The Albion will appeal to those in the surrounding area, but just because it isn't accompanied by the hustle and bustle of a busy location doesn't mean to it's not worth trekking to. Even if it’s just to observe what goes on in the traditional taverns of Hackney.

The Venue
There are a few pubs on Lauriston Road but none with a sign as big and bold as The Albion. You just can't miss it. Perhaps this is to gain some initial attention because the pub's facade is much like a little green shop front. Inside though, there is no mistaking that this is a pub. A more stereotypical local boozer you could not find.

The fixtures behind the bar are brass, the stools are covered in that luscious regal green that matches the taps so well and the walls are covered with old pictures of Hackney-gone-by. To walk around is like taking a trip down memory lane, or Lauriston Road to be precise, and it's interesting to see the pictures of what the area was once like. The most contemporary fittings are the beer brand and Coca Cola mirrors that no local tavern in its right mind should be without - after all, what's the point in having a mirror if it hasn't got pictures on it? There are tables and chairs and seating along the walls. The green, black and red chintz that covers it all is the perfect foil for the wiping of greasy fingers after a packet of Walkers' finest. The pub is bigger than it first looks, and if you've got the guts to wander around the sides of the bar then you'll see the fuzzy green of two pool tables - it's winner stays on and the rules are, there are no rules.

The Atmosphere
The Albion is very much a local. The kind of place where new drinkers might be met with fixed stares, but once you're in, the dry roasteds are definitely going to be shared around. There are a lot of 'bars' in London, and the classic pub is definitely being fazed out - the boarded windows of a lot of the east's old boozers is proof. This may not have the appeal of rare German beers and fine wines, but it holds its own East End charm. Sometimes it's nice to have a beer with a little danger on the side, or some crisps accompanied by the unknown, and there aren't too many pubs where you'll still find the old London staple, the character. Here you can take your pick. There's the one who sits at the bar in full deer stalking outfit, the one that always needs to have two blue WKDs in hand at once, or perhaps you can bond with the man in the corner about why Diet Coke and Guinness mix so well. The Albion doesn't do irony like so much of the east, what you see is what you get.

The Music
There is a jukebox in the pub. It's best to get in an hour earlier than the rest of your group if you're making the trip because despite being largely disregarded by the majority of the patrons it does seem to churn out Now albums for a large chunk of time before you hear your picks.

The Drink
As you would expect from a pub a little distance from the rush of Mare Street, the prices are good. Pints are less than £3 and for a bottle of house wine there is certainly change from ten pounds. Heineken is the most exotic of the draught lagers and, besides the strangely coloured alcopops, probably of all the drinks.

The Final Word
If you like your pubs old fashioned rather than with the sheen that money and prime location afford then The Albion is a treat. It's a simple, traditional place to enjoy drinks with friends in Hackney.

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