The Three Crowns, Old Street, N1

Traditional-looking ex-Barclays corner pub featuring green tilework at ground-floor level with bold decorative lettering and the name on the pediment. However, although four storeys high, it is dwarfed by towering modern blocks on both sides. The interior comprises three distinct parts (all modernised but still semi-traditional in appearance): the bar in the original building, the dining area underneath on of the blocks, and the central section which has some much needed natural light coming down through a couple of rooflights. Landlord and Tribute (£5.40) available from two of the three handpumps, with a reversed Siren clip on the other one.

The nicely green tiled exterior gives way to a modernised single room , bare boarded floor with a mix of high and low seating. Three handpumps were offering up Landlord, Tribute and Cloudwater Happy, there was at the time a Cloudwater tap takeover on keg. It's an ok pub but there's no particular pull to go back with a couple of destination pubs nearby.

A slightly trendy sort of pub full of bright young things, and clearly appealing to a female clientele. The bar at the front has an alcove with a dartboard for some strange reason - perhaps they couldn't think of anything to do with it - while the long dining room extending back has an open kitchen alongside. Sambrooks Junction and Ghost Ship were on handpump, with various craft also. Friendly enough but not somewhere I would go out of my way to visit.