Apart from the much smarter-looking outside, and the new neon sign that no longer flickers, on the first take it’s hard to see what has actually changed since Charlie Wright’s relatively recent refurbishment. On closer inspection however, it becomes clear that Charlie Wrights International Bar is now all about the music, offering an ever-widening array of live nights and DJ acts for a positively un-Shoreditch crowd.

The Venue
Charlie Wrights seem to have gone for a non-descript London pub look from the outside, but on entering, it has quite an unusual format, with a distinct restaurant on the left - including about 8-10 tables, Thai-themed artwork and a TV in the corner! - and a drinking section on the right. The drinking side is fairly small, with a smattering of tables and a couple of leather sofas pointing towards the make-shift stage at the front. However, at weekends, when it starts to get crowded, you can fit a surprising amount of people in there.

The Atmosphere
The feel of the place is a little dark but, with a few candles dotted around, it is actually quite cosy. The restaurant staff are mega-friendly and welcoming; the bar people much less so.

The clientele are generally a fairly specific audience for whatever particular night is on. These range from open mic nights, spoken word events, and free jazz during the week, and hip hop, Afrobeat, funk and even soulful garage at weekends.

The weekends are when it really packs out. Playing music you can really dance to, they charge fairly reasonable entrance fees (often either free or £5 before 9-10pm, before going up to around £10 after). And it stays open until 4am. Bonus.

The Food
The food at Charlie Wrights is quick, filling and incredibly cheap, offering a Thai menu with starter dishes from as little as £3 and mains for £8 at the most. The meals are good but a little on the greasy side - while the vegetarian pad Thai is very tasty and definitely generous for £6, the croutons that come with it feel saturated with grease.

The Drink
Charlie Wrights have an impressive array of draught beer, including Stella, Beck’s, Guinness, Asahi, Fruli and Leffe. A pint will set you back at least £3.50. Bottled beers are averagely-priced, with regular-sized ones such as Corona costing £3.50, and the larger varieties like Kopperberg costing £4.50. A single spirit and mixer is £3.50, and a soft drink is £1.50.

The Last Word
Charlie Wrights is hard to sum-up because it’s an amalgamation of different themes. The restaurant takes up a large chunk of space, but the food is really not what this place is about. If you’re into live music - particularly jazz, reggae and funk - and are looking for a night out that won’t set you back too much, it’s definitely worth checking their upcoming listings.

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