The Approach houses good food and drink in an environment that makes a mockery of the direct hit it took in World War Two.

The Venue
The Approach Tavern is a fairly large pub located just a little way off the Bethnal Green end of Roman Road. Away from the bustle of the Bethnal Green crossroads it is blessed with the space in which to erect one of the East’s few excellent outside drinking areas. There is a pleasant beer garden at the back and a well-covered terrace to the front. A good number of tables can cater for a crowd and there are also the necessary heaters to make a difference in the winter.

Inside, the decor is traditional and authentic and when done right - like in this case - this style manages to balance history with a certain level of modishness. The environment is a winner and enough to inspire further visits.

The Atmosphere
Although it’s not a huge concern, there is a slightly cliquey feel to The Approach Tavern. Divides seem to be made between regular drinkers and those who make a point of visiting the pub. The clientele is made up of a real spectrum of people, thanks in part to the gallery housed upstairs. Whilst there are no real tensions, often the juxtaposition of louder more boisterous groups with the quieter local crowd doesn’t sit well. The pub doesn’t seem to want to play the part of the all night party, however, and stays open to a merely respectable midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, when the majority of the clientele would happily stay longer. On a more positive note, the staff are very friendly and quick to serve.

The Food
The spread is a fairly simple one, which always seems to be the best way to go in pubs that aren't strictly reserved for dining. The menu embraces the pub’s eclectic lure and dishes range from traditional Sunday Roast (which is pretty decent) to grilled sea bass with fennel. The Approach shows that simplicity in a pub doesn't have to be sandwiches and chips. The quality is high but the price also seems to follow the same pattern and two of you may spend over £20 on a meal here, including drinks.

The Drink
There is a good range of wine here and an even better array of real ales, with five on draught including London Pride, Adnams, Chiswick and Discovery. However, lager lovers may be disappointed with the one Czech lager on tap called Litovel (in two variations – one at 4.2% for £3.10 a pint and the other a 5% version for £3.15), which is something of an acquired taste.

The Last Word
The selection of food and real ale is excellent at The Approach, and despite the fact that it is more pleasant on some nights than others, the atmosphere will usually cheer you up. Certainly somewhere worth checking out.

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