The Manor Arms, Poplar, E14

Dating from the mid-19th century though almost certainly rebuilt in the ‘30s, the Manor Arms sits alone and forlorn along the unloved East India Dock Road, in an area where once there would have been dozens of pubs in the immediate vicinity. The corner splay and multiple repetitions to frosted glass indicate that this was once a Watney Combe Reid pub; there’s also a discreet Charrington’s Toby jug motif to a window along Wades Place, whilst above the door, a plaque advertises the place as having live music and ‘BUM DADDY’s’, whatever that may be, though this isn’t a gay pub. The interior holds no surprises: a small, two-room format with carpet, traditional furniture and grey paint. Customers were a resolutely older bunch of locals, almost all male and whilst in no way threatening, certainly suspicious of this out-of-town youth. Karaoke was in full swing on my recent Friday evening visit, of varying quality but certainly the middle-aged blonde women could carry a tune. Unsurprisingly there’s no cask here, a half of Guinness costing just £2.30, served by an equally suspicious barmaid who I’d not wish to arm-wrestle. This is a very basic pub for older locals, having a certain curiosity value, but if you want an old locals’ pub with much more to offer, keep on walking to the Festival Inn. Rated 2.5.

Facebook page of The Manor Arms - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Manor Arms - www.facebook.com