Scolt Head, Dalston  

Until a couple of years ago this was an unreconstructed local's pub called the Sussex, but the gentrification of De Beauvoir Town meant this grand property received a makeover. As is the norm now, the look errs towards upmarket. The daunting frosted glass went, but the leaded windows remain, helping potential new regulars see inside. Inside it's the usual distressed floorboards and shabby furniture, with a couple of retro couches thrown in. There's some nice touches however: rows of old penguin classics to flick through, some great industrial salvage flanking the entrance and alphabet fridge magnets used to create the various notices dotted about (we resisted the temptation to rearrange them into rude words). Meanwhile out the front is a rather nice beer garden. If you're after something to eat you'll find a small but interesting menu of modern British and continental dishes, while a couple of ales and a reasonable choice of lagers and wines will keep drinkers happy. The one change we've spotted since out last visit is that the sports room, which previously occupied the left hand bar and featured a pool table and big screen TV has now been de-sportified somewhat, having been converted into a more sedate eating area; this was maybe to give more space over to diners at peak times, or perhaps to mitigate against the more 'boisterous' locals who have previously populated the pub on a Sunday afternoon. Overall, they've managed to balance the eating a drinking here pretty well and it feels enough like a pub to receive a strong three pint rating.

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