The Star of Bethnal Green

With great food and great music, this hip East End pub really does light up Bethnal Green Road.

Found on the busy Bethnal Green Road, the Star of Bethnal Green is just minutes’ walk from the tube station. With its bunting and hanging basket clad exterior, it easily stands out from the other pubs in the area, but that’s not to say it doesn’t embrace east London’s own brand of grubby chic.

Once known as ‘The Pleasure Unit’ – yes, really – The Star of Bethnal Green has been a consistent package of nightlife liveliness for years, and is an all-round stand out venue.

Its spacious bar area boasts scruffy furniture, edgy artwork and a huge tattered Union Jack above the bar. Downstairs there are squishy sofas and big chunky wooden tables as well as more intimate corners to retire to. Upstairs there is a function room that’s ideal for parties or events, but you can also reserve areas of the bar if you’re meeting a big group of friends. Plus the pub also has a private, bookable karaoke room.

Roasts, pizzas, club nights and a famous quiz, the pub uses its ample space to good effect. The sprawling venue covers two floors. Bathed in a sickly sweet pink glow by night, the Star of Bethnal Green oozes fun from every angle.

Disco, house, trance, techno, dubstep… the venue has a canny knack for attracting big DJs.

From post-work drinks and pub quizzes to lazy Sunday lunches and big nights out, The Star of Bethnal Green kind of does it all. This little gem is quiet and relaxed during the daytime, with an array of DJ’s and disco nights in the evening.  But whatever time of day, you can be sure of some good tunes. Chilled indie music is the perfect soundtrack to lazy Sunday lunches or drinks with friends in the evenings, but the Star of Bethnal Green also attracts some hefty musical talent and DJs. Do check their website before you set off though, so you know what kind of night you’re letting yourself in for!

The Star of Bethnal Green has recently launched a new pizza menu, offering twists on Italian classics. The pizzas continue the emphasis on good music, being named after DJs. The Boy’s Own Spanish, Cassy Caprina and A Parma Called Gerald are the highlights of the menu. Or if you are after something a little unusual, the Pete Tong Light – topped with slow cooked potatoes, mozzarella, courgette and black olives – is the one to try.

There are also Sunday roasts as well as typical pub fare on the menu, like haddock and chips, sausage and mash and giant homemade burgers topped with anything from chorizo and brie to mushroom and stilton.

The Star of Bethnal Green prides itself on serving local east London beers, but if you opt for pizza they also suggest indulging in a glass of Prosecco to accompany your Italian feast – you can add a glass to your order for just £5.

The Star of Bethnal Green is a friendly local pub with a range of exciting extras. Not only does it offer great food, drinks and friendly folk but there are always special deals and fun events to keep the punters happy. On Mondays they have a special offer of 2 pizzas for £10; Tuesdays is the ‘Star Pub Quiz’ with £50 up for grabs; Wine Wednesdays allows the customer to buy any bottle of wine, for the same price as the house wine; while Sundays are all about the  tasty ‘Sunday Rockin’ Roasts’. If you are more musically driven, The Star also has DJ and disco nights in the evening and a Karaoke booth.

The Star of Bethnal Green; it’s a fairly traditional name for a pub and outward appearances suggest that’s just what it is. But clearly there’s much more going on inside. The Tuesday night quiz is similarly misleading. Far from your average evening of general knowledge and ‘funny team name’ competitions, there is dancing, singing and even stranger examples of audience participation in this one – perhaps a reason why the Evening Standard voted it one of London’s top five pub quizzes.

This quirky little venue is like to no other.  It has all the scruffy charm of trendy East End watering holes but it prides itself on serving up food that’s better than standard pub grub. Plus it transforms into a night-time hot spot at the drop of a hat.