It claims to be a place where art and socialising go hand in hand, but it's more like a pretentious waste of an evening.

The Venue
Slung between the main Shoreditch drag and the quirky, popular flower market area on the other end of Columbia road, The Flea Pit is perfectly placed as an arty independent dishing up micro brewed beer, art and events to discerning punters. It's a dinky little venue on the bottom floor of a Victorian building, which is split into a small lounge area out front and a venue in the back that can be hired for small gigs, film screening and parties. The lounge looks good, with self consciously mis-matched furniture and wooden tables. Once you sink in though, you may find that the beaten furniture is a little too authentic and actually close to collapse.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is really where The Flea Pit all starts to unravel - the staff are disinterested at best and positively unfriendly on occasion. Those who have hired out the back room report that there's no help getting equipment in and out, and if you need a hand you're more likely to get a cold shoulder. Fellow customers fall into the general arty bracket, and it's a slightly older crowd than at some of the Shoreditch haunts down the road.

The Food
A short menu of standard vegetarian boho-tinged fare is on offer, usually three snacks, three mains and a couple of desserts. The food sounds decent and reasonably priced, but the reality turns out to involve small portions and unexciting tastes. A snack dish of falafel yields three rather small, dry specimens that look like they’ve been bought in from an outside caterer. The fancy beetroot garnish is indistinguishable from your standard plastic-packed beets in vinegar.

The Drink
One place The Flea Pit have really made an effort is in their beer selection. All the beer and wine on sale is made by small independents, and if you're a discerning drinker it's a good place to track down interesting choices from small brewers. On the downside, prices are expensive for the area with most pints falling into the £3.50-£4.50 mark, and there's no cheap, standard brand alternative for those who don't claim to be connoisseurs.

The Last Word
With so many other great venues nearby, there's no reason to go to The Flea Pit - so why bother?

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