The Salmon & Ball, Bethnal Green, E2

A first in what is probably one of the area's last traditional community boozers, with the odd incomer. It's tidy and quite conventional inside with a carpeted floor, Anaglypta ceiling, neutral green and cream painted Anaglypta to the walls and traditional furniture with louvre blinds to the windows; it's smaller than you think too with some space devoted to flashing games machines. Karaoke was the thing on my arrival and a bloke was inflicting hari kiri on Spandau Ballet's Gold - Tony Hadley would be turning in his grave if he were dead. Disappointingly, TVs on the walls were glowing away showing dross with the sound off. Locals seemed like a jolly bunch, though I think some were a bid Brahms. The barmaid was very friendly and served me with a half of Kronenbore at a very steep £2.40; it's cooking lager only here as far as I could see. This isn't a bad place if you fancy some alternative entertainment - fine for something different if you're passing, but I don't pass here often.