The Three Crowns, Old Street, N1

A third visit and gradually, little by little, this pub is becoming more pubby and less like a hotel bar. Opening hours have also been improved to seven-day 11.30 pm closing. Yes, it’s modern bare boarded but furniture is more mixed with a more formal area to the rear for dining but with high furniture at front as well as some barrels masquerading as tables. Walls are of course grey/blue in colour with a white ceiling from which hang spherical glass lanterns. There’s artwork to walls with brass picture lamps, muted music plays and there are no TVs. Ales: two pumps unused, one with clip reversed then Essex Street Brewery’s Smoke House, Three Crown’s Best Bitter (Essex Street) and Sambrook’s Wandle at £4.40 a pint which is what you pay for the area. As mentioned, a big improvement, but the Old Fountain (EC1) over the road beckons.

A Victorian street corner pub, surrounded by modern buildings. The exterior has some fine well preserved tilework in two shades of green with the signage declaring Barclay's Stout and Ales. Inside there is a long and narrow single room which narrows further towards the rear. The bar counter is along one side towards the front then there is an open food servery further down. Various coastal prints hang on the walls, many featuring small boats, there are books on shelves here and there and I noticed a glass case containing various small spirit bottles. One end of the bar has a bust of Queen Victoria, a bit Eastenders style while at the other front end of the bar there is a dartboard in a narrow recess. Plenty of regular seating especially towards the front plus drinking ledges at windows. A couple of modern rooflights in the middle of the pub help with much needed natural light. Five handpumps, Three Crowns Best Bitter (Essex Street Brewery), Sambrook's Wandle, Hackney Kapow reversed plus Old Rosie cider; one unclipped. I enjoyed my brief stay here, a decent proper pub with a good atmosphere worth seeking out.

Bare boarded interior with the bar at the front and the foodie area to the rear. 1 real ale 3 taps off during my visit.

Official site of The Three Crowns - www.threecrownsshoreditch.com

Official site of The Three Crowns - www.threecrownsshoreditch.com

Nice busy pub with rear part for diners.Reasonably priced beer.Good keg selection and on cask Trumans -Lazarus and a lovely pint of Hackney azzaca summit pale ale.