please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Closed down last year but now reopened as the latest outlet of the small Draft House chain.
Now some will see this as the loss of another East End pub and whatever your personal view of the black ceiling and walls with inlaid wallpaper panels, stripped wood flooring, and the new mustard coloured bar stools, I’ve seen a lot worst travesties carried out in the name of modernisation. And the brass lighting fixtures and the impressive remaining ash wood canopy bar still tells you this is still very much a pub.
And although the tiled bar backdrop with its large optics of premade luminous e-numbered cocktails may be more Islington nite bar than east end boozer, what has clearly improved is the beer choice and where the usual run of the mill draft offerings once resided there are now several banks of craft beers from predominantly London brewers, two fully stocked bottle large fridges and three fully functioning ale pumps.
Craft beers from Beavertown, Camden Town and Siren were on the pumps including some American offerings from the Against the Grain Brewery. Sambrook’s Wandel is the house ale and then Moor Raw and Siren’s Love of Work was on the other pumps, all of which we tried and were well kept
And then a couple of impressive fridges with a wide choice of beers of different styles and breweries and I noticed a few from the Box Stream brewery and Pressure Drop.
We didn’t eat but I did like the nod to this pubs heritage with the Pie, Mash and liqueur menu albeit at a price level that would have my granddad cussing in his grave.
There are those that will not see the march of the Hoxton hipsters east as a good thing. But if this is what it takes to keep this wonderful old former Truman pub building as a place dispensing alcohol, bring it on I say.
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went here for the first time on Friday night.
they must be doing something right as it was insanely busy - difficult to move at one point.
it was karaoke night. and the majority of the singing was dire although what do expect at 9pm on a Friday night?
would like to go back when quieter to gain a better idea of the place.
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A Shoreditch-based friend suggested this pub to me at the weekend, I should have known. A handful of regulars and the rest of the bar was flooded with hipsters. Incredibly loud 'ironic' karaoke was on but I thankfully had earplugs. The place was so busy it felt like a club. At some points you actually couldnt move, it was so uncomfortably busy. We tried to get some respite at the other end of the pub but the pool table was covered up. Avoid.
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Nice old East End pub, no cask ales though...
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i have been to this pub many times when visiting columbia road flower market. Its a great true east end pub and the landlord and staff welcomes all. The staff are friendly and you can have a good laugh with them. ( Please note chain pubs,these people have a personality).
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A really lovely freindly East London pub. We chanced upon this place whilst out on a Sunday afternoon and fancied a pint or four. The lady behind the bar recommended some real ales, and made us feel very very welcome. After half an hour we were even presented with some cheese and biscuits, gratis! Lovely pub, which hasn't had the heart torn out of it, unlike most London boozers! Recommended.
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It seesm my visit on 8 Jul 2006 was a one off. Been back a half dozen times since then and found it a busy, fun place. Great service and good mix of locals.
Indeed its true - not too many Shoreditch types they're all over in the Royal Oak.
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Just went to this pub for the first time. Great staff, great pint, great landlord. My mate used to go there as a kid, and was greeted with a hug. Big handshake from John the Landlord as I left. Very very comfortable atmosphere. Old school pub in the best possible sense. More power to it.
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I have been going to this pub now for over a year and this is the only pub in the east end that is worth going to. As soon as you walk in the Landlord makes a point to come and say hello and always remembers who you are. The pub has got a very friendly atmosphere, its customers are a good mix of locals, yuppies, young people and artisans.. The bar staff are very friendly and comical. Weekends are always busy and if this pub was once struggling it certainly isn't anymore.The pub offers nights of Karaoke,Country and Western and a DJ. Pool and darts on offer as well as Sky sports.I was in there last night for monday club karaoke and it was not only busy but a very entertaining night. If you haven't been here you must go.
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nice friendly pub which is very popular with the locals, not too many trendy shoreditch types which has to be a good thing.
usually has entertainment at weekends and has been packed whenever i've been in there.
landlord always makes an effort to say hello and goodbye when he's not too busy.
darts and pool are on offer too, all in all a good east london pub.
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Good-looking, old-school pub which, when I went past last night, (Friday) had about three people inside. Place might get busy at other times, but it seems to be struggling at the moment.
Perhaps people listened to 'anonymous' below? Pubs need to adapt or die and its curmudgeonly attitudes like that (inverse snobbery, in this case) which will lead to the place shutting down through lack of custom and getting turned into another boring gastropub.
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This pub is ok, but unfortunately it seems a lot of trendies and students are making there way in and enjoying the 'irony' of a real pub -Clear off back to Shoreditch!
anonymous - 28 Jun 2006 18:31 |
