Rain Dogs, Shoreditch, E2

This modern bar set in a prime, street corner unit at the top end of Brick Lane has been through a few guises in recent years, opting now for a craft beer bar meets cafe look. Inside, it's a rather bare, uninspiring space with dark floorboards, dark painted walls with a few bare brick sections, and large floor to ceiling windows at the front. The servery is on the back wall and has a plain bar counter painted the same colour as the walls, and a metal sheeted bar back with the keg taps mounted on it. A small chalkboard on the bar helpfully lists the draught options to save you squinting at the taps. High tables and stools stand under the front windows and comfier chairs have been arranged down the right-hand wall, with seating rounded out by a sofa at the back of the room. The walls are depressingly bare, which may be a result of the place not yet being fully bedded in at the time of my visit, but is more likely an uninspired design decision. There are, of course, no cask ale options, but the keg range included a couple from Five Points and some sort of house beer of unknown provenance. I tried one of the Five Points brews which was as reliable as ever, but didn't really feel all that comfortable on a hard chair under the bare walls, and was happy to drink up and move quickly on. On approach, I thought this looked like a popular spot that should make for a good visit, but I found it all very dull and formulaic. The beer is nothing you can't find in far better, more homely and welcoming venues and the whole place needs a shake up to make it feel more welcoming and somewhere people would want to spend some time. It's not the worst bar of its kind, but at the same time, I'm struggling to find a reason to recommend it. Date of visit - 7th September 2024

Official site of Rain Dogs - raindogs.bar

Official site of Rain Dogs - raindogs.bar