Whether you're by the Columbia Road flower market or simply searching for somewhere still open in Shoreditch beyond 3am, the Birdcage is the place to be. Just remember to steer clear if you hate karaoke.

The Venue
Easy to find from Hackney Road and Bethnal Green, the Birdcage sits nicely on Columbia Road. It's not as pretentious as some of the newer pubs along this stretch and not unwelcoming to those who aren’t traditional East Enders.

From the outside, the pub's pretty attractive. You've got a few original pieces of brickwork mixed alongside newer, fashionable lights, which you'll see flashing most evenings. Inside, it's nicely decorated, too. Traditional textured wallpaper is pasted next to newer Ikea-esque patterns and the ceiling is a really interesting silver colour. You've got a stage area for karaoke singers or bands, plenty of seating and a section around the corner for those who want to indulge in a game of pool. This pub opens around 11am and shuts whenever the friendly landlord pleases. If there's a good crowd, you could be here until 5am.

The Atmosphere
The Birdcage nicely sums up what the local area is all about - trendy cool-cats from Shoreditch sit alongside Tenerife-tanned local East Enders and neither seem to mind. During the week, this place is a great place to pop into for a quiet one on the way home, but be warned, the atmosphere changes considerably at the weekend.

On a Friday or Saturday night, you'll approach the pub to find crowds spilling out onto the street and the sound of faint - and often out-of-tune - singing. Yes, karaoke takes over this pub in a big way. Whether you love or loathe listening or joining in with this, you've got to admit, it really keeps the bar as real and unpretentious as possible. This is reinforced by the staff who, no matter how busy, always have a grin on their faces. You're guaranteed to get service with a smile.

The Music
As with any place that's focused on karaoke, the music is ultimately determined by what the clientele fancy on the night. In this case, it's the trendy twentysomethings who make up most of the crowd on a Friday or Saturday night. Expect to listen (and sing along) to a massive range of music - everything from ‘70s pop songs to new popular indie tracks. In between karaoke tunes you'll hear popular indie beats. The pub does sometimes have other themed nights and bands play, but the karaoke is definitely the main focus. During the week it's much quieter and if there are football matches on, the TV screen takes over.

The Drink
Although the Birdcage is essentially an East End pub, the prices aren't any cheaper than at any other Shoreditch bar and most popular beers and spirits are served. You can get Strongbow Extra Cold, Stella Artois, Fosters Extra Cold, Carlsberg Cold, Guinness, John Smith and Whitbread Best on tap. And matching up to the current trend for cider, the pub serves bottles of both Magners and Bulmers. Expect to pay £3-£4 for a pint and about £3.50 for a spirit and mixer.

The Last Word
The Birdcage puts a fun edge to what could be just a bog-standard traditional East End boozer or a trendy dive for cool cats searching for an edgy hangout. Top landlord, great crowd and - although not to everyone's taste - brilliant karaoke.

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