The Wentworth Arms, Mile End, E3

This is a small single room corner pub. It’s apparently a Charles Wells House. There were two handpumps on the bar, but neither was in use. The only bitter available was a keg version of Bombardier, which turned out to be undrinkable. The landlord readily refunded my money (there was nothing else that I wanted to drink). This struck me as a friendly local; all they need is a decent ale or two to make it a really decent pub. Can’t see me returning unless they start serving a real ale.

Tucked just round the corner from the tube station, the Wentworth is a smallish, no nonsense, local's corner pub with no glamour or pretensions. As previously mentioned, this is a Charles Wells pub but despite 2 hand pumps, they have no cask ales and keg Bombardier is the only option for bitter drinkers. There is a dart board at one end of the bar (mind the bookshelf below) and a couple of TVs and jukebox. The décor is plain and simple with polished wooden floor, padded pew seats and plain ceilings / walls. The windows are partly frosted with the pub name picked out and a staircase cuts across the bar that would have originally been divided into a typical public / saloon set up but is now knocked through into one. The beer garden has an interesting bus stop style shelter so smokers should remain dry. The pub may not be anything particularly special but there are far worse places in the area.

This place is pretty much what I would expect from a small east end boozer with its vocal crowd and nice yet authoritative landlady/barmaid. There is only a standard selection of draught, including Bombardier, as the two hand pumps are unused. I decided upon the Guinness which was well served. The pub is pretty basic, but there is a dartboard and an outside area for smoking and sitting in the sun. I wasn't that keen with the set up as the railings up each side make this narrow area feel like a cage sandwiched in between some garages and the busy pavement. There were some kids playing football and their ball kept flying over which was irritating a few of the locals and narrowly missed my freshly paid for pint. This place is ok for a quick drink if meeting people from the nearby tube, but I wouldn't go out of my way to drink here again.