The Nightingale

A proper old cosy pub the way Beer intended. We managed to get the whole section to the right as you go in all to ourselves so we decided to settle in for a while below an odd collection of old pictures.
Adnams Herbalist is a beer that is both interesting and very tasty, so I stuck with that.

A nice traditional pub with ok food and a good selection of beers.
The main selling point though is that it shows BT sport which is rare for places in Wanstead.

A quality, traditional local pub. The décor and wrought-​iron furniture is definitely a throwback — and not in an ironic sort of way. This pub looks like it has done (I’m assuming) since about 1985.
The vast menu full of pub comfort food presents excellent value for money, and the real ale on tap is even better. Two big all-​day breakfasts and two pints of ale was only £17, and the pub offered some much-​needed respite after a morning of moving to the area.
I’ll definitely be back to this pub with frequency, but I would be lying if I said it was because of any ‘je né sais quoi’ that this pub has over others in London. No, it’s because it’s cheap, friendly and inviting. And because it’s within stumbling distance of my new house.
The fact that the pub patrons smiled welcomingly when I walked in, never having seen me before, definitely made me feel like I’d walked straight out of London and into some small-​town local, which was unnerving — I’ll be honest. But I guess that’s all part of getting used to living in the lovely village of Wanstead.
There are also some picnic tables out front that catch an impressive amount of midday sun, even in the winter.

Authentic, friendly place, always busy but not crowded, good selection of drinks.

Enjoyed a drink here it is a bit ‘olde worlde’ a traditional boozer!
This is probably not my typical venue that I’d go for a drink but it is a very warm, welcoming and real ‘local’ pub. There appeared to be a large selection of beer and the mixer drinks I consumed were generous and value for money.
This place isn’t anything fancy, and doesn’t pretend to be, but you’ll feel at home here with the (older) locals.

The best place to pub-​ify in Wanstead, the Nightingale is a little treasure. Beer is always served perfectly and the selection changes often. The only down side to the place is the size — very small. Before the smoking ban, this was a serious problem but now it is just part of the atmosphere — in a much nicer way. The other factor is it is more of an old fogey place (ie, over 25) and the other Wanstead pubs attract the juvenile quotient.
Food always looks good, although I confess I’ve never eaten there.