The Crooked Billet, ping-pong in Clapton / Hackney

Photo: The Crooked Billet

The Crooked Billet: Ping Pong in Clapton, London

Free entryWalk-inBeer gardenGroupsOutdoor table

84 Upper Clapton Road, London · E5 9JP · Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:30

The Crooked Billet is a big, lived-in Young's pub on Upper Clapton Road with one of the largest beer gardens in this part of East London, and there is a ping pong table out the back. It suits groups who want to drink outside and knock a ball around between rounds rather than anyone after a serious match. The single most useful thing to know: it is one table in a busy garden, so treat it as a casual bonus, not the reason you book the day.

The garden is the draw. There are beach-hut style booths for groups, plenty of decking, plants and deckchairs, heaters for cooler nights, and street-food style food alongside the bar. The pub also runs DJ nights, a weekly quiz and movie nights, so the table is one part of a wider social spot.

The ping pong setup

There is one full-size table tennis table set up outside in the beer garden, listed on Table Tennis England's public ping table directory. It sits among the decking, planters and seating rather than in a dedicated games area, so play is casual and weather-dependent. There are also darts out in the garden if the table is busy. Bring your own bats and balls if you want to be sure of a game, since pub-garden tables do not always have kit on hand. Best on a dry afternoon or early evening before the garden fills up with the after-work crowd.

Good to know

Entry to the pub is free and you do not need to book to use the garden or the table; just turn up and grab a spot. No source states a charge for the table, so expect to play around buying drinks rather than paying a session fee. Food runs Monday to Saturday from midday to 10pm and Sunday midday to 9pm, with burgers, pizzas and pub plates. The garden is heated at night and sunny by day, which keeps it usable across the seasons. Weekends get loud and full, so come earlier if you want space at the table.

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Common questions

What is The Crooked Billet?
It is a large Young's pub at 84 Upper Clapton Road, E5 9JP, in Clapton, known for one of East London's biggest beer gardens. The garden has a ping pong table, darts, group booths and decking.
Is the ping pong free at The Crooked Billet?
Entry to the pub is free and you do not need to book to use the garden table. No source states a separate charge for table use, so treat it as a casual extra while you are drinking and eating.
Do I need to book or can I walk in?
It is walk-in. You do not book to use the garden or the ping pong table; just arrive and find a spot. Weekends fill up fast, so come earlier for space.
How many ping pong tables are there?
There is one outdoor table tennis table in the beer garden, plus darts. It is a single casual table, not a dedicated ping pong venue.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to midnight, and Sunday midday to 10:30pm. Food runs midday to 10pm most days and midday to 9pm on Sunday.
Where is it and what is the nearest station?
It is at 84 Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9JP, in Clapton. Clapton Overground station is the closest stop, a short walk away.

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