King Edward VII, Stratford, E15

Visited 28/09/26. Visited previously 07/05/19. No cask. Three handpumps, not dispensing on my early week visit at a quiet time, apparently, they had Doom Bar on one the previous week but struggled with sales. Keg offering of Guinness, Neck Oil, Gamma Ray, Cosmic Drop Berry Punch beer to complete the BT hat trick, Fosters, Amstel, Cruz, Inch's, Moretti. Recently re-opened and the venue has had a bit of a freshen up, not least the insipid pale green external painting replaced. There are two front entrances, the left-hand one takes you into the front bar, the right-hand one (saloon bar above the entrance) into the rear bar. The front bar has the bar counter off the rear wall with tall stool seating along its length. Seating in the front via a couple of booth tables opposite the bar counter and then regular tables around with end, served by banquettes along walls and around windows and regular tables the other side thereof. The rear bar is via a corridor with lovely, glazed tiles, then into a space with the bar counter along the left-hand side and a banquette along the right-hand wall serving regular tables. Up a couple of steps in the rear left-hand corner is another seating area served by similar as in the other bars, another smaller bar counter and the plush baized pool table pride of place. Darts advertised out the front, but I didn't clock the dartboard. No screens in play on my visit and a very discrete music soundtrack. Venue overseen by a top-notch old-school manageress, who it was a delight to have a chat with at a quiet time over my pint of excellent Guinness.

For some unexplained reason I found the pub firmly closed at 3.30 pm on a Saturday afternoon. The exterior stands out from its surroundings, painted in white and Green but on closer inspection looked on the shabby side with much peeling paint. I'd like to have a look inside but wouldn't think I'll be returning to the area anytime soon.