Hoop & Grapes, Aldgate, EC3

Great piece of architecture - one of the few surviving wooden framed buildings from the 17th Century that survived the fire of London. A Nicholson House - so you kind of know what to expect. Had both TT Landlord and Black Sheep on - so it was like choosing between your favourite children. Been on the wish list for a long time and I will be going back.

Located just a short walk from Aldgate tube station, this is a large, sprawling Nicholsons pub. You enter the pub through a long, windowed corridor which allows you to check out whether there are any free seats in the rather bland open plan seating space to the front right. The corridor delivers you right into the heart of the pub, with the servery located in an alcove to the left. The plain bar has a brown and white tiled back with an etched glass Nicholsons mirror as its centrepiece. Exposed floorboards run throughout the pub and there are a series of large structural pillars and wooden screens which help partition the bar area from the long narrow seating space that runs down the right hand side towards the rear of the room. The front half of this seating area has dark wood panelled walls with various black and white photos on display and a TV screen showing rolling news. The rear part has bare brick walls and flooring with some rather grand paintings on show. Seating throughout is a mixed affair, with high stools and button backed banquettes predominating, as well as a few unusual wing-back chairs. I spotted at least one fireplace, but it appeared to be partially hidden and unlikely to get much use. Music played at a fairly loud volume continuously on my Friday evening visit and the clientele were mainly young professionals. On the bar, there was a pretty good ale range comprising Nicholsons Pale Ale, Sunny Republic Red Bus, Black Sheep Velo, Brains Bread of Heaven, Sharps Doom Bar, Trumans Runner, West Berkshire Blindside Flanker and Taylor Landlord. One Orchard Pig cider occupied a final handpull. I tried the Blindside Flanker – not this particular brewery’s finest output, but kept in good shape nonetheless. I thought this pub had a bit of a confused layout which felt impersonal and lacking some of the cosy and comfortable qualities that Nicholsons pubs generally deliver. Having said that, I enjoyed a well kept pint from a decent range of ales and thought the place had a lively atmosphere that contrasted markedly with several other pubs in the immediate area. A solid, if unspectacular, Nicholsons option, which is never a bad thing.

Typical Nicolsons pub with a warm exterior with plenty of wood and partitions.Usual array of standard beers and I tried Tynebank-blonde.They say blondes have more fun but this blond wasn,t much fun.

As suspected from previous ‘thru the window' visit, you pass the door & door-frame which seem to lean in contrary directions, & enter to a welcoming woody interior, comfortable mish-mash of tables/chairs to the right of the wood&glass screen forming a hallway. On to a more open area with ridiculously tall studded-leather free standing banquettes in attendance at even taller rectangular tables, we sat at one of these before realising how impractical & uncomfortable they are. Further to a large central pillar encircled with drinking shelf and barstools, bar to the left. Four handpumps, three in action on this visit tho the guv said they are usually all on. Regulars TT Landlord & London Pride, plus Hopback Crop Circle, £2.90. Yet further, past a coal stove, to dining-looking area beyond which is a small chesterfield-style lounge. The entrance hall has some nice prints of local scenes from days of yore and a claim that the pub is ‘the oldest licensed house in the city' with 13c foundations, and also the oldest timber framed pub, having escaped the Great Fire by 50yds. Built as The Castle in 1598, it became Hoop & Grapes in 1920. It's a Nicholson's house with character, I liked it. 8 March 2009 I should have guessed but was still disappointed to find this pub closed yesterday (Sat). The ground level exterior has a charming look with the old (closed) door leaning at a surprising angle, a peek through the window showed a woody welcoming interior. No rating yet, but I'll try to return if over this way on a weekday.

Once access is gained through the front entrance the interior of the Hoop and Grapes is deceptively large. A seating area is found at the front of the pub and more seating runs up the right hand wall until it meets the area at the rear which is designated as a dining area. The bar is located upon the left hand wall where standard keg options were available. This is a Nicholson’s pub so it wasn’t surprisingly to also find eight hand pumps lined up on the bar. This chain is renowned for keeping traditional pub interiors and this pub is no different. There are a couple of plasma screens that were both showing muted rolling news and there was some music playing in the background. Food is available all day and the traditional pub fayre is priced around the £10 mark for a main. I’m a big fan of Nicholson’s and would gladly return here for another few beers.

Excellent little pub, warm friendly atmosphere

An historic pub with good choice of ales.