Yet another shabbily cool East London boozer, found on the Globe Road roughly halfway between Victoria Park and Bethnal Green. Popular but off the beaten track it has an in the know charm.

The Venue
Like its neighbouring watering holes, The Florist was probably once a genuine salt of the earth local for the market stall vendors of the nearby Bethnal Green and Roman Road markets, with perhaps a handful of shady gangsters thrown in for a dash of Kray-like glamour. And this vibe remains, thanks to the tobacco-stained silk wallpaper, droopy sofas and the naff, retrograde furniture. Itis medium sized and there are some benches outside for the summer months or smokers.

The Atmosphere
Pretty raucous at the weekend, the crowd often spills outside. But it can be properly rammed, when it gets a bit hot and foggy. It’s quite cosy and you can’t help but feel that everyone knows everyone else. It’s great fun for a night of carnage but for a quiet, mid-week drink, it’s all a bit flat. Devoid of hip-to-hip bodies and booming bonhomie, it can be slightly musty and soulless.

What’s interesting about The Florist, however, is despite being packed with the usual media heads, big-haired intellectuals, posers and students, it’s still frequented by a loyal posse of pure East End geezers, mixing up the fray beautifully. There’s a weekly pub quiz that’s quite amusing, and the compere clearly sees himself as a budding stand-up. In fact, all the staff are a bit too cool for school.

The Drink
There’s a generic cocktail list with all the usual suspects: mojito, Bloody Mary, caipirinha, priced at £5-£7. The wine list is short and not particularly adventurous. The cheapest white is £12 for a New Zealand Overstone, or you can opt for a Sauvignon Blanc at £14. Over to red, there’s a vibrant and ripe Beaujolais Villages Maison Thomas Bassot for £22 and if you fancy rose, try the Rioja for £15. The Champagne selection is poor - Prosecco or Brut for £20 and £28 respectively.

On tap you have Amstel, Guinness, Stowford Press cider, and Bitburger beer. There’s a decent vodka selection and the standard selection of spirits and liquors. Bottled beverages are where The Florist pulls its socks up though. Regional, imported and organic, there’s Westons Organic cider, Duvel, London Pride, St Helens, Tiger, Fruli, and Sol among others.

The Last Word
Enjoyable, if a little full on at the weekends. Hot, heady and hedonistic, you’re likely to meet a character or two at The Florist.

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