Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with sheffield hatter
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Bricklayers Arms, EC2
EC2
EC2A 3PE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about Bricklayers Arms
In amongst all the trendy hipster bars of Shoreditch, this traditional pub feels a bit like an intruder, but has of course been here considerably longer than all the fad chasing venues that fill this neighbourhood. Whilst the pub still seems to cater for those wanting a more traditional pub experience, it’s not adverse to embracing the partying masses either, as evidenced by my Saturday, early evening visit which saw a load of old boys supping their pints at one end of the room and about 30 loud revellers stood around the bar, all dressed as Wally – possibly the most incongruous sight I’ve stumbled across in a pub. The interior is a relatively shallow, opened out pace set across two levels, with the servery along the back wall of the lower righthand side and a slightly raised, bare boarded seating area to the left. The bar has a decent wood panelled counter and quite attractive bar back boasting a few retained features. Seating is pretty limited here, with options confined to the right-hand wall and beneath the frosted front windows. A few pleasant light fixtures are dotted around and add to the traditional feel, whilst a juke box opposite the bar promises some old school entertainment. The left-hand seating area is rather basic, with dark exposed floorboards, hard bench seating around the perimeter and a few tatty low stools in support. The walls have a lincrusta covering and are sparingly decorated, mainly with glib, beer themed slogans and plain mirrors. A sign points the way through a door to the rear for a smoking area out the back, but I didn’t make it outside to check it out – I’m guessing it doesn’t really double as a beer garden.
There were three handpulls in operation when I visited, which is more than I’d expected, with options comprising St Austell Tribute, Fullers London Pride and Dark Star Hophead. The Hophead was in reasonable condition, but clocked in at £6.40 a pint, which might be par for the course in this part of town, but regardless it’s still pretty galling to fork out for a session beer at such a price.
I can’t say that this pub really felt like it was doing very much – there’s a basic beer range (albeit with three cask options), simple seating, limited décor and a predominantly transient customer base, which should conspire to make it a very unmemorable pub experience. However, the contrast between this place and just about every other nearby bar, is so great that it almost becomes memorable by default. I have no strong feelings either way about this place, but would be happy to call back some time, if only to be sure of getting a decent cask ale in a part of town that can be a be lacking on this front.
Date of visit - 3rd June 2023
On 7th December 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bricklayers Arms
A rare boozer survivor amongst the trendy hipster bars,the exterior is all very traditional,but the interior far too red.All wooden parts are in dark red,window frames,bar facing,walls,staircase ... it's over done and lowers the tone.There is a higher level section away from the bar but no escape from the red.
The furniture is traditional if somewhat worn and near the bar is an unused fireplace.The handpumps were offering Fullers Hophead (£6.40 !,NBSS 3),London Pride and St Austell Tribute,so not an exciting line up while the keg selection is mundane.No sign of food.
However ,mainly men come in here to sink pints and although prices are high,it serves a purpose.
On 31st August 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bricklayers Arms
Traditional-looking corner pub given a spruce-up externally and the opposite treatment inside. Limited seating in the opened-out 'L'-shaped layout, with the side part located up a couple of steps. Big screen advertised in the upstairs room (not visited). Five real ales on handpump: Pride, Deuchar's IPA, Hophead, Tribute and Watney's Pale (£5.00).
On 28th October 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Bricklayers Arms
Unlike the previous reviewers below, I found this to be quite a decent boozer, very much old school and quite inoffensive, apart from one point I will come to shortly. Single roomed with a slightly raised level to one end, wooden floored with a mix of bench seating and sensible height tables and stools.The jukebox was in use at just the right volume and someone had an excellent taste in music (to my ears), Pink Floyd, Bowie and Television. As for the beers, St Austel Tribute, Watneys Pale, Deuchars IPA, London Pride and Dark Star Hophead which was in good nick. Now for the gripe, being charged £4.70 for a sub 4.0% beer is verging on the obscene and was the only downer to an otherwise worthwhile visit, next time it'll be a half.
On 19th November 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Bricklayers Arms
Well described below, this is a somewhat barren largely décor-free destination with a gloomy interior, red lamps and woodwork painted pillar box red. There's a small patio at rear which is just about good enough for a fag but little else. The lavs are tiny, painted red of course, with a rather awful display of street-style graffiti, a theme which runs through the pub as the windows to he fag patio are also covered with graffiti. Presumably this is aimed at giving the place some 'street cred'. Music played which was really a bit too loud. Ales: Upham's Punter, St. Austell's Tribute, Deuchar's IPA, Fuller's London Pride and Darkstar's Hophead which was a bit lifeless and at £2.40 a half made me wince.
This is a bit of a grunge hole and I certainly won't be returning, not least because the charming Barley Mow is 30 yards away.
On 18th August 2016
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Bricklayers Arms
On the face of it there’s a reasonable ale selection here, with London Pride, GK Abbot, Deuchar’s IPA, St Austell Tribute, and Box Steam Brewery Tunnel vision on when I dropped in at Wednesday lunchtime. One chap at the bar had a used plate in front of him, so I guess they must do food, although I didn’t see any menus anywhere.
I didn’t see anything of any great interest inside, except perhaps the antique radio, and some other old drink bottle or something like that on the mantelpiece above the fireplace. There was no decor worth mentioning. The place is bare-boarded, with walls and bar counter painted bright red, and furnished with plastic upholstered settles, small stools and solid wooden tables. There was music being played far too loudly for my taste – not too bad when it was Frank Sinatra, but uncomfortable when it moved on to thumping pop music.
My half of Tunnel Vision was in good shape, but somewhat overpriced at £2.20 I thought. I’m not likely to visit again.
On 14th August 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Bricklayers Arms
I popped in here early on a recent Friday afternoon and found the barmaid to be friendly enough and, although it wasn't that busy, the crowd was decent. Unfortunately when I returned a few hours later the crowd had completely changed into the sort of Hoxton types that I have only read about – truly up their own.
The Deuchars was good and Pride and Theakston Best were also available alongside a selection of standard and premium lagers.
The advertised patio area out the back is actually a small beer yard with old barrels with cushions attached for seats, perfect for having a cigarette, but not a lot else.
I'd probably walk past if in the area again.
On 29th August 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Bricklayers Arms
The Bricklayers is a decent looking corner pub in Hoxton and it has the prices to match.
Once inside the pub was fairly small and there were three real ales on the bar i had a drink of London Pride and this was a decent enough drink the other beers were Theakston best and Deuchars IPA.
The pub was fairly quiet on my Thursday afternoon visit.
Pub visited 21/8/2008
On 21st August 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]