Star Of The East, E14

This rather lovely pub is now barely worth a visit for cask beer drinkers, with just one beer in winter months among four hand pumps that have forgotten what metal polish is, while the staff have forgotten what it's for. I had a little chat with the bar manager who tells me it has recently been acquired by a new pub company called Enclave, so there may be some changes. I didn't trust the solitary Fullers London Pride and went for a keg version of Five Points XPA, which is a much better drink from a cask - someone running this place who knew their beer would put both versions on at the same time and offer tasters. I reckon the cask would soon sell out. The keg version is cold and fizzy, with just a memory of the flavour of the cask version. There are some other local beers on keg: another from Five Points, another that my camera refused to focus on, a session IPA from Forest Road, plus a wheat beer, a Finnish "lonkero" (a non-beer drink made from gin, grapefruit juice and soda water, if the Internet is to be believed), plus a few pub standards on tap, and eight ciders in boxes. It's a bit of a trek if you're in the centre of London (Elizabeth Line to Limehouse or bus 15, 115 or 135), but I'd be interested to know if it improves under the new owners.

Imposing Nineteenth century pub on the Commercial Road, with a fin de siecle atmosphere.On our late May mid Saturday afternoon visit the rambling interior was deserted, with the trade gathered in the grungy yard outback. Back inside,three handpumps offered a couple of beers from East London Brewing, together with the inevitable london Pride. Of the ELB beers, both in good condition,I was most impressed with Foundation, a modern take on the stalwart best bitter.I was amused to note that drinkers of Cowcatcher APA were served with the hipster's favourite dimple jug. I enjoyed this pub, but it's a bit out of my way.