Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Hackney, London, United Kingdom

The Dolphin - Hackney craziness by sokratis

sokratis — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:43:09 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8985 3727

How does one begin to describe the Dolphin? Is it a pub or is it a club? It looks like a pub, works like a pub and smells like a pub, but then again itâ¬"s open until 5am on Saturdays, which makes it fall under the club category. Oh well, Iâ¬"ll leave semantics aside and go for the club version.
Located in Hackney, itâ¬"s a magnet for all of East Londonâ¬"s trendies who are still yearning for some entertainment after most places in Shoreditch shut down at 2am. You will find probably the highest concentration of skinny genes per capita in the world, along with funny haircuts, moustaches, shiny shell-suits, trench coats, white shoes, golden shoes and all the other hallmarks of the â¬ÜIâ¬"m so cool and creative in my self-expressionâ¬" uniform of the East London hipsterati.
A drink will cost you Â£3 and the atmosphere is very friendly and party oriented. Apparently the Karaoke nights are legendary, but not on when I went. Instead we went through a vibrant mix of cheese, hip-hop, dance pop and occasional Gypsy Kings thrown in for good measure.
Not a place for the easily offended or swank-loving professional crowd, but an interesting night out that Iâ¬"d recommend you try once - if only for the novelty factor alone.
How does one begin to describe the Dolphin? Is it a pub or is it a club? It looks like a pub, works like a pub and smells like a pub, but then again itâ¬"s open until 5am on Saturdays, which makes it fall under the club category. Oh well, Iâ¬"ll leave semantics aside and go for the club version.
Located in Hackney, itâ¬"s a magnet for all of East Londonâ¬"s trendies who are still yearning for some entertainment after most places in Shoreditch shut down at 2am. You will find probably the highest concentration of skinny genes per capita in the world, along with funny haircuts, moustaches, shiny shell-suits, trench coats, white shoes, golden shoes and all the other hallmarks of the â¬ÜIâ¬"m so cool and creative in my self-expressionâ¬" uniform of the East London hipsterati.
A drink will cost you Â£3 and the atmosphere is very friendly and party oriented. Apparently the Karaoke nights are legendary, but not on when I went. Instead we went through a vibrant mix of cheese, hip-hop, dance pop and occasional Gypsy Kings thrown in for good measure.
Not a place for the easily offended or swank-loving professional crowd, but an interesting night out that Iâ¬"d recommend you try once - if only for the novelty factor alone.

The Macbeth - The Macbeth by miffy

miffy — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:02:23 +0000

Review by miffy

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7739 5095

Tags: live music, independent pub, cool

Funny how the other two reviews are so differnt, I've never seen this pub with a sports crowd but it is certainly one of the trendier pubs of hoxton. A variety of live music from rock to electro to indie. Xerox teens host a night there "the parlour" every month I think and many bands play there regularly, past bands include: good shoes, xerox teens, cazals. Reasonable drink prices and friendly people. Only issue with it is the council estate opposite who aren't always into drunken hoxton heroes. Funny how the other two reviews are so differnt, I've never seen this pub with a sports crowd but it is certainly one of the trendier pubs of hoxton. A variety of live music from rock to electro to indie. Xerox teens host a night there "the parlour" every month I think and many bands play there regularly, past bands include: good shoes, xerox teens, cazals. Reasonable drink prices and friendly people. Only issue with it is the council estate opposite who aren't always into drunken hoxton heroes.

The Nelsons Head - Great cosy pub by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:03:59 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7739 6054

Tags: pub unique

We stumbled across the Nelson's Head by accident. A cosy corner pub on an unassuming side street (between Hackney Road and Columbia Road), the decor is charming -- all dark blues, cinema seats around the walls, big wooden tables and lots of candles, with a great nautical twist. Very friendly staff and a good selection of beers. Dog friendly too -- there were some charming Jack Russells there when we visited.

The Nelson's doesn't do food - but (this is so cool) they have all the local delivery menus, and will give you crockery and cutlery, candles and napkins -- the works. Sit down, have your meal delivered, and someone else does the washing up. Genius!!

Highly recommended.We stumbled across the Nelson's Head by accident. A cosy corner pub on an unassuming side street (between Hackney Road and Columbia Road), the decor is charming -- all dark blues, cinema seats around the walls, big wooden tables and lots of candles, with a great nautical twist. Very friendly staff and a good selection of beers. Dog friendly too -- there were some charming Jack Russells there when we visited.

The Nelson's doesn't do food - but (this is so cool) they have all the local delivery menus, and will give you crockery and cutlery, candles and napkins -- the works. Sit down, have your meal delivered, and someone else does the washing up. Genius!!

Highly recommended.

Dove Free House & Kitchen - Do not give this venue youyr custom! by Soph

Soph — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:18:53 +0000

Review by Soph

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7275 7617

Tags: belgian, relaxed, bar

Do NOT drink or eat at this pub! I have been frequenting this venue once a month for a year, with many of my colleagues. We have had problems on every single visit - most frequently being asked to clear the passageway to the bar or kitchen (sorry - we only sat on chairs that you placed here!) but tonight was the last straw. The Dove will now charge you 50p for EVERY card transaction and you cannot set up a tab. Our packets of crisps / pints of chips / glasses of drinks were cleared before we finished them. You cannot have your Hoegaarden in a Hoegaarden glass, as they use them all for their "pint of chips". We were asked to "keep the noise down" - apparently 20 people having conversations on a leaving do on a Friday night creates too much noise. When we joined in with singing "happy birthday" with another group of drinkers, we were all asked to leave, as apparently we had had 6 warnings. "we are a quiet pub and do not cater for that sort of thing". The bouncer then escorted us to the unisex toilets, waited for us all to finish and then walked us out to ur taxi's. I attempted to have a conversation with the manager, who stood aggressively with his legs spread and arms crossed and informed me he had worked there for 15 years. I calmly asked what exactly we had done wrong and apparently he could come up with nothing more than "you are too loud". The bouncer then frogmarched me out of the pub. Needless to say, this will no longer be our monthly pub of choice, despite the range of beers available. I will also no longer be going to my local The Dovetail in Farringdon, their sister pub. I have only rated as 1 star, because I cannot rate as 0 stars.Do NOT drink or eat at this pub! I have been frequenting this venue once a month for a year, with many of my colleagues. We have had problems on every single visit - most frequently being asked to clear the passageway to the bar or kitchen (sorry - we only sat on chairs that you placed here!) but tonight was the last straw. The Dove will now charge you 50p for EVERY card transaction and you cannot set up a tab. Our packets of crisps / pints of chips / glasses of drinks were cleared before we finished them. You cannot have your Hoegaarden in a Hoegaarden glass, as they use them all for their "pint of chips". We were asked to "keep the noise down" - apparently 20 people having conversations on a leaving do on a Friday night creates too much noise. When we joined in with singing "happy birthday" with another group of drinkers, we were all asked to leave, as apparently we had had 6 warnings. "we are a quiet pub and do not cater for that sort of thing". The bouncer then escorted us to the unisex toilets, waited for us all to finish and then walked us out to ur taxi's. I attempted to have a conversation with the manager, who stood aggressively with his legs spread and arms crossed and informed me he had worked there for 15 years. I calmly asked what exactly we had done wrong and apparently he could come up with nothing more than "you are too loud". The bouncer then frogmarched me out of the pub. Needless to say, this will no longer be our monthly pub of choice, despite the range of beers available. I will also no longer be going to my local The Dovetail in Farringdon, their sister pub. I have only rated as 1 star, because I cannot rate as 0 stars.

Biddle Bros - Best bar in Hackney by tamlyn

tamlyn — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:23:34 +0000

Review by tamlyn

Rating: 5.00This lively bar has a nice relaxed atmosphere and is populated with a stylish but unpretentious mix of local residents. Most nights feature a band or DJ and it can get quite loud and crowded so perhaps not the best place for a first date but definitely worth checking out for any other occasion! The bar also has a resident Scottish Terrier who can often be found sitting outside befriending passers by.This lively bar has a nice relaxed atmosphere and is populated with a stylish but unpretentious mix of local residents. Most nights feature a band or DJ and it can get quite loud and crowded so perhaps not the best place for a first date but definitely worth checking out for any other occasion! The bar also has a resident Scottish Terrier who can often be found sitting outside befriending passers by.

The Approach Tavern - by claire_w

claire_w — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:26:34 +0000

Review by claire_w

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8980 2321

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

Great pub, decent food - perfect for quick drinks and all dayers...Great pub, decent food - perfect for quick drinks and all dayers...

Passing Clouds - passing clouds by gilka

gilka — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:47:04 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7502 2789

Tags: friendly, alternative, reasonably priced

credit to my friend Ivo who took me there...
This place is very alternative- on the top floor you have a wide selection of second hand couches spread around a large space which is used for film screening- good films! last time I was there , they were showing black cat, white cat.
It is very local, friendly place with a unique vibe.
It looks more like someone's old garage than a club but that's the fun in it...credit to my friend Ivo who took me there...
This place is very alternative- on the top floor you have a wide selection of second hand couches spread around a large space which is used for film screening- good films! last time I was there , they were showing black cat, white cat.
It is very local, friendly place with a unique vibe.
It looks more like someone's old garage than a club but that's the fun in it...

The Fleapit - Great Cafe on Columbia Road by Niki

Niki — Tue, 29 May 2007 00:46:00 +0000

Review by Niki

Rating: 5.00

Tags: relaxed, friendly, modern art

Great place to have a coffee or drinks. Films are shown from time to time and other art events are hosted ocasionally. They have a nice selection of organic beers and they also serve a limited selection of savoury plates. I tried a savoury pastry for lunch that didn't particularly excite me. However there are more stuff on the menu that looked like having "potential". On the whole it's a place definitely worth going and can easily turn into a favourite. I really love the collection of vintage cups and mugs!Great place to have a coffee or drinks. Films are shown from time to time and other art events are hosted ocasionally. They have a nice selection of organic beers and they also serve a limited selection of savoury plates. I tried a savoury pastry for lunch that didn't particularly excite me. However there are more stuff on the menu that looked like having "potential". On the whole it's a place definitely worth going and can easily turn into a favourite. I really love the collection of vintage cups and mugs!

Cat & Mutton - by Sami

Sami — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:51:24 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7254 5599

Website: http://www.catandmutton.co.uk

Tags: food, smoking, lunch

I went here on a very sunny Sunday a couple of weeks ago and liked it just fine. The really great fries with wonderful fresh aioli were the highlight of my visit, along with the entire afternoon spent watching the Shoreditch/Hoxton Square, cooler-than-thou, pretentious trendoids who look like they've walked right out of the latest over-priced vintage shop, trying their hardest to mimic the "authenticity" (please, don't get post-modernist with me) New York's Lower East Side. Funny stuff.

If you can, grab a picnic table outside and soak up the sun; we shared our picnic table with some really lovely people, the communal feel of it definitely heightened my enjoyment of the afternoon.

As one of the reviewers wrote, dogs and mommies abound which is nice to see, but I found the service horrific. The bartenders were obnoxious to the point of being bratty, but then again, it was phenomenally busy and working as a server isn't the greatest job out there.

I can't wait for my next people-watching expedition!I went here on a very sunny Sunday a couple of weeks ago and liked it just fine. The really great fries with wonderful fresh aioli were the highlight of my visit, along with the entire afternoon spent watching the Shoreditch/Hoxton Square, cooler-than-thou, pretentious trendoids who look like they've walked right out of the latest over-priced vintage shop, trying their hardest to mimic the "authenticity" (please, don't get post-modernist with me) New York's Lower East Side. Funny stuff.

If you can, grab a picnic table outside and soak up the sun; we shared our picnic table with some really lovely people, the communal feel of it definitely heightened my enjoyment of the afternoon.

As one of the reviewers wrote, dogs and mommies abound which is nice to see, but I found the service horrific. The bartenders were obnoxious to the point of being bratty, but then again, it was phenomenally busy and working as a server isn't the greatest job out there.

I can't wait for my next people-watching expedition!

The Royal Oak - Local pub on Columbia Road by mundek

mundek — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:07:29 +0000

Review by mundek

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7729 2220

Tags: food, cocktails, crowded

A local pub for the gentrified Columbia Road locals. Can get very busy at the weekend (esp sundays), it's very smoky and they don't appear to play any music, no real outdoor space. Good place for funny haircut spotting though. Try the Marksman or the the Birdcage instead. Oh, they do food too, but the filthy ciggie fug always puts me off eating here. Roll on July 1! A local pub for the gentrified Columbia Road locals. Can get very busy at the weekend (esp sundays), it's very smoky and they don't appear to play any music, no real outdoor space. Good place for funny haircut spotting though. Try the Marksman or the the Birdcage instead. Oh, they do food too, but the filthy ciggie fug always puts me off eating here. Roll on July 1!

Ye Olde Axe - very nice by mundek

mundek — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:32:47 +0000

Review by mundek

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7729 5137

Tags: pub, shoreditch, dancing

Excellent pub with "gentlemens entertainment" in Shoreditch. The interior has obviously seen better days but the dancing girls are more than friendly enough to make up for that.Excellent pub with "gentlemens entertainment" in Shoreditch. The interior has obviously seen better days but the dancing girls are more than friendly enough to make up for that.

The Marksman - A proper boozer by mundek

mundek — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:56:46 +0000

Review by mundek

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7739 7393

Tags: friendly, pool, east end

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.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.