Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 02/07/2026 23:44:00

Metal pilgrims from around the world make their way to a street corner by Maryland station in Stratford, east London, because this is where Iron Maiden began. The Cart and Horses - a pub trading since the 18th century, on its current corner at 1 Maryland Point since around 1805 and rebuilt around 1880 - was the band's first residential venue: Steve Harris's young group played weekly gigs here from 1976 to 1978, with Dave Murray making his debut on the pub's stage on 21 December 1976. By 1977 their following was stretching the room's capacity; after an altercation at a gig in May that year they were banned, returning for one final show on 7 April 1978 before the world took over. The pub wears the legacy proudly, billing itself "the birthplace of Iron Maiden". Memorabilia lines the walls, the bar pours the band's own Trooper beer range (and the Darkest Red Maiden wine), and a 2020 renovation created a basement live venue holding around 80, where new-wave-of-British-heavy-metal all-dayers, tribute nights and young rock bands keep the amps warm. Live bands and DJs feature weekly, with the party running to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. Beyond the metal heritage it remains a working East End local, open daily from midday, showing the football and filling early on West Ham matchdays - the London Stadium is one stop away. Maryland station is 50 yards from the door, with Stratford and the Elizabeth line a short walk. The pub's own story predates the metal by two centuries: records place a Cart and Horses at 150-152 The Grove by 1765, with the trade moving to the present corner around 1805 and the current building going up around 1880 (the original premises survived until demolition in 1970). Today's programme leans into the heritage - NWOBHM all-dayers, tribute all-nighters, Iron Maiden-themed events and even beer yoga to a Maiden playlist - alongside showcases for young London rock bands, and the pub organises fan coach trips to major shows. On big event days the main bar stays open to all even when the basement is sold out.