The Coach and Horses, 178 Stoke Newington High Street, N16

I’ve never been that much of a fan of the Coach and Horses on Stoke Newington High Street. It always seemed to be a bit too brightly lit and ever-so-slightly scruffy with inflatable Guinness stools (a heinous crime). I went in there recently for a further look to find pleasingly that it has changed for the better. The harsh lighting levels have been softened in favour of Turkish style candle pots at table level, the MDF panelling on the walls has been distressed and aged deliberately to make it look, well, a bit less like MDF wall panelling really. The bar has also been smartened up and lit stylishly and the horrible inflatable Guinness stools which only belong in a holiday camp theme bar have mercifully disappeared. It’s the little things that make the different. Altogether this adds up to a nicer place to sit and have a drink, and it’s cheap too!