The Shakespeare, Barbican, EC1

At the base of part of the visionary/dire Barbican development. Looks like an unlikely contender from outside though a better effort lurks within - an island bar in a room that, due to numerous supporting walls, has a number of seating areas and a relatively intimate feel. Decor is red painted lincrusta wallpaper with a wall dado (for wont of a better term) separating the cream upper. A number of Elizabethan era repro portraits hang along the walls. There’s little natural light gets in and the internal lighting is deliberately subdued to the point of needing night vision goggles…on a gloomy wet afternoon it did not help the ambience. Upright piano spotted, plus newspaper rack. Three ales on; Pride, Doom Bar and Adnams Mosaic which was hazy and not as good as I know it to be (unclean lines?) and I was relieved of £2.30 for the privilege. Not particularly worth a visit beyond mild curiosity value. 4.5

The Shakespear is a modern pub that is under a small block of flats on the north side of the barbican. The pub was smartish and comfortable enough inside and there was only one real ale on here this was GK IPA which was ok but nothing special. Pub visited 21/8/2008