This trendy Hackney venue is a great tip for those who love good food.

The Venue
Unless you're familiar with Hackney and Dalston, this venue is pretty hidden – it’s sat on a terraced road, next to a Costcutter, but really it is a very residential spot. As pubs in the area go, they usually fall into two categories – 'old man pubs' or 'trendy haunts,' popular with the young professionals who've recently flocked to the area. With its bare brick walls, dark wooden floor, funky lights, large mirrors and fashionable staff, this venue falls very much into the latter. It also has a reasonable outside area that's nicely kept with trellised plants and a lot of random artwork on the walls including skeleton heads in picture frames and animal heads on the walls. But, as with many east London venues, despite the polished overall look, the toilets are really neglected – watch your step!

The Atmosphere
Despite being a very laid-back venue with a relaxed feel, steer clear if you feel remotely intimidated by incredibly fashionable people – this is generally who the Spurstowe attracts. And don't expect to see any Hackney locals who've lived in the area for years – it's very much full of young professionals. This type of venue often suffers from sniffy service, but the staff at the Spurstowe are friendly and service is efficient. While it can get really packed at the weekend – especially if you're after a roast on a Sunday - if you visit on a weeknight, it's a nice quiet pub to have a drink in.

The Food
The menu is simply divided into snacks, boards, salads, starters, mains and desserts. Dishes include gastropub staples like Devon crab on toast (£4) as well as more unusual efforts like the fabada bean stew (£13.50). The food is quite pricey, but most dishes will definitely impress. The chips (£3.50), which come as chunky freshly-cut potato wedges with a pot of mayonnaise, are the best you can get in the area and are a must-try.

The Drink
The range of beers, ciders and ales is pretty impressive – draughts include Leffe, Aspall, Guinness, Estrella and Heineken. Wine is popular and the pretty detailed list includes bottles from all over the world. You're looking at paying around £16 for a decent bottle of wine. The venue is popular for its bloody marys on a Sunday, which are served from jugs on the bar.

The Last Word
Yes, it's another Hackney venue full of trendies, and the high prices might not make it a session pub, but with good food and a relaxed atmosphere, it's definitely one of the better foodie pubs in the area.

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