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Hand & Shears, Barbican
Our rating: 
User rating: 
(2 reviews)
User rating: (2 reviews)
FancyaPint?'s review...
The Hand & Shears is a great little pub, which, despite it's diminutive proportions, is still divided up into public, private and saloon bars - a real rarity these days. It hasn't changed in years, decades even, though we guess it's only a matter of time before some well-meaning developer gets around to mucking it up. It's got a great old-fashioned pub atmosphere, but it can get a bit crowded, which is possibly the secret of it's avoidance of the renovator's hammer. It hasn't been neglected though, it's a well-loved establishment, that feels just like an English pub should - and the olde-worlde setting around St. Bart's churchSt. Bart's church just adds to the atmosphere. With well-kept real ales on the hand pumps (Adnam's and 6X we particularly liked, although there are other guest beers) and traditional pub grub such as sausage sarnies it's a real drinker's pub that just happens to get rather busy on Friday nights. Oh, and as it's on the edge of the City, it's usually closed at the weekends.
Review: 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
User reviews
08 Jan 2013
Well! Well!—it seems that the term ‘On the Wagon’ originated from my new favourite local pub.
It also seems that the tradition of cutting tapes to open things arises from the tradition of the Lord Mayor, standing on the steps of the Hand & Shears and cutting the first cloth to open the Cloth Fair.
Actually, I was never very keen on this pub but the new governor has got in some decent real ales (which change frequently), put on some unobtrusive jazz/blues music that’s actually worth listening to and generally rejuvenated the place.
Yesterday, I enjoyed excellent pints of Hackney Best Bitter, Foundation Bitter and Redemption Pale Ale.
They also had Grandstand Bitter, TT Landlord and Doombar.
Apart from the well-known names, the ‘guv’ seems keen to stock local brews.
Well worth a visit!
It also seems that the tradition of cutting tapes to open things arises from the tradition of the Lord Mayor, standing on the steps of the Hand & Shears and cutting the first cloth to open the Cloth Fair.
Actually, I was never very keen on this pub but the new governor has got in some decent real ales (which change frequently), put on some unobtrusive jazz/blues music that’s actually worth listening to and generally rejuvenated the place.
Yesterday, I enjoyed excellent pints of Hackney Best Bitter, Foundation Bitter and Redemption Pale Ale.
They also had Grandstand Bitter, TT Landlord and Doombar.
Apart from the well-known names, the ‘guv’ seems keen to stock local brews.
Well worth a visit!
Contact details
1 Middle Street, Barbican, London, EC1A 7JA
020 7600 0257
Opening times
Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00
Sat-Sun closed
Please check opening times with the pub before making a special journey.
Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00
Sat-Sun closed
Please check opening times with the pub before making a special journey.
Features:
How to get there
Nearest Stations
Door-to-door journey planner
How to find the Hand & Shears pub
Turn right out of Barbican station and then right at the lights. Take the first left and then first right , walk a short distance and the pub is on the corner on your left.
Nearby attractions
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History
08 Jan 13 Updated by moderatedrinker
08 Jan 13 Updated by moderatedrinker