The Blind Beggar was originally built in the mid 17th Century or earlier. The pub takes its name from Henry de Montfort who was known as the Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green. de Montford had lost his sight in 1265 during the Battle of Evesham and ended up begging in the streets of the area.

In 1894 the pub was rebuilt by engineer Robert Spence who worked for the Mann, Crossman & Paulin Brewery which can be found behind the pub.

The pub is a Queen Anne style of building with gables and features two wide arches over four-centred doorways. Each of the arches bear the name 'Watney Combe Reid'. Mann, Crossman and Paulin merged with Watney, Combe & Reid in 1958. The name of the pub adorns a decorated pediment.

This pub is famous because it is where Ronnie Kray shot and killed George Cornell in 1966.

For another example of a pub famous for a shooting, this time in 1955, see The Magdala in Hampstead.

The Blind Beggar features on LPGs' Evening Crawl of Aldgate, Whitechapel and Bethnal Green of December 2013.