The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, N1

The building was covered in scaffolding at the time of my visit, but the good news is that the pub is still operating after a hiatus that was necessitated by works that the local council insisted upon, including new toilets and floor. Even this had its up side, with the discovery of an original mosaic name plate in the corner entrance that was reopened during the works. The original bar is still in place, and you can see where the partitions that made it a three room pub once abutted the bar counter. More importantly, perhaps, there are 10 hand pumps arrayed on the bar, plus a small cider barrel, and, for those who like a bit more carbon dioxide in their drinks, a row of 10 keg spouts on the bar back, serving lagers, ciders and (sarcasm alert) expensively crafted ales. I won't list all the beers available, mainly because I didn't write them down, but also because most of them will have changed by the time anyone reads this review. Suffice to say that I had Crouch Vale Blackwater Mild and Long Man Best Bitter, both of which were in excellent condition and very enjoyable. Definitely worth a visit if you're within a reasonable distance, or perhaps even if not.