The Carpenters Arms, Bethnal Green, E1

This pub dates back to the start of the 19th century, but was rebuilt in the ‘60s, either due to bombing or general regeneration of the area and incorporated into Donegal House. It’s largely unchanged since Rex’s visit, but I think that it may have had a bit of TLC applied during Lockdown. The interior is patterned carpeted, with walls of pale green. Furniture comprises green velour banquettes, then Britannia tables and simple traditional chairs. There are floral swag curtains with rushed pelmets and there’s a traditional carved fireplace. To the left, is a raised area for live music on Saturday nights (there are disco Fridays and interestingly no sport), lighting is Victorian-style chandeliers, the bar with a traditional front and period-style reproduction pot shelf, featuring etched and cut glass. Customers were mixed, with some older geezers propping up the bar, armed to the teeth with industrial language, then some mixed younger incomers, eschewing trendy pubs to the north. There’s no ale unsurprisingly, the closest thing being something on tap from Whitbread which I studiously avoided. Thereafter, it’s fizz with a half of Stella coming in at a very agreeable £2.30, served by a friendly barmaid. This is a decent locals’ boozer, which seems open to outsiders and incomers, offering a comfortable, well-maintained environment with a live knees-up come the end of the week and Saturday; it’s a far cry from the Hungerford Arms, but is not a destination pub.

This looks like a 60s estate pub, and it doesn’t look as if much has been done to the interior since then. It still has the iron-framed round tables, green upholstered banquettes round the sides, some standard spindle-framed chairs and small round stools. It’s all very 70s kitsch. The walls still have some basic fielded panelling, now painted a cream colour. There’s no decor on the walls, but of course there’s the obligatory fruit machines and naturally a TV on showing the racing. Obviously there’s no real ale available – they (somewhat predictably) did have John Smith keg on, as well as Webster’s Green Label keg. Now that’s a blast from the past. I’ve no idea who brews it, but I can say that it hasn’t improved with time. I didn’t see any sign of food or menus when I visited on Saturday afternoon. Anyway, this pub is worth a look if you fancy a walk down memory lane to see a 60s/70s locals’ pub throwback, but I can’t think of another reason why I would want to visit again.