The Racketeer, Kings Cross, WC1

There's still no real ale on in here, just four keg fonts with little discs affixed to the counter in front of them to let you know what beer it is. Fine if you can get yourself right in front of them when it's not busy, as was the case when I was in on Friday afternoon, but it might be more tricky when it's busy. The four were all "craft" beers which I didn't recognise, and I went for the Purity Helles Lager at £5.30 a pint. They obviously do food as I saw some menus on the bar counter, but I didn't scrutinise one. This is now no longer the backstreet boozer that it once was. It's now an aspiring upmarket pub - there are no TVs, one-armed bandits or games machines in here. All furnishings are traditional in a way, with no tall tables/tall stools just bench seating and normal tables and chairs, although the table at which I sat was marble topped which is a bit unusual. The latest refurbishment has revealed some more original Victorian features. The original signage for the Carpenters Arms is now revealed on the exterior. The floor tiling on the left of the interior - presumably for the Saloon Bar judging by the exterior signage - has been revealed by the removal of a carpet, and the woodwork and wall tiling at the back on the left is exposed to view by the removal of the kitchen that used to be there. The pewter topped bar counter is more modern work, but the bar back (which is probably now shorter than it originally was) is old. To the right of the servery are old mirrors to the right and left of the entranceway to the more modern extension at the back. In this room at the back is an old mirror, resited from the wall near the entrance on the right where the staircase down to the toilets has been added. Visiting the toilets is a bit like a journey to the crypts, with its narrow corridor and rattling of the tube passing underneath. There's another lounge-like room down here. But the outstanding heritage feature in my opinion is the array of large and decorative mirrors on the left hand wall, with wood frames and surrounded by Victorian tiling decorated with foliage and vases. I was the only person in at Friday lunchtime, but I expect that it's a very different place in the evenings judging by the reserved signs on the tables. This is quite a nice pub, but a decent real ale would be a massive plus.