in Whitechapel worth seeking out.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (17)