The Ten Bells

Pub in Spitalfields

8 / 10 from 3 reviews

Address
84 Commercial Street
Spitalfields
London
E1 6LY

Map

History

Telephone
020 7366 1721

Region
Spitalfields

Nearest Station
Aldgate East
0.26 miles

Category
Pubs

Opening Times

Monday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00
Tuesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00
Wednesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00
Thursday	Open 12:00 - Closes 01:00
Friday	Open 12:00 - Closes 01:00
Saturday	Open 12:00 - Closes 01:00
Sunday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00

Edit Venue Information

The Ten Bells is a pub that serves a variety of beers, wines and spirits as selection of pub snacks.

All In London Review

Not relying solely on history and hipsters these days, the Tenn Bells has become a charming venue with the bonus of a gastro club upstairs...

A few years ago there were two types of people that you would find in the Ten Bells. The hip, young crowd from around the way areas like Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Brick Lane looking for good music and boozing in the run down Victorian pub; and the others. These others were the history hunters who visited for the pub’s grizzly connection to Jack the Ripper. Apparently it was the last place his final victim ever took a drink.

Since then, the Ten Bells has undergone a radical overhaul, which has stripped it of a lot of the Victorian heritage and probably scared off a substantial proportion of both of the above groups. What you’ll find now is a charming pub all the same. The grotty toilets have been swapped for fresh, clean facilities, the stylish wall tiles remain and the bar has been built into the centre of the pub. Delightful.

What’s more, a restaurant has moved in, simply titled Upstairs at the Ten Bells. Hipsters and history hunters must think they’ve seen everything now. The menu in the restaurant is a lemon sole, chicken and buttermilk, haunch of venison affair, which we find rather classy. Started as a temporary setup by Young Turks and Clove Club its success led to a permanent residency.

Where once the pub was renowned for poor staff and bad attitudes; that has changed. It’s gone modern with no half measures. The music is still loud, the new clientele happily dance around the central bar and it seems all is forgotten.

Bombardier and Truman’s ales are on draught along with a line-up of regular lagers. There is a case to be made for pubs like this representing an age in which venues have had their souls ripped out for whatever the new thing happens to be. It all depends on the narrative you take to. Most though, would probably prefer a friendlier pub with toilets that don’t look like they haven’t been cleaned since 1880.

Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Mar 26, 2013

Best For

Get scared in London's haunted pubs

Even Scooby would kack himself

It was the Autumn of Terror, a time when London was vexed by the mystery of the Ripper killings, that The Ten Bells wrote itself into the history of the saga, playing host to the Ripper’s final victim before she left for the night never to return. The pub has since had an update but over the years the staff have witnessed countless terrifying hauntings.

Victorian remains in London

London's chock-full of them

Nowadays it's a trendy Shoreditch gastropub, but it's famous in no small part for being the boozer two of Jack the Ripper's victims used to frequent in the 1880s. Its first location was on Red Lion Street, where it was built in the early 18th century, but it moved to its current home on Commercial Street in the 1850s. Thanks to its splendid architecture (and no doubt, important history), it's a Grade II listed building.

User Reviews

Anonymous

Jul 12, 2009

I have been an avid JTR fan for many years,and my husband finally said to me, i will take you to the whitechapel area and you can have a drink in The Ten Bells!I was most excited and could'nt wait to go.As we approached the area there was a sense of anticipation of what was to come.As we drove down Commercial Street we saw the pub it is small from the outside and we nearly past it.we managed to park in one of the side roads 100 yards away,being a Jewish area it is free to park on a Saturday as this is their Sabbeth day.When we entered the pub i was shocked how small it was. There is a very tiny bar area,and behind this is stairs that go down to the toilets,this really does take you back and you have a feeling of victorian aura,i found this quite clostraphobic it is very small and was shocked to see a lot of graffiti on the walls towards the ladies.The pub itself is covered with what looks like victorian tiles on about 2 walls and also some sort of mural on the other
there is nothing on the walls at this present time to tell you anything about JTR days but i really loved the ambience and the feeling of what happened 120 years ago.The staff are very friendly and the drink is reasonably priced but i dont think i could work there,i have read too many JTR books and seen many videos on the subject i could possible do a day shift but definately not a night shift i would be too scared of the dark and ghosts of the victims 120 years ago might appear!!!

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Anonymous

Aug 11, 2008

I guess I hoped to see at least something that connected it to Jack the Ripper although I'm glad it wasn't playing into the hands of tourists. If you didn't know the history you might be put off by the look once inside which is quite rough and ready but you soon realise infact that is part of it's charm - a few beers helped that too! Try not to spend too long in the toilets reading the walls and ceiling covered in graffiti. Initially I thought it was a shame consideing the infamy surrounding the ripper but I found myself enjoying it strangely. The staff seemed friendly and there was a good selection of draughts lagar and beer.

Cheers
GT

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mikeyrich

Sep 6, 2004

what a nice surprise... when i was at the ten bells 2 years ago it was spoilt by all the freaks trying to establish dubious links with jack the ripper. now all the tourist crap is gone off the walls and what is left is a brautiful victorian pub with eclectic furniture and a funky crowd. music is a bit hit and miss but sundays rock all day!! i drank so much kronenbourg blanc i don't remember how i got home!!

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