The Prince Arthur, E8

The date of this pub on the parapet - 1861 - makes it a mid-Victorian survivor. There's little else of heritage value, excepting the green-banded (ex-Charrington?) glazing in the windows, and some rather nice higher pieces of an old bar back. I didn't see a menu inside, but there was one on one of the doors, with main course from £10.50 upwards. There were also some specials written on some tiling behind the bar, with Tandoori Wood Pigeon at £8.50 perhaps looking the most unusual, but I wasn't hungry enough to go for that! I saw some meals arrive for other customers - one looked like seared tuna, and another one (not sure what it was) arrived on something that looked like a lump of slate. However, they did have three ales on - Truman's Runner, and a couple from Darkstar in Redhead and Summer Solstice (£2 a half). Seating inside is a mix of banquettes, a couple of sofas, a tall table/tall stools or two, and some normal tables and chairs. There are some benches outside which were very popular on a warm July evening, meaning there was no problem getting a seat inside. This is another backstreet Victorian pub in this area that's moved upmarket to remain as a going concern. If that's what it takes to keep going then good for them; at least it's still here for me stop off to enjoy a beer in.

Solid-looking pub hidden away in some of Hackney's more upmarket backstreets. Some old decorative windows can still be found the 'U'-shaped bar. Dark floors but light paintwork and little in the way of decoration. Densely packed with solid furniture. Wooden benches out front on the pavement. ATM. Three of four handpumps working, with Sambrooks Junction, Adnams Southwold and Caledonian Flying Scotsman (£3.60) on offer.