The Salmon & Ball, Bethnal Green, E2

A first in what is probably one of the area's last traditional community boozers, with the odd incomer. It's tidy and quite conventional inside with a carpeted floor, Anaglypta ceiling, neutral green and cream painted Anaglypta to the walls and traditional furniture with louvre blinds to the windows; it's smaller than you think too with some space devoted to flashing games machines. Karaoke was the thing on my arrival and a bloke was inflicting hari kiri on Spandau Ballet's Gold - Tony Hadley would be turning in his grave if he were dead. Disappointingly, TVs on the walls were glowing away showing dross with the sound off. Locals seemed like a jolly bunch, though I think some were a bid Brahms. The barmaid was very friendly and served me with a half of Kronenbore at a very steep £2.40; it's cooking lager only here as far as I could see. This isn't a bad place if you fancy some alternative entertainment - fine for something different if you're passing, but I don't pass here often.

Not a bad-looking corner pub, with green paintwork and hanging baskets on the two facades. The staple-shaped bar has plain furniture and the usual decor seems to be mostly mirrors and sports TV screens, although it was decorated (in a not too over-the-top way) for Christmas when I stopped by. Fairly busy too, with Jimmy Hendrix blasting out from the sound system, but plenty of good-natured chat too. No real ale sadly, so it was either John Smith's (£3.20) or either bottled Abbot or Old Speckled Hen from the fridge. All-in-all, a mixed bag.