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Morgan Arms (Metropolitan Pub Co. (Greene King))

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)Excellent1
Sambrook's - Powerhouse PorterExcellent1
Southwark - WaimeaExcellent1
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)Good1
Bedlam - BenchmarkAcceptable1
Bedlam - PorterAcceptable1
Hop Stuff - Oatmeal StoutAcceptable1
Sambrook's - SessionAcceptable1
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Bow BellsNot Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - SwiftNot Tried0
Black Sheep - Best BitterNot Tried0
Crate - GoldenNot Tried0
Greene King - Crouch, Bind, SetNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Greene King - YardbirdNot Tried0
Hackney - Kapow!Not Tried0
Reunion - TalwarNot Tried0
Sambrook's - JunctionNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale AleNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Triple fff - MoondanceNot Tried0
Picture 1. Morgan Arms, Bow, Greater London
Picture 2. Morgan Arms, Bow, Greater London
Michael Croxford

Visits Details

25 Jun 2019 (ChrisE)
A first time visit for me and one to return to. I had a good chat with someone who I presume was the manager and enjoyed some well kept ale. The impressive bar back fittings made me wonder whether Mr. Croxford had been here, I see now that he has the photo credits on this site.
BeerABVScoreNotes
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)3.40Excellent
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Yardbird4.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Swift3.90Not Tried
18 Sep 2018 (Stephen Harris)
It is quiz night here and the busiest I have ever seen this pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bedlam - Benchmark4.00AcceptableA standard Bitter.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Crate - Golden4.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Bow Bells4.20Not Tried
Reunion - Talwar4.50Not Tried
31 Jul 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening and very pleasant here with the sunshine streaming through the windows.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Southwark - Waimea5.40ExcellentGolden. A really good, single-hop showcase.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Hackney - Kapow!4.50Not Tried
03 Dec 2015 (HSB)
15:15 Came here to see the ornate bar with its Georgian columns and tiled panels. We had an interesting chat with the Manager.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bedlam - Porter5.00AcceptableToo sweet for a porter
Hop Stuff - Oatmeal Stout4.80AcceptableBit thin
Triple fff - Moondance4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Crouch, Bind, Set3.90Not TriedThe standard house bitter under yet another name.
27 Mar 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-evening on a Friday and the pub is busy. Atmosphere spoiled by overly-loud music which makes conversation difficult and watching the England game on TV a chore. Greene King house beer also available.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sambrook's - Session3.40AcceptableGolden-coloured. Cloudy and a bit yeasty – not at its best I suspect.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not TriedNew pumpclip which seems to play down the brewer's name.
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
13 Sep 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Tonight is the first night of this pub’s first ever beer festival. The main feature tonight is a beer and food matching evening with Sambrook’s Brewery (hence the beer selection for the first day). Bottled beers from Redchurch and London Fields are also available. Unfortunatley I was not able to stay for long.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter4.90ExcellentFrom the stillage. A good, dry-ish, black porter, with a hint of smokiness and some hop character.
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)4.50GoodI spoke to Jo from Sambrook’s who clarified that the ‘lavender’ ingredient in this beer is from lavender honey and that lavender flowers are not used themselves. This example a little too warm from the stillage and this seemed to emphasise the sweetness from the honey.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not TriedBadged here as ‘Morgan Ale’.
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Black Sheep - Best Bitter3.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale4.20Not Tried

About the Morgan Arms

The pub sign. Morgan Arms, Bow, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent3
Good1
Acceptable4
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Bow, Greater London, E3 5AA.

The Morgan Arms was present by the 1830s and was re-built in its present form in 1891-2 by noted pub architects Hammack & Lambert of Bishopsgate – the red brick and stamped terracotta decorations being typical of the period. Formerly owned by Watney’s Brewery, the 1986 local CAMRA pub guide includes the classic line “When asked if they had live music, the barman looked at the organist and replied "Just about". By 1991 the pub’s name had changed to ‘Playwrights’, and this name can still be seen on the bar back – it reverted to Morgan Arms in 2001. By 2003 the pub had been transformed along what was then called ‘gastropub’ lines, with an emphasis on food and with real ale brought back for the first time in many years. Now it is a comfortable, light and airy pub with a decent balance between drinking and dining areas. A former Evening Standard Pub of the Year, it is leased from Greene King. Metropolitan Pub Co. is a Greene King pub brand.

We have visited this pub 6 times, seen 22 different beers and tried 8 of them.

Map location

Postcode: E3 5AA