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Detail Pages
The Griffin, Shoreditch, EC2
EC2
EC2A 4RD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Griffin
A good sized pub located just off Shoreditch High Street, it was pretty much full to capacity on our recent Friday evening visit and really very noisy, not helped by the harsh acoustics. We just managed to grab a small table by the door as someone was leaving, but if it weren’t for that it would have been quite an uncomfortable drinking experience.
It’s all one large, open plan room, with cream painted wood panelling on the ceiling, old wooden boards on the floor and very dark paintwork on the walls. Large windows all up one side but make for a light and airy feel in daylight hours. To the right behind the large bar counter was some green paintwork along with some attractive gold relief in the cornicework at the top, marble style pillars and a number of etched brewery mirrors together with a large selection of beer mats. I did spot a projector on the ceiling, although no sign of a screen, so presumably major sporting events are shown.
The solitary beer on tap was Rebellion IPA whilst a second pump appears unused. Other reviewers have mentioned a large craft selection, although I did not spot this. The solitary cider meanwhile was Orchard Thieves.
On 17th February 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Griffin
A very attractive external appearance,with Charrington's brown glazed tiles and Meaux branded etched glass windows,the many doors to this street corner pub hint at an original multi room interior which must have been opened out at some stage.There are cast iron pillars,fine cornising above the long bar with an interesting mirrored back,and more etched glass.
The floor is wooden throughout and away from the bar much wood panelling remains while all external doors are traditional.Pew seating ,brittania tables,small and bar stools make up the furniture,the overall effect is pleasing.
The handpumps are unused ,this is a keg only establishment but certainly in the craft style.17 options on my trip,some national brands,sparkling cider,German lagers but also output from respected brewers such as Wylam,Thornbridge,Magic Rock and Brew York.My Burning Sky Saison Ete was very good,but keg pricing is high here with pint pricing between £5.60 to £7.80.Cocktails and wines were also on the drinks menu and there was no sign of food.Cool muzak.
I enjoyed my visit ,the very decent range of craft keg marks this pub out in the area,so it's worth a visit.
On 31st August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Griffin
After a substantial refurbishment, just completed, the reviews below no longer apply. Gone is the Ind Coope sign but thankfully the Meux's glazed tiling and 'horseshoe' picture windows remain. A first in here, so I don't know what it was like before or how much original detail has been retained or reinstated.
There's very ornate glass to the bar back and rear wall with ornate green and gilt fibrous plasterwork at top. Also displayed are ornate columns; the bar top is metal and displays some rather fine vertical Art Deco uplighters. Also of Art Deco appearance are the sconce lights to the walls which are panelled and painted dark grey or black and there's a panelled ceiling painted pale grey; the floor is rough bare boarded.
Furniture is conventional with black leatherette banquettes to the perimeter, though sadly there are some rather naff tea lights on the tables in red glass containers. Music was far too loud and what appears not to have changed is the impossibly gloomy lighting; too dark to read a newspaper. The pub's best lighting is reserved for the modern retro lavatories.
Unsurprisingly the crowd is young and hipster.
Ales: there's a huge keg selection, thereafter just Harbour Brewing's India Brown Ale and Rooster's Highway Fifty-One at a fairly reasonable £4.20 a pint. Unfortunately it was a bit soapy.
A larger selection of ales and with improved quality along with some more light would get at least an extra point from me. I'd certainly come again, but the above needs to be addressed.
On 16th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Griffin
Traditional corner pub with lots of interesting features, but badly underlit (presumably to hid the tatty furniture and moth-eaten flooring). Quite an alternative selection on the jukebox and an upstairs function room for regular live music. Three handpumps - Pride (cheap before 6pm), Wandle (at £3.20) and one with a reversed clip. Curious sort of place, but it certainly has a bit of character.
On 10th March 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Griffin
As the reviews below have described accurately, a old style corner boozer with a dark brown Victorian tiled exterior, inside which is a thoroughly run down interior with everything falling apart or giving the impression that it is just about to. And how the over zealous City health and safety wallas have missed the opportunity to shut this place down, just for the floor alone, is a mystery.
However, I'm not sure what it was, perhaps the dark orange lighting, which really shouldn't go with a green wood interior, or a half-decent pint of Doombar, but I actually found myself beginning to not dislike this place on a cold November evening.
I would even consider visiting again if I was back around Old Street.
On 28th November 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Griffin
I'm a big fan of dank old boozers that have seen better days, but I don't appreciate spending over the odds for a past-its- best pint of Pride whilst having to endure an episode of Family Guy being aired with full sound on an old TV.
There was a selection of standard and premium lagers, but the Old Speckled Hen and Landlord were both off. I found the staff to be indifferent and the pub to be quite depressing.
There is a small pool table and a dartboard, but I will not be returning to utilize them.
On 28th August 2009
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Griffin
The dismal appearance of the exterior might lead you to believe that the interior is just as dismal. But you would be wrong! The interior is far more dingy than the outside! The dirt on the floor, buckets, broom and stepladder lying around, chipped and battered paintwork everywhere, with cables and plugs under the Christmas tree in lieu of presents completing the picture. The heating was apparently not working properly as it was very cold inside, and the large intrusive no smoking sign didn't help. The musty smell is still there as well.
But I quite like it! And the Tim Taylor Landlord was excellent, albeit not cheap at £3 a pint. I wouldn't hesitate about popping in again if I was in the area.
On 10th December 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Griffin
The Griffin is a place that needs to be experienced to be believed. It sits among a block of buildings that are at best, long past their prime and the tiled exterior of the pub (note the old Meux brewery lettering) seems to stand out all the more for it. The interior has been knocked through into one long bar and to call it tatty and battered is an understatement. How it appears to have escaped even the merest lick of fresh paint or new carpet for what must be decades is beyond comprehension. The run down appearance is actually part of its charm and appeal and whilst the interior designers have been busy elsewhere in the area, the Griffin has managed to stay as a genuine no nonsense pub. The carpet in the pool/darts area little more than the original underlay with a few tufts and the feeling as your chair legs sink in is only matched by the bizarre ritual of pulling them back out. Whilst you do so, notice the London Pub Crawl poster and I defy you not to mentally tick them off. The customer base is a very mixed bunch from a variety of backgrounds but no matter how different everyone appears to be, everyone seems to blend together harmoniously. The Jukebox mentioned in an earlier post was certainly on form when I was there as it spewed out selections from the likes of the Clash / Dylan / Tubes / Richard Hell – so much more to my taste than the drum & bass / club rubbish that seems to blight so many pubs. The 3 Ales were all available on my visit – Deuchars, Pride and Speckled Hen, a bit pricey but tasted fine. The smoking ban probably detracts from the pub's ambience but there are a few seats outside under blinds for the banished souls. In a nutshell, the Griffin is well worth seeking out for the experience but I wouldn't recommend it to impress someone on a first date.
On 29th October 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]