Sebright Arms (with Lucky Chip) Bethnal Green 16/20*

Location: 31-35 Coate Street, E2

Website: www.facebook.com/Luckychip and www.sebrightarms.co.uk/

Visit: Wednesday Evening

To Note: Tucked away off Hackney Road but regular buses from Liverpool Street, Old Street and London Bridge, worth the schlep  

Scores (for the pub)

Ambiance 3/5

Design 3/5

Drinks 5/5

Staff 5/5

Extra LBC star: * for getting the fabulous Lucky Chip in for residence

I don’t often review pubs, normally stick to the cocktail bars, but with the additional of my one true love – BURGERS – to this one I thought it worth a few words.

A bit of a schlep from South of the river for me but I think this was well worth it. On finding the pub (A to Z and GPS at the ready but totally unnecessary, it was right by bus stop) I was tempted by the benches outside in the lane that runs by the pub since it was a warm night but since we were eating and I do hate people smoking over food I explored the inside options instead. And there are plenty. You can take a leather couch like we did (not practical for eating), perhaps curl up in the smaller room set behind the bar, gather round a barrel in the main room or take a table up a few stairs by the windows. It is all traditional but with that feeling particular to London that I love – this is not an “old mans pub” but a local.

There was an extremely impressive range of beers and ales. As a side note I am often asked what wine or cocktail to order in a pub. My answer: don’t. You would certainly find something for every palate and in this case the helpful bartender guided me to Camden Pale Ale whilst my friend had Meantime. Then onto the food.

I do not know what they did before but now they have LUCKY CHIP. I went for the “Kevin Bacon”, my friend the “Royale” and fries to share. Mine was a delightfully pink patty with beautiful slab of bacon and gooey cheese with pickles all held together in shiny bun that held to the very end. The Royale – I though strangely – came in a seasame seed bun but there were no complaints from my friend, in fact very little talk at all, before we turned to the fries that were clearly hand chipped and very tasty.

There is regular live music and although it got louder as the night went on, I can safely say that I will return to The Sebright Arms – I like their style – and my friend is delighted by her new “local” too. 

Presenting...Street Feast, Hoxton

Location:  1 minute walk from Shoreditch High Street overground station with the Tea building on your left

Website: www.streetfeastlondon.com 

Visit: Friday evenings only till 20th July

To Note: Well worth braving, even in the rain!


I read a review recently of Street Feast where the author wrote that he arrived “too early”. I pulled up to this Sclater Street carpark at about 7pm and it was nicely buzzing. In my opinion the 18^th June was the perfect date – a few weeks in and a little bit drizzly to put off the city slickers!

I started by heading straight to the back of the park for a drink. There was a simple cocktail list at £7 each but somehow a martini glass did not seem suitable and I was delighted to see Camden beer on tap. There was a lager and a pale ale as well as two ciders to my companions delight.

Then it was time for a wander, and being already hungry it was almost torture to see all the choice and knowing I couldn’t eat everything. All the traders are well spaced out and there is plenty of space to just mull around. I finally settled on some onion bhajis to start with which were freshly fried in front of me by Alec and served with a mango chutney and yoghurt recommended by the Bhangra Burger guys; there was a whole range of sides as well as the option to put it in a wrap for a larger meal. You just need to look at these to want them. Look. Don’t you want them?!

Whilst I was deciding on the next course my friends devoured RibMan’s ribs, a huge burrito and plantain chips amongst other things before several of us were convinced that Kimchi Cult was the way to proceed. These are burgers with a deliciously spicy topping of kimchi – a Korean specialty based on cabbage – which sounds weird and tasted great all held in a beautifully fluffy roll that somehow keep it together all the way through to the last finger licking bite.

Finally we decided that we could go one more course and I was presented with a red velvet cupcake. This was delicious and light but at £4 the clear rip off of the night – same price as a burger! I was told that the week before there was a trader with a range of alcohol based sweetness (think baileys muffins) – bring them back!

+ great food at great prices with great atmosphere, rain or not

- two toilets got so busy we had to go seek out a local pub