A nice refurbishment has lifted this excellent pub up a couple of notches. One of the best for beers in the area.

The Venue
The Carpenters Arms has really benefited from its facelift, morphing into a glossier version of the traditional British pub. It’s still very traditional, with a heavy wooden bar, lots of spirits and beers on display, dark wooden tables and chairs, high stools and the like, but it’s been given a feminine edge thanks to flowers, images of the local area and a beautiful beer garden complete with dining tables and cute statuettes.

The Atmosphere
Like many pubs in the area, the Carpenters Arms had Krays affiliations back in the day (it was owned by their mum, apparently), which has made it a place to seek out by tourists and historians. Still, despite that, locals rule the roost here and there’s a good mix of office workers and residents who have made this their regular watering hole. As such, there’s a warmth to the service that you only get from independent pubs like this.

The Drink
As well as draught pumps offering San Miguel, Becks Vier, Bitburger, Guinness and Aspall, they also offer three regularly rotating guest ales here, which is always good to see. The reinvented Truman’s Runner ale features regularly. However, it’s their bottled world beers that really impresses, covering beer from Belgium (of course), Britain, Germany, USA, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, Greece, Italy and Argentina, including some rare bottles that you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. Nicely done.

The Last Word
The Carpenters Arms is a great little pub and is worth seeking out even if you aren’t working your way around the Krays pubs.

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