According to the sign on the door, Maple Leaf offers a small piece of Canada in the heart of London. If the sum of Canada is bacon with macaroni cheese and Alaskan salmon then this is certainly true.

The Venue
Maple Leaf is a tourist trap designed for students that have recently descended onto London in search of first class education and visitors that have travelled to the capital for holidays and found themselves in one of its busiest areas. It is as mundane as they come.

The look is that of a chain pub with no ideas other than to follow the linear pattern that seem to keep people streaming back to the likes of the Walkabout bars and Litten Trees. The wooden floors are covered with tables and chairs to get the most out of the space, the furniture is that horrible light pine that looks as cheap as it probably is and the authentic Canadian decor is a tad contrived. The sports memorabilia in glass cases just fuels the soulless nature of the pub. The large bar extends backwards, eating into the space away from the street. The dark gloominess might make you want to tie some string to the door and keep it with you so you can find your way back to the front as there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of this tunnel, maybe just a Canadian Minotaur hungry as quotas on Alaskan salmon and chilli dogs run low, who knows.

The Atmosphere
The Maple Leaf may be the type of venue that can invite comparisons with the tunnel at the end of which lurks a mythical Greek beast, but it does have an atmosphere to get you going. The pub shows a lot of sports and you can guarantee that it will be packed for most major matches. The place is loud and friendly and people aren’t here for anything more than the atmosphere itself. The attraction of it is the camaraderie that comes from large groups congregating in one place to watch sport and once matches finish it bleeds into the rest of the night. The clientele is mixed and matched between old and young, hipster and tourist. It may not be the number one pick in town but it is fun for the sake of fun itself.

The Food
The menu is a mix of English and Canadian according to the statement on the wall. This means there are traditional dishes that come with chips and beans for the English side of things, along with the usual baguettes, sandwiches and burgers plus a Canadian side. The Alaskan salmon will probably come across a little like plain old salmon to most of you and there are also hot dogs with chilli and macaroni cheese with bacon. On good authority it’s clear that there is more to Canadian cuisine than this, but then there’s more to English food than sandwiches and burgers - they forgot the fish and chips for a start.

The Drink
The bar itself is a large one and so it’s only right that it should stock a vast number of wines and commercial spirits, and it does just that. Its selection of beers is a good with a few unusual choices. There are Fosters, Becks Vier, Kronenbourg and Staropramen on tap along with the India Pale Ale. There is also a good list of bottled beers, too.

The Last Word
The Maple Leaf has a good heart within its rather cheap and grotty shell. It’s great for sports and a good place to get rowdy in groups.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (8)