The Nelson's Head, Shoreditch  

We sometimes have a twinge of sadness when an old back street local gets refurbished, as it often involves dining areas and stripped floorboards. If they end up like this, though, we're not going to complain. A short walk from the fashionable enclave of Columbia Road, the Nelson's Head held out as a geezer's pub until quite recently, but the interior left something to be desired. Now, however, it's transformed. Painted in a rich, dark blue and complete with a proper swirly pub carpet, it feels warm and inviting. Sideboards and window ledges are festooned with objet d'art and treen: glass bowls, china pots, cat figurines and the like. Many of the chairs seem to have come from an old cinema and our first visit found the walls covered with antique mirrors - all up for sale and mostly already sold. Indeed, this idea is further explored with the pub's regular jumble sales. This interesting eccentricity comes at a small price, in that you'll have to tolerate the occasional finger-clicking Hoxtonite, but mostly there's a genuine mix of people and an easy-going atmosphere. There's one ale on tap (a well-kept Hobgoblin when we last looked in), but we often opt for Courage Light Ale when visiting; somehow it seems appropriate.

reviewed:
14/11/2008

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

real ale

late opening

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