The Empress, E9

A first into what was until 2011, The Empress of India. A much modernised pub with gastro leanings for the trendy set that now live around here, gone are the locals who would once have dined on jellied eels in this part of northeast London. There's a pewter topped bar with fluted edge running down the right-hand side. It features deep field panelling and a modern steel foot rail. Shelving is modern bare wood with glazed white rectangular tiles; there's an open kitchen to the rear which I don't like as they generate a lot of heat and are noisy. In the main the interior falls into two styles with walls to the front being bare brick, thereafter battleship grey, including the ceiling. The floor is pale bare boarded and probably modern. Five plain metal structural columns are painted gloss black. Lighting is eclectic with large metal shades hanging over the bar along with granny lamps dotted around the place. Furniture comprises oxblood studded banquettes to the periphery with similar sofas at centre, two around a low coffee table; there are some old prints to the walls by means of décor. Staff were efficient rather than friendly, serving me with a very good pint of Truman's Zephyr at an increasingly reasonable £4.90. This pub is ok if necessary and maybe the food's good, but as a pub experience it's a bit like any identikit pubs around this area - what was wrong with the old interior?

Official site of The Empress - empresse9.co.uk

Official site of The Empress - empresse9.co.uk

Large room with dining to left and drinking to the right. Bar to right side. One weak real ale - the rest keg.