This homely, unpretentious hotel bar had a new lease of life breathed into it after a refurbishment in 2008.

The Venue
Located just off the lobby of the Custom House Hotel - a mid-range hotel located near the bustling Excel Centre - Custom House Pub serves both hotel guests and locals. It reopened after a thorough overhaul in 2008. The large space is broken up into a series of different areas by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves giving it a library-cum-study feel. A well displayed oval bar serves up drinks whilst the open-plan kitchen pumps out large platters of food. With a bold colourscheme of fire engine red and a pistachio green it feels lively, clean and welcoming.

The Atmosphere
Custom House Pub is populated by a mixture of hotel guests of a broad age span and local builder types. There are a few discrete televisions, but neither the TV nor loud music dominates - it is possible to have a conversation without resorting to shouting. The manager is clearly hands on as he runs out plates of food and fills in behind the bar where necessary.

The Food
Expect attractively served pub grub at Custom House Pub, prepared by a clean, well presented open-plan kitchen. Burgers, fish and chips, pies and steaks for under a tenner. If you just fancy a little nibble with your drink they also do olives for £1.50.

The Drink
Not the most adventurous bar selection around, Custom House Pub offers up the usual suspects such as Fosters, Carling, Stella, and Strongbow with Old Speckled Hen and Peroni spicing things up a bit. A total of twelve different wines by the glass offer enough choice for most palates and the majority come in at under six quid for a large glass.

The Last Word
The Custom House Pub has an easygoing countryside feel; it isn’t overly busy but has a pleasant buzz. Here they provide a good, casual meal and a place to chat over a post-work refreshment or nightcap.

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