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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 25th January 2024
With picture contributions to 11562 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (23 more images)
Detail Pages
Birdcage, E2
E2
E2 7QB
Served areas
Reviews of Birdcage (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Gus Woltmann left this review about Birdcage
Housed in what appears to be a former Truman or Charrington establishment, this pub is unmistakably a Draft House, evident from its external green tiling. However, the interior fails to captivate, presenting a rather dull and scruffy atmosphere in an opened-out L shape. The limited charm of the space is complemented by three pumps, featuring Siren Undercurrent and Burning Sky Plateau (NBSS 2.5), along with an array of keg options.
Regrettably, the service did little to enhance the experience. The barmaid, seemingly uninformed about Untappd despite the pub having a listing, added a peculiar note to the visit. This lack of awareness seemed out of place in what is purportedly a craft beer bar. Overall, the pub left me with few positive impressions to recount.
On 26th November 2023
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Birdcage
On 8th February 2018 - rating: 6
Situated on Tower Hamlets’ flower-powered Columbia Road, the Birdcage has been here since the mid-18th century though was probably rebuilt in the 19th and has since lost its raised parapets despite retaining attractive green glazed tiling as well as some decent Truman’s regalia to the front and rear.
Now part of the Draft House chain and despite being a very cold night I didn’t experience a drafty house – does this company mean Draught House by any chance? Anyway, until recently this was a bit of a dodgy boozer but has been transformed into a family/hipster-orientated pub with an attractive interior, seemingly toned down quite a bit since some of the earlier reviews. Just how much of the original interior remains isn’t obvious, but the field panelled bar with pot shelf certainly looks authentic, though as mentioned, the bar back is of rather tedious glazed white tiles. Nevertheless, it does indeed feel more pubby than you’d expect, though the log burning stove being lit would have been a bonus. Furniture is mixed and conventional, the floor is bare boarded and I didn’t see any TVs; music was muted. There were paper menus on tables which I didn’t get to peruse though I don’t think that this is a gastropub in the true sense of the word.
The barmaid was friendly and efficient though presided over just two ales: Sambrook’s American Red and Siren’s Six Nations’-influenced Ruck ‘n’ Maul at £2.10 a half, served in a wineglass. I wish I’d spotted the ABV as it weighed in at a rather weedy 3.5% making it a bit bland.
With Friday and Saturday 1.00 am licences I could easily have spent some time in here as on balance this is a nice pub, making for a great triple when combined with The Royal Oak and Marksman, but a wider and more interesting selection of ales would result in a higher mark, as would a nice fire to keep out the Draft.
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Now taken over by BrewDog with all that entails, minus the industrial interior. Virtually all tables cluttered with glasses with a barmaid wafting around; the closing time of 10.00 pm was unwelcome. What was certainly unwelcome was the three vacant pumps, me going for some 'craft' beer at 6.5% which set me back £4.75 a half; despite the poor cask range (not to mention prices), the Royal Oak is next door.
On 15th February 2023
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Birdcage
After the takeover of the Draft House chain ,this is now a BrewDog pub.The building has been tidied up and retains fine dark green glazed exterior tiles.Inside also feels traditional with high Victoria ceilings,the L shaped interior has a lower level short leg.Furniture is also trad ,and there is little BrewDog neon nor obvious branding .Even the food menu was very much pub grub .Great soundtrack lifted a quiet lunchtime interior.
Unsurprisingly there is no real ale,and four banks of keg taps offering around 6 BrewDogs ,but guest continental lagers and craft keg from respected brewers.My Hammerton Chicha Sour was pleasant but £3.40 the half.Walk around the taps to see what is on,there is no beer board or list.
Sitting next to the smart artisanal shops of Columbia Street but very adjacent to a major social housing estate,this pub might well suit both audiences if they have the lucre.Not bad at all.
On 31st August 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
View more reviews of Birdcage (11)
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- Official site of Birdcage - www.brewdog.com
- Facebook page of Birdcage - www.facebook.com
- Twitter - The Birdcage
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Birdcage - whatpub.com
Shoreditch High Street, 0.49 miles, 9 min walk (show)
Cambridge Heath (London), 0.72 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 06 February 2018 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 08 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 06 February 2018 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 19 April 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesdays. - last updated 15 February 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : No last updated 15 February 2023 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 February 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 08 September 2019 by Quinno _
