The Grapes

In Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens immortalised this old Thames-side pub, now in new hands, as the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters. While he might recognise the wood-panelled, Victorian long bar and The Dickens Snug, where as a child he reputedly danced on a table, much of surrounding Limehouse has changed beyond recognition. So too has the Isle of Dogs, as looking east from the small terrace over the river at the back to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf proves. Cask-conditioned ales in the bar include Adnams, Marston's Pedigree, Timothy Taylor Landlord and guests, while in the tiny upstairs dining room the fresh seafood includes pan-seared scallops, chorizo and smoked chilli; grilled or crispy battered haddock fillet; and whole roasted sea bass. If you'd prefer steak and chips, or shepherd's pie, they're on the menu too. Salads, sandwiches and bar meals are always available, and there are traditional roasts on Sundays.