Royal Star, Old Street, EC1

Nice enough but basic pub.Very nicely decorated for Halloween but few customers.Lots of ghoulish things like spiders and cobwebs but I wasn't scared.Only Doombar on cask now that is scary.

Official site of Royal Star - www.theroyalstar.co.uk

Official site of Royal Star - www.theroyalstar.co.uk

The 'U'-shaped bar area of this corner boozer comprises two different sections - the front side devoted to a pool table and darts board, and a seating area on the other - and both dominated by screens showing TV sport. Lively (but not unfriendly) crowd of locals watching the Arsenal vs Spurs derby. Quieter further back, where there is another sparsely-decorated room and behind that a patio beer garden. Three handpumps - two with Bombardier clips (£3.30) plus a cider.

In total contrast to the Eagle across the road I found the barmaid and locals in this pub to be very welcoming. The only ale offering was Bombardier and there are no premium lagers, but my Guinness was well served and enjoyable. There is a pool table and a dartboard along with a couple of TV's and a projector screen for airing the sports on Sky. There is a function type room to the side of the pub that houses two more dartboards and I'd imagine that this is where the dart league teams play. There is also an enclosed, but well kept pebbled beer garden out the back which is overlooked by a tall tower block. This is a good pub for playing/watching sports or for chatting on the sofas towards the rear and I would recommend it to others.