The Shacklewell Arms, E8

As the Green Man, this pub dates from the late 18th century but was almost certainly rebuilt in the 19th, the current name arriving in 2004, a fine Watney Combe Reid lantern still standing sentinel above the entrance. Unlike other reviewers, I didn’t find the interior scruffy, rather I would describe it more as being fussy, cluttered even. It’s broadly L-shaped, with an interesting vaulted ceiling with bare rafters. To the wall there’s some panelling with curious fibrous plaster mouldings, thereafter the floor’s bare boarded, lighting dim from filament bulbs in period light fittings. Furniture is conventional, with a velour upholstered banquette running around most of the periphery. Décor is eclectic, including old TV equipment and an old games console, vintage computer games’ packaging to a wall, jarring somewhat with some traditional patterned granny plates, gig flyers and album covers of obscure bands who have probably played here in the separate gigging room. A somewhat benign TV simply displayed the name of the current artist playing and song, at a barely audible volume, being somewhat anachronistic given the pub’s live music credentials. Customers were local twenty – to – thirtysomethings and not the type of person I’d expect in a venue like this; no Ramones, Slipknot or Prolapse T-shirts on display here. Sadly, there’s no real ale, me making do with a half of Five Points JUPA at a very reasonable £2.80 and a hell of a lot nicer than yet more soapy Neck Oil, served by an eccentric barman. I really quite liked this place, but don’t know what it’s like when operating at capacity, but it certainly makes for something different when out on the prowl in Hackney; a quality real ale or two would get the score up.

This fairly unremarkable looking back street pub has become a great venue for catching upcoming bands still playing the pub circuit and seems to be one of the hipster hang-out venues of choice in this part of town. You enter into an L-shaped room with a similarly shaped servery which follows the room to the rear down the left hand side. The place is bare boarded with banquettes and chairs under the etched glass front windows, which look quite nice from outside but are sadly obscured by gig posters once inside. Likewise, the lovely patterned ceiling has been spoiled by various exposed pipes and vents criss-crossing it. Gig posters and flyers are literally everywhere, so the whole ‘live music’ thing is very much in your face, regardless of whether you’re visiting for a gig or not, topped off by a blackboard listing all upcoming shows. A covered pool table to the right suggests that it might be uncovered on quieter nights, but was very much out of action on this gig-night visit. The left hand side offers the majority of the seating options, thanks to another banquette down the entire left hand wall under a crazy mix of gig posters, LP covers, salvers and trophies. The latter collection stands above a smart fireplace which is flanked by a couple of naff gold statuettes. The bar has a nice dark wood counter and mirrored bar back which had been doodled on with a not inconsiderable amount of artistry. Unsurprisingly, indie songs played throughout my visit, before I followed a passage to the side of the bar which leads through to the rear room with its stage on the rear wall for live music. It’s a pretty good space by pub venue standards, although the stage is a bit awkward, incorporating a series of pillars which the drummer had to play from behind. There were two handpulls on the bar but one was unclipped whilst the Trumans Swift on the other had been taken off. A few keg options of interest were available, including Five Points Pale, and I ended up with a pint of Hackney Session IPA for £5.00, which was nice enough, but too expensive to consider going back for a second. Staff were friendly enough and dealt with crowds at the bar in a pretty efficient manner. This place is really best appreciated by combining your visit with a gig, as the scruffy interior and possible lack of cask ale limits its appeal at other times. With so many gig venues being lost to developers, places like this need to be encouraged and whilst it didn’t quite do it for me as a pub, I will certainly be checking the listings for the chance to see another gig here.

Very rundown looking from outside and not much better inside .Big old pub with a few customers.One cask beer Southwark -Bermondsey best.

Official site of The Shacklewell Arms - www.shacklewellarms.com

Doesn't look much from the street, but there is rather more inside than meets the eye. Busy, verging on cluttered, 'L'-shaped bar, with pool and pinball tables. 'Dance hall' and patio beer garden to rear. Fairly remarkably for a music venue, the bar has five handpumps offering Canterbury Jack, Spitfire, Hooky Bitter, Deuchars IPA and Samuel Adams Blonde Ambition cask ale (£3.70).

Official site of The Shacklewell Arms - www.shacklewellarms.com