Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre Pub must be one of only a handful of the like in London.

The result is a pub that, were it standalone, would not be the most inspiring in the immediate vicinity and far from it in the borough.

But the thriving theatre above the pub not only attracts big acts and multitudes of those lesser known, but is a cornerstone of community life.

For every bottle behind the bar there’s publicity for and adornments from past, present and upcoming events at one of the pub’s performance spaces, evoking so many memories for so many visitors.

This place is different in so many ways, and no doubt regulars would keep it that way, many saying the inclusive and sometimes eccentric atmosphere kept them coming back.

Hackney Brewery’s American Pale Ale was robustly on the malty side but local ales are always welcomed by this writer and there are three other guest ales to choose from.

The self-appointed moniker of ‘Walthamstow’s Top Entertainment Venue’ fits the Rose and Crown well and here’s hoping this incomparable ray of light shines on long into the future.