Bethnal Green Tavern, Bethnal Green, E2

Originally built in the mid-18th century and rebuilt in its current form around 100 years later, this was originally the Camden's Head and reopened in the current guise last August, having undergone a refit to lift it from its reputation as a wretched hive of scum and villainy, so that customers no longer need be cautious. I'm guessing that the interior has been upcycled from a dark wood interior as all the woodwork - of which there is a great deal - is now very pale with a slightly distressed look, as though someone has played a blowtorch over it, including the floor. I don't know if the rough grey concrete screed flooring to the front is original, nor the tiled bar apron. Furniture is conventional and there is some semi-booth seating to the periphery with padded button-back upholstery. Lighting is all very conventional, the whole looking like a railway station bar - it's hard to believe that this was once a traditional Charrington's Victorian pub. There's live music, but seemingly neither the Elton John nor Phil Collins tribute acts that were playing in May 2013, at which time the windows had external pull-down metal roller shutters which I'd not seen on a pub before. Out back there's a very sizeable garden and customers as such, were young - possibly students? A very friendly barman was serving up the ales as listed below, with my pint of XT3 weighing in at £4.40 which is a bit steep for this type of outlet - it was also very slightly on the turn. I can't imagine how bad this pub was before, but it's hardly great now and as the Old George is down the road, I can't see a reason to return but I hope the place does well.

This place was fully refurbished before reopening in August 2018 and has now been given a slightly rustic look with bare wooden floorboards, several booths and a mix of semi-traditional furniture. One of the old 'spoons local history displays has also been left in place. Food is available again, although I saw no-one eating when I visited, and there is a patio garden out back. Two of three handpumps in operation, offering XT4 and Truman's seasonal Scratcheroo (£4.40), with the XT3 just having gone.

Official site of Bethnal Green Tavern - bethnalgreentavern.co.uk

Official site of Bethnal Green Tavern - bethnalgreentavern.co.uk

This one has clearly gone downhill since its 'spoons days. The table at which I sat was incredibly sticky, and the seats were dirty. Seating in this place is mainly normal tables and chairs, and there's a carpet on the floor, but that's where the pluses end. There are fruit and games machines around the place, and I spotted nothing of interest in the way of decor. Little natural light permeates to the nether reaches of the pub, making it seem quite gloomy during the day - perhaps it's better in the evenings. There were four handpumps on the counter, two with clips half reversed (something from Caledonian, and a red ale as I recall). The barmaid didn't know if any real ale was on, but she kindly drew some liquid from three of them, although as it was nothing drinkable I went for a half of Guinness (£1.85). This is clearly somewhere for the less discerning drinker, or the truly desperate.