The Clarence Tavern, Stoke Newington, N16

The inside of this pub looks like an uber luxurious hotel lounge. Sofas abound, arty paper lampshades are around the place, as well as small palms in pots in a couple of corners. There are two pewter topped bar counters on the left, with the first one dedicated to cake stands and some contraption that I can only assume is there to produce any of the 100 different teas they advertise. The second has the handpumps, but unfortunately for some reason the counter is about five feet wide meaning that it wasn't posible to read the detail on the pump clips. I recognised Young's London Gold, Courage Director's, and Charles Wells Eagle, but I needed to ask the barman about something called "Try Time", which turned out to be another Wells ale (I might have guessed as this is a Charles Wells pub. The food wasn't too unusual - on the menu I saw haddock and chips for 12.5 (£12.50 presumably), and a burger for 10.95. This isn't really my kind of pub. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it, it's just that I prefer my pubs to be a bit more like traditional pubs rather than tea rooms.

large long one room pub with a rear outside space with benches.Fussy wallpaper and curtains give it a dated look.Matching tables and chairs rarely seen in pubs now.Only two beers on cask Bombardier and the ghastly thought that I would have to drink a Wells beer was dismissed with Proper Job being the other.Good pint.

The Daniel Defoe is an oasis of a British pub in the midst of hip, trendy and overpriced bars that follow a mostly continental model and clientele. It has a charm and appeal usually felt by CAMRA members and purveyors of country pubs. The pub is not quite as realised as it could be. The chips are the best ever in the entire universe and just have to be tried whilst surfing with the free Wi-Fi. A pub that still does an affordable snack, and a great pot of tea during the day is a gem. An unpolished but needed diamond in Stokey

Large street corner pub that has recently been taken over by new management.Only well's bombardier on when I visited. This pub does not have much going for it but perhaps things may improve under the new management.