Who says there's nothing worthy of any note beyond the fashion corner of London Fields? The Kenton turns heads beyond the trendified parts of Hackney.

The Venue
Once upon a time, finding a pub like this in the Hackney suburbs would have been un-thought of but the transformation of the area’s demographic has changed that. Located on Kenton Road, just beyond a built up parade of off licenses, bookies and chicken shops, The Kenton stands out as its putty grey facade and the simple typography of its sign reject the brash assault of colours that jut out from the rest of the neighbourhood.

The interior perpetuates the cosy gastro look with mixed salvaged furniture creating comfortable, intimate pockets and large canvasses displaying black and white photography and prints. The space is ample enough to move around and mingle in and the light colour scheme keeps an informality to the place. The space is ample, allowing room to dance in between the collection of tables and chairs that look up to the bar. A sizeable beer garden can be found outside for when the sun shines.

The Atmosphere
The chalkboard sign stood in front of the door reads 'a waltz and a glass of wine invites an encore'. This is no affected punt at an air of twee sophistication. Inside, thoughts of Fifties-style innocence are confirmed by the sounds of jazz and blues and the most unpretentious of smiles that welcomes you. The quote changes daily but the ambience remains the same.

It is relaxed during the day and even when empty, there's still an atmosphere between you and the cosy sounds and sights of the pub. Evenings and weekends are much busier with a bunch of special nights running throughout the week. Monday is film night when world cinema is screened. There is also a quiz on Tuesday nights and wine offers on Wednesday plus discount cosmopolitans for Thursday's ladies night. DJs are installed on Friday and Saturday nights, playing whatever they feel like.

The Food
The Kenton must be Hackney's king of pies. The simple menu and the collection of exotic bar snacks don't come anywhere near eclipsing the sound of the tantalising Pieminister pie list. The range is priced at £8 and includes traditional steak and ale, chicken and tarragon, Thai and pork pies. All simple and satisfying East End dining.

The Drink
The Kenton even has its fingers in all the pies when it comes to the drinks. Wednesday's wine offers invite you to sample new bottles at reasonable prices (£13-£25), whilst Thursdays encourage cocktail consumption. Although not much encouragement is needed when they’re priced at just £5. There is a basic range including Cosmopolitans and mojitos and others can be prepared on request. Wrapping things up for the beverages, the beers on tap are Stella, Becks Vier, Red Stripe, Staropramen, Guinness, Hoegaarden, Flowers IPA, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Leffe, with most pints coming in at £3.

The Last Word
The Kenton is a jewel in Hackney’s crown and the surprises don’t stop with the location in which it’s found, but carry on pleasantly within.

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