The Owl & Pussycat, Shoreditch, E2

Utilised this one for an early evening meet-up for a couple before moving off for a session in the Shuffle Club which is virtually next door. It’s an ok pub, well described below, with plenty of space for vertical drinking to the front of the bar and a comfortable room with seating behind. Only one ale on in the shape of Youngs Ordinary, but it was drinking well.

Basic place with the bar to the middle. Four hand pumps - two off, others weak. Rest keg rubbish.

Very busy on a Sunday afternoon, so much so I didn't notice any tattiness as mentioned below, it could however been tidied up in the ensuing three years since Rex's review.The seating arrangements seem to still be the same as does the rather dull(to my taste) beer selection, Brakespear's Bitter and Oxford Gold and Young's Bitter were noted. It seemed popular here, but its not really for me.

This didn’t strike me as a gentrified gastropub (as the previous reviewer found it) when I dropped in for a swift one on Wednesday afternoon. Anyway, this Owl and Pussycat is not at sea, but to be found in a Shoreditch backstreet. Rather appropriately, the bar counter, panelling, and walls are all painted pea green, which is peeling in places but to be fair the barman was re-painting the front of the bar counter. It’s unusual for a pub to remain open while a paint job is being undertaken, plus there was a bit of tattiness around the place, but these sorts of things don’t put me off visiting a pub that’s open. Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, but with a clutch of armchairs at the back. A door at the back (past said armchairs) leads out to a garden. There were three ales on when I visited – Brakspear’s Bitter (£2 a half); Brakspear’s Gold; and something else with a handwritten pump clip that I had difficulty reading (looked a bit like “Red Etrkin”). There was no sign of any menus at 2.45 PM, but all the tables had standard condiments on them so they must have food available some of the time. This is anything but a destination pub, but is OK and handily placed near Shoreditch High St Overground station.

Owl & Pussycat official site - owlandpussycatshoreditch.com

Owl & Pussycat official site - owlandpussycatshoreditch.com