One of the few winners in the ongoing national battle to save Britain’s pubs, the local community in Hackney saw off developers hungry to turn a quick profit in the luxury flat market. The pub has now been restored to something possibly even better than its former glory. Welcoming all comers, it makes an ideal spot for a drink and a local chitchat while out walking the dog with the family. Find a spot in the pretty beer garden when the weather’s warm or crowd round the fire in winter and sink a proper pint or two. There’s a menu of pies as well as bar snacks for the hungry, though they don’t look askance at the odd pizza ordered in.