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Date of photo: 1919	Picture source: National Brewery Heritage Trust
The Sultan was situated at 112 Grange Road. This pub was demolished in 2005, with new housing built on the site.
Source: Colin Parkin
I used to live next door to the Sultan between 1955 – 1966 before all the houses in that area were demolished. I can still remember sitting on the door step collecting a penny for the guy mainly from the customers of the pub and they were very generous. My Nan & Grandad use to live opposite and every evening my Grandad would take his Toby jug over to the pub and get a pint and he never split a drop crossing the road on the way back. By the way the pubs dog was called Toby. Seeing these photo’s has reminded me the houses on the left of the pub were bombed out during the War, so I have never actually seen them before. I had always known the area to be a piece of waste ground which lead to a large area of waste land at the back of the houses in Grange Road. The Sultan was run by two brothers whom I do not remember all that well as I was quiet young. However, I do remember their Nephew coming to visit once in a what seemed like a really big white car, you didn’t see many car then, so it was quite something. It belonged to Joe Brown the famous Singer/Guitarist.
Cherry Parnell (November 2016)
My Great Grandparents (Agnes Purser) and Grandmother (Rosetta/Rosie Purser/Rich) used to drink there with their husband's. Nan was married to Johnny Rich who I believe was a feather weight boxer and then to a nasty piece of work, who is sadly my grandfather, named 'Foster'. Nan used to live at 75 Stratford Road in a multi storey house which was previously a furniture and upholstery business. She would tell of how people brought their children to her house so the older ones would look after the younger ones on the top floor. The grown ups would go drinking at The Sultan and after 'chucking out time' they would all pile round to hers. Her sister Phyllis would play the piano in the Basement - she could not read music but played by ear using her toes!!!! My mother's Birthday was on 30th December but she would have a tea party on New Year's Eve afternoon then the grown ups would go to The Sultan then pile round for a party. People would bring some cheese and bread and all chip in. I once asked Nan what the neighbours thought of her behaviour. She said they never complained as they were all there partying! During my lifetime (70s onwards) she was house bound at age 60 and complained about the TV being too loud. She had so many stories that involved The Sultan and it was a sad day when she could no longer go.
Amanda-Rose McKimmie (March 2023)
Joe Brown was born in Swarby, Lincolnshire. His family moved to London when he was two and ran the Sultan public house in Grange Road, Plaistow. In 1956, Brown formed a skiffle group, The Spacemen, which lasted until the skiffle movement faded towards the end of the 1950s. He worked for British Railways at their Plaistow Locomotive works for two years in the late 1950s, becoming a steam locomotive fireman. He left the job because "the smell of the diesels drove me out when they took over from steam"
Anthony Clewley (May 2024)
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Name Dates Comments Cyril Usher 1960s-1980s I ran the sultan for about 15 yrs It was some of the best years of my life & the customers were all proper people true eastenders and still think of them to this day I left over my private life & regret the way I left as everyone was a friend joe brown & his son ran it before me for about 25 yrs it was only a beer house then. I got a spirit licence so it made quite a difference
Other Photos
Site of The Sultan, 2014	Picture source: Colin Price