The Lord Tredegar, E3

Another first into this attractive terraced backstreet pub; an unusual combination. Dating from the 1860s and there's still a Taylor Walker hanging sign frame on display, but the pub is now under the aegis of the consistently good Remarkable Pubs group, which seems to specialise in acquiring attractive pubs and restoring/maintaining them in a more traditional state than most other pubcos. The interior is indeed attractive, with the entrance shrouded with a semi-circular full height curtain. The pub is bare boarded and wood is dark and lacquered, with full height velvet swag curtains. The front and back rooms both have beautiful marble fireplaces, the latter sporting a real coal fire, both surmounted by antique mirrors. It also features dark red Anaglypta walls with black field panelled wood below the dado rail, which gave an almost regimental feel. The ceiling is white Anaglypta with a couple of spherical opaque white lanterns punctuated by an ugly office ceiling fan, but an attractive cornice. This room also featured some prints to the walls illuminated with picture lamps. One photo was of a blue plaque commemorating the detonation of the first V1 on nearby Grove Road, 13th June 1944; above, a little V1 model dangled from a strand of wire. A kilim was laid in front of the fire and furniture comprises t 'n' g settles to the periphery, then a couple of Britannia tables and a pair of battered red leather wingback armchairs. In all, it had a slight gentlemen's club feel to it. There's a fair amount of etched and cut glass and mirrors, with a stuffed fish and stuffed pheasants mounted in cases above the bar, just like in the Approach Tavern. The bar itself is field panelled with scrolls and features a brass footrail. Due to the seating and movement restrictions I couldn't really explore, but there's another little snug with the very busy rear, heavily geared towards dining; beyond, is a good sized partially covered garden. Lavs are decent though down steep stairs, but boast two cubicles, no less. Music played over the jukebox at an agreeable level. Staff were friendly and efficient with just the two ales on: Pride and Ilkley's Lotus IPA at a hefty £4.80 but at least this is a 5.9% ale and cost 20p less than the 3.8% beer served up at the nearby Palm Tree. It was though a bit strong for a session ale but was in great shape. In all, I thought this was a very nice pub indeed and would make a point of returning, as this is one of E3's best.

Official site of The Lord Tredegar - www.thelordtredegar.co.uk

Official site of The Lord Tredegar - www.thelordtredegar.co.uk

A very good backstreet pub that although has one eye firmly fixed on food, it very much is still a pub and an interesting one well described yet again by Rex. Extremely busy on a Sunday, the ambiance was good, as was the beer, London Pride, for the easily satisfied, along with Marble Pint, One Mile End Great Tom and a very good Thornbridge Jaipur IPA. A must visit pub if and when in the area.

There were four real ales on in here - the ubiquitous London Pride of course, plus Sambrook's Pumphouse Pale Ale; Fuller's Oliver's Island, and Dragonfly Brewery's 2 O'Clock Ordinary (£4 a pint). The latter ale has an unusual name, but I didn't reckon it an ordinary beer, being a rich and full bodied best bitter style ale. There were single sheet menus, not on the tables but picked up from a container on the bar counter, with the meals on offer being nothing like pub grub - with the exception of the burger perhaps. Bar snacks are offered (e.g. chips at £3, or whitebait at £3.50); starters are from £6.50 for some veggie stuff up to £8.50 for the "tempura fried chilli and corainder squid with lime alioli". Main courses aren't cheap either - the Lord beefburger, with cheese, bacon, chips and the usual salad stuff is £12, and obviously comes served on a block of wood with the chips in a metal bucket. The pub itself is quite interesting. The room as you enter has the bar counter facing you and is furnished with a couple of settles and armchairs; and two attractively wood framed archways to the left and right lead to further drinking and dining areas. The one on the right is a small club style room with solid leather armchairs; the one on the left is another small room with a couple of settles and and small stools with a few metal framed round tables. There's a large map of the world covering one of the walls in here. This room leads back to where the pub has been extended with the building of a new room well lit by the addition of a couple of skylights, and again mainly furnished with normal tables and chairs. There's a garden at the back. This pub is certainly larger than it looks from the outside. Even though this place has gone gastro, I didn't see anywhere with tables reserved for diners, and thus there is plenty of seating for everyone. The furnishings - especially the attractive old bar back - mostly look to be the real deal. It's obviously not the traditional boozer of yesteryear, but it has retained enough of its traditional pub charcteristics to keep me happy. A reasonable ale selection is a plus as well.

Attractive terrace pub, just a little higher than its neighbouring houses so it stands out slightly. Tastefully refurbished layout, with the bar counter located directly opposite the entrance and further seating areas beyond on both sides. Separate dining area housed in an extension at the back, with a patio beer garden beyond. Three of four hand pumps in operation, with Spring Sprinter, Pride and the 2 O'clock Ordinary from Dragonfly Brewery (£4.00) available. Also has Dragonfly's Early Doors on keg. Good atmosphere early on a bank holiday afternoon.