The Sportsman, Stratford, E15

Visited 28/01/26. Visited previously 27/11/23 Cask here was Hobgoblin Gold, London Pride and three Lilley's ciders on handpump (pineapple, elderflower and mango). There was also a pile of Lilley's ciders served from boxes on the rear bar. Keg was Fosters, Guinness, original and dark fruits SB, Stella, Carlsberg, Cruz, Murphy's stout, Camden Hells, Neck Oil, Moretti, Amstel, Heineken and John Smiths. Long rectangular venue from the front, with a few tables to sit out the front. Left hand side is bare boarded with a tiled skirt along the bar counter which is along most of the left-hand wall apart from banquette seating around the window to the left of the entrance. There is a slightly raised carpeted area over on the right-hand side with booth tables along the right-hand wall and a leather studded banquette in the front part of that area. Regular tables and chairs down the middle part of the venue and towards the rear, where there is another leather studded banquette along the rear wall. A pool table in the rear right-hand corner and a darting area in the rear left-hand corner. Plenty of screens dotted around the venue showing immediate pre match build up to Champions League fixtures, no sound that provided by a middle of the road pop soundtrack. Venue was busy and it felt like it could have been a JDW prior to current incarnation.

A large cavernous sports bar with a multitude of TV screens and several pool tables. Five handpumps on the bar with London Pride and Hobgoblin the beers along with a couple of Lilly's Ciders and one other I now forget, that selection didn't appeal so I had a couple of pints of Guinness, agreeably priced at £4.80, whilst watching the Chelsea v Fulham game. A good place if you want to watch the footie but certainly not a drinking destination.

Facebook page of The Sportsman - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Sportsman - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Sportsman - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Official site of The Sportsman - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Shabby, downmarket drinking barn of the sort that makes an average 'spoons look chic and sophisticated... although it is in many ways otherwise similar in layout and appearance. Mostly one large bar / seating area, although the tables opposite the long counter are raised up by one step (but under a lower ceiling). Also has a few small tables out front if you want to look at the traffic. Two banks of three handpumps - one for the regular Bombardier plus Mighty Oak Captain Bob (£3.40) and a reversed Hobgoblin clip, and the other - much more surprisingly - with three different Lilley's ciders (Mango, Merry Monkey and the 7.5% Cheeky Pig).

Large pub showing live and loud sport on the TV. A few handpumps but only GK IPA and Doom Bar on with the latter being in fair form.