The Peacock, Stepney, E1

Official site of The Peacock - www.instagram.com

Official site of The Peacock - www.instagram.com

Facebook page of The Peacock - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Peacock - www.facebook.com

This pub looks a bit like a throwback to the 70s with its dull brown stripy upholstered banquettes and small round stools, wrought ironwork in the stillion, gantry above the bar counter for storing glasses, and ancient jukebox (possibly a decorative feature as it wasn't switched on when I was on a Tesday afternoon). There’s a central island bar now, serving the area that would once have been split into three rooms, if the number of doors to the street is anything to go by. There were two TVs on, one showing the racing, and the other one in competition being tuned to some music radio station. Wall decor seems to amount to photos of sporting heroes – mainly boxers, but I did spot one of Lester Piggot that had crept in there somehow. One really nice thing is the model ship on a shelf in one of the corners. There’s a pool table and dartboard in the area on the right, and Sky Sports is advertised. Unfortunately, there’s no real ale, with the best option (for me anyway) being the keg Courage Best. I didn’t see any sign of food. I admire people running a pub like this and eking out a living where the ethnic mix has changed dramatically and where residents are predominantly from a culture which steers well clear of pubs. This is the sort of traditional pub I like – shame there’s no real ale.