Randomness Guide to London Menu

Pub on the border of Hackney and Homerton, roughly equidistant between Homerton Station and Hackney Central Station. It reopened in June 2015 after nearly three years' closure and a lengthy local campaign to stop a property developer converting it into flats. (See earlier version of this page for a description pre-closure.)

It's clear from the interior that it was once two rooms, but these have now been knocked into one, giving a open space around the curve of the bar. Seating is primarily on low backless stools, but there are also a few upright chairs. A dozen stools lined up along the bar complete the arrangements. A door at the back leads to a small covered area of decking, with steps down to a patio and a walled-in grassy beer garden.

The decor is traditional without being dated: dark varnished floorboards covered here and there with patterned rugs, exposed brickwork with iron stoves in the original fireplace spaces, old mirrors advertising Branston pickle, and a piano in one corner with its lid stacked high with board games.

Kake visited on a Wednesday early evening in September 2016. There were three or four other customers in when I arrived around 4:30pm, and several more turned up while I was there. Instrumental jazz was playing, not too loud. Service was friendly and welcoming.

There were three real ales on: Green Jack Morse XXX (£2/half), Oakham JHB, and Redemption Rock The Kazbek. They also had Mendip Hills real cider on handpump.

According to their website as of September 2016, they are child friendly and dog friendly.

Kake's verdict: I'd happily come back.

Accessibility: Two steps to get in, one of them quite large. Three more steps to the ladies'. More steps to the beer garden.

See also:

• Pubs Galore comments
• Eat Hackney review
• Time Out review
• Beer In The Evening comments
• WhatPub entry