This Bethnal Green boozer has a monopoly on Tottenham fans but little else to boast of.

The Venue
Down in the ramparts of a grand looking old building is the not so grand home of The Shakespeare - a typical boozer of the East End variety.

Inside, the decor is an homage to the past with flowery stained carpets, old wooden bar stools caked with the ageing scent of cigarette smoke, and a bar that holds sway over the left hand side of the room. At the back of the pub there is a pool table with just enough space around it to make it feasibly playable and there is a big screen TV that shows football throughout the week.

There aren’t many tables and chairs within because the building has a narrowness that has pushed it into becoming a standing supporters’ pub.

The Atmosphere
The Shakespeare certainly doesn’t lack edge during football matches. The environment is all screaming opinion and blue banter between the customers who are all on speaking terms. It’s a bit of a Tottenham supporters’ pub during their matches and this is when the crowds are at their liveliest.

During other matches things are calmer although the lack of seating doesn’t make things particularly enjoyable. The clientele at the Shakespeare are the same Stone Island wearing lads that you see in films like Football Factory or other Danny Dyer shows and there are older locals who sit quietly taking in the events around them.

The Drink
Wine seems to be hidden from sight at the Shakespeare, probably due to how infrequently it’s asked for. Instead it is replaced by bottled beer and a variety of alcopops that brighten up the fridge. The lagers on tap are Kronenbourg and Grolsch with a good Guinness a positive.

The Last Word
The Shakespeare has no defining feature within the bricks and mortar of its interior but with a crowd like those at the weekends it certainly isn’t boring.

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