The Hare, pool in Cambridge Heath / Bethnal Green

Photo: CAMRA WhatPub

The Hare: Pool & Snooker in Cambridge Heath, London

Free entryWalk-inPool & dartsLocals pubLive jazz

505 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London · E2 9BU · Mo-Th 16:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:30

The Hare is a determinedly ungentrified free house on Cambridge Heath Road, with a pool table at the back and darts alongside it. It suits you if you want a proper old East End local rather than a polished bar: cask ale, a varied jukebox, and a crowd that mixes long-time regulars with newer Bethnal Green arrivals. The single most useful thing to know is that the pool table sits at the rear of the pub, so you can settle in for a few frames without elbowing through the crowd. There is a small heated courtyard for when you want air, and the pub has long been known for weekend live jazz. Cambridge Heath station is barely two minutes away, which makes it an easy first or last stop on a night out.

The pool setup

There is one pool table, tucked at the rear of the pub away from the main bar. Darts is on offer in the same back area, so the games corner is its own little zone. This is a traditional locals pub rather than a dedicated pool hall, so expect a single table that you may need to wait for or chalk up on busier nights. Bring change if the table is coin-operated, as is common in pubs of this kind. There is also a varied jukebox to soundtrack your frames.

Good to know

The Hare is a free house, so there is no entry charge and you walk straight in. It opens from 4pm on weekdays and from noon at the weekend, running late to midnight Monday through Saturday. There is a small heated courtyard out the back if you want a breather or somewhere to stand. The pub is known for its weekend live jazz sessions, which can make the place busier and louder, so time your visit accordingly if pool is the main plan.

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Common questions

What is The Hare?
The Hare is an ungentrified free house pub on Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green, with a pool table at the rear, darts, a heated courtyard and a reputation for weekend live jazz.
Does The Hare have a pool table?
Yes. There is one pool table located at the rear of the pub, with darts in the same back area.
Is it free to get in?
Yes, it is a free house pub with no entry charge. The pool table itself is likely coin-operated, so bring change.
Do I need to book or can I just walk in?
Just walk in. It is a traditional local pub with no booking, so the single pool table is first come, first served.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Thursday from 4pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10:30pm.
What is the nearest station?
Cambridge Heath station is the closest, roughly a two minute walk away.

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