The Wilmington, EC1

Clearly chasing the local trendies, this corner pub has been stripped down inside by hacking the plaster off to reveal the brickwork, sanding back the floorboards and replacing the bar back with a tubular steel construction. There are still a few original features clinging on, and the restaurant area the other side of the island bar at least keeps its plaster intact. Ales on pump were TT Landlord and Portobello Star (latter off) and the craft kegs were mainstream Camden/Beavertown stuff. Still a valid pub, but not one that I would seek out personally.

Attractive corner pub, and although partly opened-out it retains quite a spacious layout of four distinct seating / dining areas around what is now an island servery (with all parts so refurbished as to lose any real character). However, early evening on a warm summer day, most of the punters were outside on the side-street pavement in the sunshine. Just one real ale - Wimbledon's SW19 (£6.30, ouch!) - from the bank of five handpumps, but at least this was in reasonable shape.