38 Great Eastern Street,
Shoreditch,
London,
EC2A 3ES
0871 971 3927
The ViewLondon Review
Dark and dingy decor? A sea of ‘out there’ haircuts? Folded cinema chairs along the wall? Yes, you’re in a Shoreditch pub. In fact, you could say you’re in the epitome of Hoxton in The Old Blue Last, but love it or hate it this place always pulls in the crowds and drops the beats.The VenueSituated at the end of Great Eastern Street, the venue is easy to get to from Old Street or Liverpool Street. The pub retains its East End feel and there are no obvious attempts to modernise.
From the outside it gives off that true London pub charm - a grand old building with black and gold colouring - but inside it’s a bit dingy and could do with a lick of paint. On the ground floor there is the main bar with seating and tables around the edge. The upstairs has another bar and this is the live entertainment area, which is definitely the pub’s strongest feature. Its small size (100 capacity) is perfect for live music; even when you stand at the back you’re still really close. The acoustics are good and the music overtakes the whole room and everyone in it.
The AtmosphereAs mentioned, it’s an archetypal Hoxton venue and is frequented by a fair amount of cool fashionistas, although this shouldn’t put you off. If you’re into the scene then this place has been voted ‘the coolest pub in the world’, but if you’re not it’s not so pretentious that you’ll feel ill at ease. The clientele consists mostly of twentysomethings and doesn’t attract agro, but the bar staff wont bowl you over with their friendliness either. As mentioned, the DJ sets upstairs are often really good, but it can get really crowded.
The MusicThey attract some great names here – Foals, The Whip, Kate Nash, Scroobius Pip, Amy Winehouse and Gallows for instance – and host DJs and live bands every night of the week. Just be warned, when there’s a DJ it can become too crowded to dance, with very few tables to put your drinks on.
The DrinkDrinks at Old Blue Last aren’t too extortionate and there’s a good range of lager and spirits. Draught beers cost between £3.30-£3.50 a pint and they offer Guinness, Becks, Stella, Hoegaarden and Staropramen. Bottled beers are £3.50 (Corona, Becks, Stella, Budweiser) and spirits are £3.50 including mixer.
The Last WordDon’t rush here for a nice evening or a massive night; The Old Blue Last offers something in between. With good music, great location and decent prices, its worth checking out for a few drinks on a night out. However, live music is where it can’t be beaten and if you see a favourite artist perform here you won’t be disappointed.