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The Widows Son
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
historiccozylocal-crowd
About the Vibe
Tucked away on Devons Road, The Widow's Son is East London's answer to a proper pub that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Built in 1848 and Grade II listed, this place has the bones of a traditional boozer but serves up some seriously creative infusion cocktails and burgers cooked fresh to order. You'll find yourself here for the vibe as much as the food – it's the kind of spot where the staff actually know your name by the third visit.
Known For
- •infusion-based cocktails
- •fresh-to-order burgers
- •Grade II listed building
- •friendly service
Best For
casual dinnersafter-work drinkslocal hangout
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 8, 2026
A Historic East End Gem with Great Burgers
The Widow's Son feels like one of those rare East London pubs that's managed to keep its soul intact while still feeling current. The historic building, dating back to 1848, has beautiful original features that you can really appreciate once you step inside. The atmosphere is genuinely welcoming – not the kind of place where you feel like you're performing for the staff or other patrons.
The food is where they really shine. Their burgers are cooked fresh to order, which means you'll wait a bit, but it's worth it. They're not trying to be fancy fusion; they're just doing proper pub food well. The cocktail menu is equally interesting, with unusual infusion-based drinks that show the bar team actually cares about what they're making.
It's not perfect – the wait times during busy periods can be frustrating, and the menu is relatively small. But for a solid, unpretentious pub experience in Poplar that feels like it belongs to the neighborhood rather than a chain, this is hard to beat.