Three Cranes, EC4

Official site of The Three Cranes Tavern - threecranescity.co.uk

Facebook page of The Three Cranes Tavern - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Three Cranes Tavern - threecranescity.co.uk

Facebook page of The Three Cranes Tavern - www.facebook.com

This is a tiny place with Charrington's leaded lights as the only indication that this was once a pub - emphasis on the 'was'. Inside, the walls are clad with dark wood veneer, punctuated with brass trim and modern sconce lights. The overall effect is like that of a corridor in a swish restaurant on the way to the lavs, rather than the main venue itself. The floor is modern herringbone parquet and the ceiling is clad with silver tiles. There's nothing in the way of décor and for that matter, little in the way of furniture, just a few small high semi-circular pale grey marble table/ledges projecting from the walls with conventional high stools around which are clustered small groups of braying City types. It's the lavatories though that are most likely to raise eyebrows. The basins are unisex and are open to the rear bar room - you can literally talk to your friends in the rear room whilst washing your hands. Thereafter there are two doors to either the men's and women's facilities, not explored for obvious reasons. The men's is microscopic with two urinals so close together that both couldn't comfortably be used simultaneously. Behind them is a sliding door to the crapper which can't be entered if the urinals are being used and more worryingly, couldn't be vacated if the urinals are in use - you could be stuck in there for hours at busy times. Ales: there's a small bar with neither pumps nor founts. Instead, there are a few chrome taps to the wall with names written in felt tip, too small to read and no discernible sign of any real ale. I asked for "...a half of lager." which set me back £2.50 which I suppose is what you pay in these parts. I shan't be returning and for once, come back Greene King - all is forgiven.