The Camel

A wee, community-minded pub, The Camel is as close as you’ll find to a village local in edgy east London. This vintage tiled boozer occupies a cute little spot on a leafy street, behind the V&A’s Museum of Childhood. It’s all about beer, board games & people – no gastro-posturing, DJs or poncey wine lists here. The choice of beer alone is more than enough of an attraction, highlights being Sambrook’s Wandle or Junction, Freedom Four & pristine Brewers Gold. There’s food on the side – just Pieminster pies with mash, minted mushy peas & red wine gravy (all perfectly passable). The Camel’s 2006 ‘new look’ is ageing gracefully; the sun-warmed picnic tables outside & cosy corners inside are all the design details you need trouble yourself with.