Set in a handsome Victorian building, on a prime site next to one one of Bow's premier attractions - Victoria Park - The Crown should be a runaway success. Unfortunately, in recent years this hasn't been the case.

However, after a year or so of uncertainty, it is open once again and this time the new owners - Geronimo Inns - not only know how to run pubs, they know the area well, having turned another local lame duck into something rather rather more successful.

So what's the new place like? Well, the Crown has been spruced up, modernised and rationalised somewhat - the interior downstairs being divided into a trendy, loungey area, slightly separate from the bar, with a more formal dining room upstairs. A layout that will not be entirely unfamiliar to previous visitors, but this time around it seems to make a lot more sense.

The drink on offer is the usual high quality range you'd expect from the new owners - pride, Adnam's and Sharp's excellent Doom Bar on the hand pumps, with Aspall's Cider, Edelweiss weissbier and more regular lagers etc on tap. The wine list is pretty decent and of course there are plenty of spirits.

The food looks good - a now familiar modern British pub menu - we've yet to try it but given our experience with other pubs in the group, it should be a good standard. Pricing is about what you'd expect, a little higher than average, but then that's also to be expected. It's early days, but given the pub, the location, the food, the drink and the new owners' expertise, this should be a great success.

CLIENTELE: locals
NEAREST STATION: Mile End station
FEATURES: real ales, dog friendly, function room available, outdoor seating, separate restaurant