Jam is the all welcoming club, bar and chill-out entertainment zone that appeals to everyone except the local residents of Hoxton, Hackney and Shoreditch.

The Venue
With a prime location at the zenith of Shoreditch High Street you’d think that Jam would make an effort to unscrew its lid and smother the subconscious minds of the passing trade with its sticky fruity seed. In reality, the bar looks like a dead grey mass with a cheap old sign and references to actual jam that are as lazy and predictable as the ones that you’ve just read.

Inside Jam’s jar there isn’t much of a problem. There are plenty of tables and an infinity sofa that runs against the back wall with a few contemporary pictures hanging alongside the tacky graffiti. Booths are spattered below a large projector screen and the walls around them are covered with a modern flowery print. Jam is a bar typical of an old way of thinking and a true divider of the two sides of Shoreditch; it attracts the laddy stag weekend persona and frightens off the warehouse art scene that still breathes below the surface. The bar remains a sea of aggressive iron and ore that’s juxtaposed with floaty, bubbly colours as it attempts at a modern style.

The Basement Lounge downstairs may have a cringeworthy title but the griminess gives subterranean charm when the lights are down. Chairs and tables are temporarily spread over the floor for live sporting events but the weekend sees it cleared.

The Atmosphere
Jam has a big football following. The large screens above and below ground attract a mix of those looking for specialty matches and groups looking for a large screen and beers that come by the pint rather than the bottle. The bar remains popular with its clientele who are happy with the lot that it offers. It may be a little cheap and at times amusingly contrived but make no mistake, the package certainly appeals to the masses. It’s purely a night time bar and the weekends are still packed. Football in the bar below is a highlight too as the low ceilings and claustrophobic feel create a good arena.

The Music
Generally, the music follows a trend of what’s big at the time. The music is acceptable - if a little urban for the sake of urban - and the lower level is a place you can lose your head in and it isn’t bad if you’re all for the commercial side of things. The Basement Lounge can be hired for private parties and gatherings.

The Drink
In terms of the Shoreditch price list, Jam takes it to the next level - drinks here are expensive. Having said that, there is a long list of cocktails that taste good for the price. There is also a list of shots and shooters at the bar for the quick strike. The list of beers on draught includes San Miguel, Kronenbourg and Fosters and behind the bar the mirrored glass is lined with a multitude of spirits.

The Last Word
Jam does enough to inspire the masses that continue to fall for the charms of Shoreditch but it’s stuck in a rut of unoriginality where surrounding bars offer a more personable touch.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (5)