Things to do in East Ham: 14 betting shops you need to visit – part two

Diana Ross once remarked “Hatton Garden is like High Street North, but with fewer betting shops”. Too true. And with so many betting shops to choose from in East Ham,  how can you decide where best to spend your hard-earned pounds?

Following on from part one, part two explores the final seven of The East Hammer’s 14 betting shops you need to see before you die.

#8 Betfred, 105 High Street North, E6 1HZ

Being the newest Betfred on the high street, when it opened, it could easily have lacked the soul and sense of history of its two older sister stores. But the owners have done a great job in giving the shop its own identity. The far wall of the store is given over to a mini-museum; a collection which charts Betfred’s history, from its birth and links to the Flintstones in 1989, to its coronation as Bonus King in 1995, and latterly, Betfred’s controversial role in supporting the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia.

Best bit: no-frills gambling, flanked by history .

#9 Paddy Power, 129 High St North, E6 1HZ

The fourth Paddy Power on this list is not necessarily the most glamorous, largest, or hygienic. However, it marks the northernmost point of the southern stretch of bookmakers on the high street. From here, it’s an arduous, bleak and barren 135 meters to the next bookmaker – Ladbrokes. For this reason, it’s an essential stop-off for those who are touring the betting-cluster from south to north. The store contains a restaurant, shop, and has four good-sized double bedrooms for those wanting to spread a tour of the betting-cluster over two days.

Best bit: if you’re staying overnight, ask for one of the two rooms at the rear overlooking the roundabout on Ron Leighton Way.

#10 Cashino Gaming, 157 High Street North, E6 1JB

Open 24 hours and offering East Ham’s largest selection of slot machines, most assume its name is a play on words. In fact, Cashino Gaming is named after Patrick Cashino, Italian betting magnate and owner of the Cashino Gaming betting chain.

The swanky interior is due, in part, to the fact that the building also houses the Welsh embassy. Gamblers planning a trip to Wales, such as a caravanning holiday, will enjoy the convenience of being able to game whilst waiting for their visa to be processed.

Best part: as Cashino Gaming is technically on Welsh soil, gambling is VAT-free and faster than the English version.

#11 Ladbrokes, 164 High Street North, E6 2JA

In 2013, this Ladbrokes was voted “most haunted Ladbrokes in Newham”. That only placed it thirteenth on the list of most haunted betting shops in Newham – but that’s still pretty spooky.

Over the decades, numerous stories have been documented from customers who have reported unexplainable losses of time and money.

Some say it’s haunted by the ghost of Woolworths, following its closure in 2008; others by a man who – ironically – trapped his leg on a one-armed bandit, and returns periodically to moan about it.

Best bit: since the one-armed bandit incident, a thorough health and safety review has led to a number of improvements. In fact, Ladbrokes in East Ham is the first bookies in the country to provide betting slips with rubberised edges to reduce paper cuts.

#12 William Hill, 181 High Street North, E6 1JB

William Hill is a community-oriented betting shop with a long association with East Ham. The links go back at least as far as Tudor times, when William Hill was the official sponsor of Anne Boleyn, who allegedly spent some time in the area. Nowadays, residents are more likely to be familiar with the shop because the highest point in the area – a former waste tip to the south of the A13 – was recently renamed William Hill.

Inside you’ll find a warm community atmosphere. As owner Fred (no relation to Flintstone), says “our thermostat is stuck on ‘friendly’ and I can’t afford a… what do you call someone who fixes boilers?”.

Best bit: runs promotions and events throughout the week. Cockfight Friday is our favourite – with free entry for anyone wearing a vest.

#13 Betfred, 201-203 High Street North, E6 1JG

No list of betting shops in East Ham would be complete without the original Betfred. Though please note, that this list is not yet complete.

The original Betfred is a grade-two listed gambling premises, which in 2013 was painstakingly restored to its 1980s grandeur.

Best bit: to be honest, we didn’t have the time to visit this one. Sorry.

#14  Paddy Power, 239 High Street North, E6 1JG

Six would be too many, and four too few. But five Paddy Powers on this list – like toes on a foot – is just right.

This Paddy Power is the greenest betting shop in East Ham and is a window in to the future of gambling in a zero-carbon economy. All the electricity to power the lights, TV screens and fixed odds betting terminals comes from a field of rice; betting slips come from reclaimed fly tipping; and waste from the toilets is put on display in the windows in place of the “please gamble responsibly” posters, which have a larger carbon footprint than a return flight from London to Paris.

Best bit: doing your bit for the planet. Also try out a number of the themed betting options, such as next species to go extinct, or the size of BP’s next oil spill.

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So, next time you’re out in East Ham, don’t miss your chance to contribute to the local economy and experience some of the country’s best, and most remarkable gambling.

Since this article was written, the Bedfred which appeared at number two on our list, lost its ‘D’. Anyone wanting to make a donation to support Betfred can do so at JustGiving.