please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great boozer, beer is really well kept, quiz is brilliant, free juke box with a very good selection of music and they also have football. You can get food from next door (pizza) which is actually ok, there are recycling boxes out side the pizza place for the empty boxes :)
|
Ahh the Shakey, used to live nearby and really miss the place. Great beer, friendly atmos, nice little garden at the back and terrace out the front, good crowd, good juke box ... probably the best pub in Stokey. In fact it IS Stokey. Must go back soon...
|
Was here last weekend. Good little pub with an authentic interior, beers a bit expensive, tho' to a certain extent you get what you pay for. quite trendy and interesting crowd. a refreshing change after most of church street which is mostly given over to 20 somethings.
|
After living in the area for 10 years this pub is still my favourite. I know it sounds corny but its a proper pub.
|
Proper pub. The fact that it is nearly always busy speaks volumes.
If they could change the ale selection slightly more often it would be perfect but otherwise a great place.
|
I love this pub. Tucked away in a Stoke Newington back street with eccentric decor and an open fire in winter - theres even a walled pub garden for the smokers. Fantastic jukebox, good range of beers, laid back atmosphere and a lock in once in a while. You can order pizza from next door and eat it in the pub. Its a proper local without being threatening or exclusive. Can't see what anyone would find to dislike about it.
|
decent enough pub, but staff could do with smiling now and then. and a verbal greeting to customers wouldn't go amiss. beer - quality and choice - is good, and pizzas from next door more than make up for lack of pub grub.
|
This isn�t the most exciting pub and the barmaid didn�t look very impressed to be working, but I did have a nice pint of Pride. Adnams, Discovery and HSB were also available alongside a selection of premium beers.
There seemed to be a more affluent crowd in here compared to some other pubs I have been in the area and there are no distractions from TVs or fruit machines.
This wouldn�t be my pub of choice if I was going out on the tear as this is the sort of pub you would take a date.
I found it quite difficult to get settled and I don�t think that I would stay for more than a couple of pints if I ever visited again.
|
Having stubbled upon this pub by chance recently, was very impressed with it's wide range of beers, clearly a free house. If I can find it again, will go back. reccomended
|
Nice pub, retaining many original Victorian features. Draught beer was quite good. No music when I was in there, but speakers everywhere so maybe I was just lucky. Just the sound of conversation, good atmosphere.
One thing I didn't like were the spot lamps on the left of the pub. Very bright and in your face, literally. Could do with replacing with lower wattage bulbs.
|
Best pub in the area, quite simply. Tastiest beer, friendliest patrons, tuneful jukebox, good quiz, and pickled eggs as well as a decent selection of bar snacks. Recommended in my opinion.
|
Beeermonster, how was your pickled egg then?
|
i really like this pub, not as cool as the londesborough but loads more character. Friendly locals and pretty decent beer, I usually go for one of the fullers ales.
I didn't find it expensive, and the welcome is worth it, plus the pub quiz on a monday night is always a good one.
|
Overpriced beer, grotty, uncomfortable and freezing cold. Could do a hell of a lot better
|
It's amazing that in such a busy pub, Richard the manager spent a lot of time speaking to a complete stranger! I suspect beeermonster (note three 'e's) is Robert Thomas, the owner of the Shakespeare. I've seen his writing before and recognise his bad English.
Duty on a pint is about 50p, and the only pubs that serve Litovel is pubs you own. You get a cheap lager that no one's heard off and pass it off as a premium product. I have had no problem in finding beers for �3 or less around Stoke Newington.
What I said about the pizzas is the commonly held view in the pub.
I could go on ...
You should listen to lowroader's comments; lack of maintenance and cleaniness, a pub past its prime. I predicted over 10 years ago that if you didn't spend any money on the Shakespeare and the Londesborough around the corner did itself up then most of your natural customers would go there. That's what happened, Robert. Punters don't want the p*ss taken out of them
|
After frequenting the shakespeare two days ago i can confirm pizza's are back.
The bar staff seemed quite proficient and friendly and greeted me with a smile. makes a change in this day n age.
After having a brief chat with the manager, a young bloke, he informed me of the rationale behind the pizza saga, (more greedy pizzeria owner than greedy bar staff here i detect).
Pricing here is a little expensive yes but to be honest I've found it hard to find a pint under three quid in stokey of late. In bars that i frequent anyway. Unfortunate though it is!
The manager explained to me the common misconception people have with regards to prices of Czech imported lagers. He blamed the cost of duty paid to customs as argument for three pound pints and said litovel in Czech sold for similar prices in Czech as star and other known pilsners. so why not here. But also made clear that the company set pricing structures.
I had a Litovel which seemed in good order and there seemed to be plenty of ale being downed contrary to previous messages.
The manager invited everyone inside at eleven for a late drink and the pub was positively busy.
Unfortunately the juke box was not free and a little quiet but all in all a nice atmosphere.
On leaving the manager directed me to the "late door" and wished me a safe journey home.
Summarizing, nice local boozer, no frills, genuine manager.
I shall be returning soon to sample my first pickled egg.
|
The Shakespeare staff used to get free pizza from next door for allowing it to be eaten in the pub. However, they got greedy so the pizza place said no more freebies.
|
One of the few good things about this pub was that one USED to be able to get pizza's delivered from the pizza place next door. The pizza place - which just looks like a hole in the wall - actually does extremely good, high quality pizza's. (go the napoletana with capers, olive's, anchovies & basil!) I get sick of going to pubs and having to pay 'gastro' prices - there never seems to be middle of the road prices any more! But now unfortunately the Shakespeare seems to not allow anyone to order from next door.. due to a 'tiff' it would seem.. So to me & a lot of my friends... the Shakespeare has lost it's charm... plus the beer is too expensive.
|
So the pints have gone down in price at The Salisbury? Funny, they seem to have risen at least ten pence at The Shakespeare and The Prince George. Apparently custom is down on Green Lanes, so drinkers in Stokey and Hackney get to subsidise the non-performer. Two pounds ninety five for a pint of London Pride in N16 is a bit of a premium for pubs that haven't seen any real maintenance for quite some time.
Time to consider some other options?
|
Hmmm, The Shakespeare, The Prince George, The Salisbury...all similar comments:
Positive: Great jukeboxes and pub grub.
Negative: Beer too expensive, not great...lager cheap n czech, yet sold at West End prices.
Lack of maintenance and/or cleanliness
In short, pubs past their prime....what could the link be, Holmes?
|
Gone downhill since I started going there. Owner taking the piss. Beer too expensive (especially the cheap lager sold at a premium price), and the owner, who has made millions out of the Shakespeare, hardly spends a penny on the place.
10 years ago this pub was packed most nights - not now.
Also, it's pointless to have a free jukebox if the barstaff turn off tracks they don't like.
|
interesting is one word for it.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2006 17:42 |
This has been my local for 12+ years now (i even worked behind the bar for a little while) and I still love it, relaxed atmosphere, interesting people (naturally), good pizza takeaway next door, BUT:
� The ale is way too fekin expensive � now over �3/pint. I've been drinking in the West End several times lately and even there not had to pay anywhere near that much.
� The real ale is too often in poor condition � I frequently have to get me pint changed because it tastes like vinegar. It's not hard, the cellar is good, just clean the pipes!
� The back garden has been wrecked by covering it in a silly tent thing, and all the tables and chairs are completely trashed and rotten, so now nobody uses it unless they have too � it used to be rammed.
� It could do with looking a bit more cared for � the relaxed ambience is great but it looks positively shabby these days. Please no corporate/trendy makeover, just a better cleaner would help for a start, plus a bit more hands-on management.
The owner of this pub has several others, and has got rich from them (see first point), so come on mate, how about a bit of reinvesting??
|
Are those people who are 'holding onto their twenties', mentioned a post or two back, waving them at the staff? Because that's the minimum you need to get a round in these days . . . Guinness is �3.05, as just noted by lowroader, and all the ales are *almost* at that �3.00 mark. In fact, I went in the other night and Adnams and London Pride were �2.85 each and Fullers Discovery was �2.90 (and the latter was flat!). Last time I went in was a month or two back, and the prices were slightly lower (and they were lower still a mere few months prior to that). It looks like they are putting the prices up every few months. It's a decent boozer all right, but sheesh, what the hell's going on with those prices? I went to the Wenlock Arms the other night and they still do their hugely impressive range of ales, all for �2.30 a pop. To be paying 30% more for variable beer really does smack of someone getting carried away with this postcode bollocks, rather than thinking "What makes a decent pub?" Still, that's the way of the world now (though there are places that show it needn't be)
|
A pint of Guinness is now �3.05 at the Shakespeare. Is N16 the new W1? Fair crack of the whip.
|
yeah it does do nice beers. nice location for a few quiet drinks. few pseudo arty trendies holding onto their twenties accompanied by girlfriends with very short fringes.
anonymous - 26 Mar 2006 21:40 |
Generally a pretty good place - though pricey for what is a backstreet boozer. Nice range of beer. Have to agree with previous posts that refer to how they welcome dogs (though some of the staff seem to merely 'tolerate' them, but that's fair enough) . . . it's good to be able to take your own dog to the pub, or go in without yours and be more or less guaranteed someone else's to be mooching about. The jukebox is good too. The outside bit is a bit of a weird thing (a kind of covered conservatory/gazebo effort), but it's pretty nice to sit out there once the weather gets warmer. Esp as the pub itself can get quite smokey. Not sure what the official licensing hours are, but they are usually pretty relaxed about drinking up time - closing the curtains and not bellowing at people unduly. Overall, a decent pub.
|
This is our favourite boozer in the area. It has an excellent jukebox, shows the footie without letting it take oer the whole pub, sells two different strengths of draft Czech lager (plus some nice brown beers and a draft wheat beer) and has the biggest range of classic snacks (from pork scratchings to pickled eggs) that I've ever cme across.
The only real downside is the mess they've made of the 'beer garden'.
anonymous - 10 Feb 2006 09:34 |
average back streeter, with above average drinks (and pickled eggs!)
|
Good fun, decent beers (though lines could be cleaned more often). Quiz night can be busy and with a decent jackpot. My favourite Stokey local.
|
I go here from time to time but am less impressed each visit. Mono-syllabic staff, uncomfortable church pew style seats. We were made to feel quite unwelcome on our last visit for (and I quote) "not being regulars". Technically it's my local: I just choose not to go to there every night of the week.
anonymous - 4 Mar 2005 15:44 |
More of a local but definitely well worth a visit. Great free jukebox most days. Very Stokey!
|
a nice normal local with eclectic mix of people. Don't ask for Bacardi Breezer or similar alcopop though as the landlord may throw you out for disrespect to beer.
Rachel - 2 Nov 2004 18:04 |
Thi place is laid back and friendly. When I went I took my dog Otto and nobody minded - indeed many people welcomed the lovely little Chocolate Labrador (Do you remember the days when more pubs allowed dogs in than didn't - whatever became of those days and why? And can Beerintheevening.com think about alerting people to which pubs are dog friendly? There are 7 million dog owners in Britain after all.)
|
Yes it's got uncomforatble seats... You just need to stand up more often and go to the bar.
Good mixed crowd, nice unusual beers (lager and bitter), pickled eggs, and the best jukebox in the world ever part 2 (tm).
Hardly go for some reason (laziness) but love it every time.
Steve - 24 Aug 2004 16:26 |
Good range of beers and bar snacks (eggs n scratchings - nasty but nice). Rumours of lock-ins, proper Stokey crowd and good covered yard out the back with heaters.
Dan - 7 May 2004 09:39 |
I have seen the future and its name is JUKEBOX. The Shakespeare's jukebox to be precise. Locals don't come better than this - great Czech beer, fab landlords sporting bizarre t-shirts... Just don't tell too many people or word will get out.
|
A disappointment, well regarded by the locals but very ordinary. Uncomfortable seats and no music playing when I tried it. Redeeming feature was a lovely Czech lager...good job really as no mainstream beers on offer.
Matthew Walsh - 21 Jan 2004 16:33 |
Friendly staff and crowd, nice beers, quite trendy but not wildly expensive. Wicked decor and atmosphere.
josh - 1 Oct 2003 18:02 |
Ace range of beers, smaller than I thought for it's reputation. Thought we were going to get a lock in there, but no. We'll be back!
Pauly - 21 Sep 2003 12:27 |
The Shakespeare is a genuine ale house tucked away in the back streets of Stoke Newington in North East London. It serves a fine selection of beers and is frequented by an authentic Stokey crowd. The service is good and friendly, it's relatively gimmick free and it's location adds to its charm because it rarely gets really busy, which other good pubs in the area do.
Anthony - 7 Apr 2003 16:56 |
