Right on the knife edge of Shoreditch and the city, this popular pub attracts a crowd of bearable (ie not too twatty) scenesters and a dribbling of suits either lost on their way home from the city or there in a vain attempt to appear hip. Rain or shine the best action’s always to be found outside on the pavement though some heaters and more chairs wouldn’t go amiss. The pub is also the main purveyor of the ‘East End Fever’, an unknown substance pumped into the air that means, if not careful, you will soon find yourself battered beyond belief and insulting your best friends, losing your girlfriends laptop and/or headbutting a girl too small and nice to deserve it (delete as appropriate)
SEATED: A smattering of tables, doorways to sit in and window ledges to lean on.
TUBE: Liverpool St, Old St, Aldgate East
UPSIDE: A blind dog, classic East End landlady who will hula hoop on the pavement when she sees fit, good ‘wanker watching’
DOWNSIDE: no heaters, Friday and Saturday get real busy, all gets a bit silly when Tracy Emin/Pete Doherty show up…
HOURS: pub hours (some cheeky lock ins)
NICENESS: 8/10
