Widow's Son, Bow  

This pub has a little piece of history behind it. In the early nineteenth century, a woman who lived on this site was expecting her sailor son home on leave on Good Friday. She made some hot cross buns for him but he never returned. Living in hope, his mother would have a new bun waiting every Easter, adding to those she had kept from previous years. When she died, these buns were found hanging from a beam in her cottage. Since a pub opened here in 1848, the tradition has been upheld by successive landlords, and continues to this day. History aside though, the Widow's Son is a disappointing place. It could use a lick of paint and a good clean. There are some lovely original features inside, like the painted mirrors, naval artifacts and glass cabinets, but these aren't being made the most of. The pub is too small to have a pool table in the middle of the bar and the England flags draped around were a bit much. The drink on offer is unexceptional, although the service was very pleasant. In the right hands this could be a cracking little pub, but as it is, the picture is decidedly mixed.

reviewed:
27/9/2002

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

Sky TV

beer garden

pool table

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