The Marksman

edward_a

Excellent Food and very friendly 14th April 2009

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We have lived in the Columbia Road are for about a year and have tended to go to The Royal Oak, which can get absolutely packed and the service in the bar can be a bit variable.

The Marksman has just been refurbished and we tried it for the first time on Good Friday. Timmy Taylor was fine but the food was absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. It was so good that I went back on Easter Mon for dinner again just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Their £10.50 menu for two courses was very good value

Unlike The Royal Oak this pub has a nice mix of locals and younger trendies and is not packed (i always think being able to hear yourself speak is useful.)

What else? The landlady is very friendly. Also they have the funkiest beer bottle-chandelier towards the back. IMO the pub is well worth a visit just to see this!

subterranean

A Hidden Gem in Shoreditch 4th January 2009

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The Marksman has changed considerably in the last few years. From decent local boozer, to full-fledged gastropub: though a few caveats when using the term 'gastropub'...

First, there is no chalk board, free-range lamb, or prawns and mayo. This is a 'true' gastropub - serving honest, traditional food (with a modern flair).

If you're coming for the beer, there is more than an adequate selection with Timothy Taylor's Landlord on tap, every lager you could desire, and a very decent selection of International bottle beers. I was even excited to see a bottle of Macon Villages Chardonnay on the winelist...so as far as drinks, all bases are covered.

This place is great on a Sunday when they do a traditional Sunday Roast (with the most generous portions I've had in years) - perfect for post-Columbia Road Flower Market fayre. Also good during the week for a quiet pint or food or both.

With pubs changing (and sadly closing) at an alarming rate, the Marksman is a gem that with recent updates, makes it arguably one of the best in the neighborhood. And a place that should easily appear on every pub lover's top ten in London.

Check it out!

mundek

A proper boozer 12th December 2006

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A proper East London boozer. No fancy bar or theme pub pretensions here, just a place to enjoy a pint. Not sure if the do food, but the have a jukebox, pool and a lot of regulars. Can get quite rowdy if England/West Ham/Arsenal are playing, but not really threatening. A good local pub.