Liverpool Street: Leave station by the Bishopsgate exit and turn left towards Shoreditch. Go straight past Shoreditch Church and over the lights at the junction onto Kingsland High Road. You'll shortly see the pub on your right. Old street: take the exit towards Hoxton and walk along Old Street until you reach the junction with Kingsland High Road. Turn left and the pubs on the right.
The proprietors had a great concept. Whether it was to cut expense, or a flash of inspiration, the place looks like almost no renovation was done to turn it into a bar. Even the original signs from when it was two separate wholesaler's shops (hence the name) are present. Inside, it's a stripped-down sort of place, with only pieces of artwork decorating the walls, old leather sofas in place and a pretty utilitarian bar. In the basement, a brick fireplace is the only decoration and the only thing hinting at the building's Victorian past. Its dark ambience makes it feel like a Beatnik hangout, only the Philosophical discussions about Sartre are replaced by conversations about haircuts. Musically, its a mixed bag: we've heard everything from ironic 80's power ballads to blues here, but it usually hovers somewhere in the indie section of the musical spectrum. Ultimately it's a great place, erring on the right side of pretension and one the better bars in Hoxton.
reviewed: 18/11/2008
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posted by ps2jf - Monday 20th April, 2009, 10:09am
"The staff genuinely are rude - they do not care about customer service and even the manager treats people with absolute contempt. I have never been anywhere that had left me feeling quite so angry. Given the fact I was not a drunk, trouble-making punter, but a 5 foot 2 smiling girl simply asking a question (I won't bore you with details). Having been in the industry myself for many years, I feel it a great shame that a space where the art work challenges your perceptions, seems to forget that it is just one in a few dozen on that strip that can offer that. Once the novelty of that wares off, there is nothing there to keep you coming back. I will simply take my custom elsewhere. Bad attitude, bad management, bad experience - A true disappointment!"
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