The Black Eel, E8

Visited 15/12/25. Visited previously as Draughts on 05/12/22. Cask was Brodie's Amarilla. Another hand pump had its clip reversed. Keg was a mix of Exale offerings (Oona NEIPA, Fermie Sanders IPA, Skoosh Session IPA, Black Eel lager, Purr-ty Time unfiltered Helles, Berry Springer a strawberry and watermelon sour, Dr Green Thumb a fresh hop pale, Lagerama lager) plus Brodie's Shoreditch Sunshine and Jamacian Stout, Guinness, Adnams Wild Wave cider. Marble topped bar counter down the immediate right-hand side on entering the venue. Ceramic tiled area with a drinking ledge opposite the bar counter with some tall stools and a few wall-attached tables with tall stools. Nice mirrors on the wall opposite the bar counter and loads of ceramic glazed tiles on the walls. The bar area had a very strong art deco sort of feel, and the lighting was very tranquil. Ceiling fans were not needed this time of year. Immediately beyond and to the left of the bar area was an unused space (the ballroom), ceramic floor tiles and a mix of fabric and leather banquettes around the perimeter of the room serving regular tables with a large dining table in the centre of the room served by regular chairs. Nice skylights and very art deco-based lighting. Beyond that was another area with a mixture of ledge-based seating down the left-hand side with tall stools plus regular tables served by red studded leather banquettes down the right-hand side. At the rear on the right-hand side was a games area with dart board, table footy and a shuffleboard and a fabric bench area to the left-hand side occupied by a private party playing regular games on my visit. No screens and nice ambiance creating lighting with a very low-level soul-based soundtrack.