Barley Mow, Shoreditch  

Run by the same people as the Reliance around the corner (as well as a good few other pubs) this is more traditional pub than a lot of the pretentious bars in Shoreditch. That's not to say it isn't filled with its fare share of Hoxton types dressed in the multi-coloured gear they seem to like these days ("borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered '80s", as someone once said). There's a good selection of Fuller's ales (albeit only adequately kept), as well as a fair selection of lager, including the deceptively strong Litovel. They naturally cater to the Shoreditch crowd by apparently having DJs, but when they're not spinning their vinyl (or perhaps plugging in their ipods) a good, overly loud, jukebox takes the strain. It's easy-going enough, and we liked it, even one woman, who seemed to be either the manager or a friend thereof, made an unsubtle attempt at sulking because we were sitting where her dog usually sleeps. In a very busy bar, it's a bit odd to allow sleepy dogs to take precedence over paying customers. Good service otherwise, though.

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