Woodins Shades, Bishopsgate, EC2

This Nicholsons pub had seven ales on alongside a premium and standard draught selection during my early Tuesday evening visit. The thin dimly lit bar wasn’t very busy at all, but I still had to wait a couple of minutes to be served. Thankfully I did end up receiving a decent pint of Guinness which I enjoyed standing under one of the awnings out the front. Located upstairs is the Traders Bar and dining room and food is available all day. I spotted a flat screen TV on the wall, but this was off and some random background music was being piped through the speakers. I didn’t spot any signs for Sky Sports, but I did see a sign in the window stating that the pub has extended opening hours until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This place is ok, but there are better pubs in this area.

I certainly didn't find this pub to be too bad although it was early on a Saturday and relatively quiet. I imagine it is heaving with suits post work. It is a chain pub too, its a fairly typical Nicholsons, with wooden floors, high ceilings supported on columns. The Sicilian landlord was very friendly and genuinely interested to know what I thought of his latest guest beer, Springhead Sweetlips ( a nice hoppy golden ale). His service was fine but the other staff did need prompting for top ups. The place was doing a roaring trade in full English breakfasts which did look rather good at 4.50. Pride, youngs Bitter, TT Landlord on in addition to the Sweetlips, one pump reverse clipped. I didn't visit the upstairs bar/dining rooms.

Official pages of Woodins Shades, contains menu and real ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official pages of Woodins Shades, contains menu and real ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Have utilised the Woodins on several previous evenings , but glad to find the Shades open on a late Sunday afternoon as I fancied something other than GK, Youngs and Fullers and you can usually find something different in this Nicholsons House. Ironically the house ales of Pride and TT Landlord were off, but there were four seasonal guests on. Tried the Thwaites Nutty Black, Elgoods Thin Ice and Lancaster Blonde, all of which were OK. No problem with the service either, but wasn't particularly busy as we'd probably missed most of the Petticoat Lane market lunchtime crowd.

This pub serves up to 8 real ales on a regular changing rota. Is a single bar with an upstairs dining room.Part of the Nicholson chain which seems to be making great progress with the choice of real ales.2 mins from Liverpool St. Station.