If you’ve missed out on pitch-side seats this Six Nations Super Saturday, never fear: last week we sent our reporters Bethan Moss and Lily Scaplehorn out to find five Hackney pubs that rival that stadium atmosphere. We found a spot for every game day priority. Lily was keen for a big screen and a rowdy atmosphere to watch her beloved Cymru. Bethan was after a cheap pint and a bit of sun. We kept one eye on France v Ireland and later watched Wales v Scotland through gritted teeth. Here’s how to enjoy Super Saturday’s games, or just have a nice time at the pub with your mates, without shelling out hundreds on a plastic chair.
Pub on The Park
Cheapest pint: £5.50
Best for: Fun in the sun
Address: 19 Martello Street, London E8 3PE
If the weather holds and you want to soak up the sun while watching a scrum, Pub on the Park is the place for you. A multi-level beer garden overlooking London Fields common, it boasts screens at every angle. With strings of colourful fairy lights, it’s enough to attract quite the fashionable crowd.
Most attendees seemed more interested in each other than the rugby. The smell of Aperol Spritz and Le Labo was overwhelming. We felt right at home. If, inevitably, grey skies return this Saturday, there’s indoor seating available and plenty of screens inside, too.
We would highly recommend booking ahead; it was absolutely rammed for the France v Ireland games when we arrived (slightly late, ahem, Lily). Wading through a sea of blue and green jerseys (the lack of red was the first sign things weren’t going to go well for our Welsh correspondent), we secured a perch so peripheral it was practically in the park. We could still see a screen, just about, but that was almost beside the point: pints were our priority.
Despite a considerable crowd at the bar, top service meant we had beer in hand within a few minutes. Our moods were improved by the prices and we tucked into a pale ale for just £6.20. The American BBQ-themed food menu was bursting with burgers, loaded fries and ribs, which smelt amazing. The Scottish anthem was sung with underwhelming gusto, and as the only Welsh supporter in sight, Lily performed a whispered rendition of “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau”.
The Old Ship
Cheapest pint: £5.70
Best for: A nice sit down
Address: 2 Sylvester Path, London E8 1EN
For a quieter, classier vibe, head to The Old Ship on Mare Street. The screens are much smaller, and it was less teeming than the Pub on the Park, but we’d still recommend booking in advance. It feels more restaurant than pub – not a rugby hooligan in sight – so if you’re after a rowdy atmosphere, maybe skip this one.
The Old Ship had older patrons and plenty of families, a notable demographic shift. If you’re desperate for fresh air, regrettably there are no outdoor screens, but benches are conveniently situated next to the window (if you’re very warm, peering in is an option). London has worn us down, and we were pleasantly surprised by prices here as well. Said Bethan: “Ooh £5.70 for a glass of piss, don’t mind if I do.”
The Prince George
Cheapest pint: £5.60
Best for: Community spirit
Address: 40 Parkholme Road, London E8 3AG
Hackney is the cycling borough, and here, it shows. After navigating a Lime bike obstacle course blocking the pavement (tut tut), we made it into this pub’s charming beer garden. There’s a healthy mix of seating and standing room inside, but with just the one screen, you need to choose your vantage point wisely. Standing outside, we had to crane our necks to catch a glimpse of the match through the window; still, this helped Lily’s pint slip down more easily. And by this point, Wales’ chances were slipping further and further away.
Packed but not overcrowded, The Prince George is an old-school boozer. Think sticky carpets, chalkboards and taxidermy. Where else could you eat poached salmon under the watchful eye of a long-deceased quail?
Those responsible for the Lime bike graveyard were cozied up inside the pub enjoying a wide range of local ales and craft beers, creating a lovely community spirit.
Crown and Castle
Cheapest pint: £5.80
Best for: Pizza
Address: 600 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AH
Upmarket but not pretentious, the Crown and Castle is a good spot if you’re looking to extend your afternoon into an evening and your evening into a night out. The music was loud, which suited us after a few drinks at the previous three pubs. But if you’re sensitive to noise, be mindful. Lily enjoyed the (somewhat) celebratory vibe as Wales had a (brief) resurgence. TVs are much smaller than other venues, positioned above a delightfully large window.
What really sold us on this one was the food. Simply scan a barcode and have an 18” Yard Sale pizza dropped into your lap. This was opportune timing, as we’d been guzzling ales without much regard for our respective stomach linings. It was the best pizza of our lives, and this may sound like an exaggeration, but we’ve been telling people about it every day since.
Duke of York
Cheapest pint: £6.80
Best for: Fine dining
Address: 33 Downham Road, London N1 5AA
Industrial chic, emphasis on the chic. This one is closer to a bar than a pub – just look at the prices. We were shocked to learn that £6.80 for a Moretti was the cheapest offering. Our bank accounts were positively crying by this point, so this place is for a crowd a little more, um, employed than us.
With options like brisket ragu and charred hispi cabbage, the Duke of York offers a fine-dining meal with a side of rugby. Like the real Duke himself, this place certainly made us sweat. There are TVs inside – though none outside – but heat lamps are available if it gets chilly on Saturday.
Saturday 15 March 2025
14:15 – Italy v Ireland
16:45 – Wales v England
20:00 – France v Scotland
With France as the favourites to win the title, but England and Ireland close behind, it’s all to play for.
Bethan Moss is Hackney Post's beat reporter for Homerton and a freelance journalist. She is studying for an MA in Newspaper Journalism at City, University of London and was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Varsity, the University of Cambridge's only independent newspaper.
Lily Scaplehorn - community reporter for Clissold - former political reporter at Radio Cardiff and Bro Radio