The Blue Anchor, Bow, E3

There was just the single handpump in here, dishing out Greene King IPA (£1.70 a half). I didn’t see any sign of food or menus when I was in on Wednesday afternoon. This is a bit like a traditional boozer, but someone has tried to give it a modern arty look, which I suspect is not the sort of pub look that this part of the world needs. The walls are painted maroon below the dado level, and a very light grey above that. The mainly bare walls had one or two black and white prints breaking up the otherwise empty space. Deliberately minimalist by the look of of it. There's a dartboard down at the end on the right, and of course TVs around the place (switched off when I was in). The floor's got a sort of mock tartan design carpet on it, the bar counter's painted black, and furnishings are grey plastic covered banquettes, with some normal tables and chairs. There's nothing special about this place, which I found fairly soulless, but there again I was the only customer in there. It's someone's local so I'm glad it's there. It would be a better place with some more customers in, but with only GKIPA on offer (I gather that it has had on Courage Best) I don't expect to pay a return visit.