The Gun, E1

Opposite Spitalfields Market in that seemingly strange hinterland between where the City ends and the East End starts, and a 5 minute or so walk from Liverpool Street Station, is The Gun. It’s situated on a street corner and still bears evidence of its former days as a Truman Hanbury and Buxton pub, including the glass lamps over the entrance on the street corner. Outside, we learn that the pub takes its name from the nearby artillery barracks in Artillery Lane. Inside is a large carpeted and comfortably furnished single room with an L shaped bar complete with brass footrail and decorative wrought iron gantry. Along one wall, under the windows, curved semi circular banquettes create seating areas for small groups. The side wall is wood panelled and decorated with numerous wood framed prints of old infantrymen. Higher up are positioned some old pistols and rifles. A shelf has a collection of old beer jugs and bottles. Note the unusual enamel ceiling with the decorative wood strips dividing it up into squares. At one side of the bar, a doorway leads into a much smaller snug type room where there’s an old Truman’s mirror on the wall and, oddly, an old Charles Wells framed advertising poster. Disappointingly, although there’s something of an unpretentious and old fashioned feel to the place, apart from the trademark chequered spittoon in the smaller bar, there’s no other immediately recognisable signs internally of its former Truman’s days ( eg – any named lettering on the wood panelling ) At the far end, there’s a separate food counter offering what might accurately be described as basic pub grub. None of this poncey arty farty gastro type food here. On my recent early Friday morning visit, the pub was quite quiet. Ketchup bottles, mustard pots etc on most tables appear to indicate a desire to get food trade from local businesses, and probably also visitors to Spitalfields Market, but this is clearly a drinkers pub first and foremost. 4 beers were on – Bombardier, Deuchars IPA, Caledonian Flying Scotsman and Gun Grenadier Ale, the origin of which was not indicated. The Flying Scotsman was pretty good – but a price of £ 3.50p is more a City pub than an East End pub price. I quite liked this pub. It’s unpretentious and has clearly resisted the urge to pander to the trendies that seem to be invading nearby Shoreditch and its environs. I’d be happy to call in again if the opportunity arose.

Largish corner pub situated opposite the southern entrance to Spitalfields market and handy for a short walk to Brick Lane for a Curry. Still retains a traditional pub interior decorated with lots of Military artillery memorabilia as you would expect from the name. Although essentially one room, the large rectangular serving area divides this into three distinct areas. There is a restaurant in the room above the ground floor bar and a fairly decent garden area out back. As previously mentioned it is a bit of a drinking pub for the blokes from the City, and had the same four beers on during my last visit as mentioned below. The CW Bombadier and Adnams I tried were perfectly fine, but like a lot of City establishments, be prepared to ask for a top up during the busy early evening rush. The Gun is not a brilliant pub, but scores from not succumbing to a bohemian refurb which has affected a few of the other establishments in this area and remain a decent traditional city pub for a pint.

there were four real ales on when I was in at lunchtime earlier this week – Deuchars IPA, GKIPA, Bombardier and Broadside. The Deuchars was not brilliant, but drinkable. Quite interesting décor – guns (of course) and other various militaria adorn the walls, and the carpet sports a large cannon motif, which is really unusual. The wood panelled walls are an attractive feature, and it also has the most unusual ceiling I have seen – white plastic/glass panels? There is a pool table in a separate side room. This is a decent enough pub without being anything special. I wouldn't recommend going there just for the beer though.

This place is nothing spectacular, but handy if you want a game of pool and don't want to queue for ages at the bar. Greene King IPA, Bombardier, Deuchars and Adnams were all available on my visit along with some standard lagers and my pint of Deuchars was up to scratch. There are three plasma screens, one of which was playing a music channel and the other two were showing muted Sky Sports News feed. There was a pretty mixed crowd and the staff seemed friendly enough. This is the sort of place I'd go for a couple of pints after work.