1. The Dove
To any regular custodian of Broadway Market, The Dove is a staple.
During the weekend, this boozer is the epicentre of the bustling Broadway Market scene. Its outdoor tables and hole-in-the-wall serving quickfire Aperol Spritz the magnet of the east London crowd.
The real prize are the taps. A variety of Belgian, German and locally crafted wonders line the bar top, giving you the choice that could have you locked in for multiple rounds. Glass shelving reminiscent of your grandma’s china cupboard, line the back bar, stocking the correct coupes and glasses to pronounce the many compounds of their varied beers.
Despite its outside appearance, the interior of The Dove is deceptively big. Seating surrounds the centrepiece bar, and trails off into the downstairs. Whether it be the gruelling winter or the stuffy depths of summer, The Dove is a home calling for beer aficionados. When on the prowl for a Belgian ale, in bottled or draft form, be sure to have a few at The Dove.
2. Off Broadway
Despite the name, Off Broadway sits at the London Fields end of the energetic Hackney market strip.
This boozer is the oasis away from the madness of the many stalls and food trucks that line the Saturday to Sunday street. The massive windows that line the seating areas still allow you to engage with the weekend market from a slight distance, with a glorious pint in hand.
The beer taps at this freehouse pub are in constant rotation, with many locally crafted IPAs, lagers and even some funkier brews lighting up their bar top. They have a few ever presents such as Budvar, Guinness and Two Tribe’s Dream Factory, for when you’re not feeling too risky, or for when you’ve brought your craft-beer-skeptical dad.
When summer rolls around, the slushy machines that are perched upon the bar are filled with frozen cocktail wonders. These boozy coolers are a fairly priced godsend to either take to wander up into the park, down the canal, or lounge with in the window seats.
Appeasing all is easy work at Off Broadway. Their resident black cat, Gigi, is a welcome regular (when he feels like it). Also, dogs are just as welcome custodians as their feline friend. An array of board games, ranging from children’s favourites, to intellectual challengers are available. Just hope all the pieces are still in the box.
Whether it be the weekend market, or a weekday cheeky pint, Off Broadway is the place to people watch and discover a great, new beer.
3. The Cat & Mutton
Sitting at the main entry way to Broadway Market, The Cat & Mutton is the standard first stopping point when making your way through the stalls.
This boozer attracts the masses with its sun trap outdoor seating. The many benches that line the exterior have a clear view across London Fields, and no other buildings to block the rays. In summer, be sure to get those pints down fast, as they’ll heat up pretty quickly.
Owing to its 18th century build, the pub is airy and spacious internally, with a lofty ceiling in the main room. Upstairs, ‘The House of Revelry’, is vibrantly decorated, yet maintains a cosy feel. It’s perfect for some traditional pub food, or to take a chance on their Tuesday night pub quiz. Their Wednesday night curry nights and renowned Sunday roasts are major bonuses to this already awesome boozer
Unlike The Dove and Off Broadway, The Cat & Mutton has many of the commons beers found across London. There is still great variety though, as a number of their 16 beer taps rotate local craft beer and European specialties. If you’re on the hunt for a cask ale, this is the Broadway Market pub for you.
To start your market stroll off right, don’t miss out on the lively Cat & Mutton, especially when the sun is finally out.
Planning a pub crawl on Broadway Market? Use Where’s My Booze to see which beers are on tap, explore pub features, and find the right pub on Broadway Market before you go.