The Cherry Tree, Becontree, Dagenham

The only ale on was Sharp’s Doom Bar (£3 a pint), with another pump with a reversed clip. The Doom Bar was OK, although not in great nick. There was no sight or smell of food when I was in during Wednesday afternoon. This is advertised as a music venue – so, inside the room on the right is a large stage area on the right hand side where those under the 18 are not permitted to enter according to a sign by the couple of steps leading up to this area. A pool table is in this area, as well as another at the back of the room. Fruit machines and games machines abound. There is a separate room to the left of the pub, but this wasn’t in use when I visited. Deep red predominates here – walls, doors, pillars, carpet and upholstery are all this colour. For such a large room there is comparatively little seating, with plenty of open space in the middle of the room, as well as a screened area on the left containing a projector style TV screen. There’s a beer garden at the back. This is a basic pub with little charm or character to it. Maybe the other room is better, but based on my visit spent in the main bar, I wouldn’t say that this is a pub worth seeking out. But there’s no other pub in the immediate vicinity and I’m glad that this one is here for the benefit of the handful of locals who were apparently having an afternoon session on Wednesday.