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Detail Pages
The Astronomer, E1
E1
E1 7JF
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Astronomer
Decent Fullers pub with a choice of 6 ales on when I called. 3 of their own with Wild Beer Quantic, Hogs Back TEA and Dark Star Hophead as guests. I went for the Hophead which was in good shape if a little pricey at £5.55. I liked this pub and would call again.
On 6th October 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Astronomer
Previously the Shooting Star, this large Fullers pub was renamed the Astronomer in the summer of 2016 under the brewery’s Ale & Pie brand. The pub has an unusual layout, running around two side of a small square which affords plenty of outdoor pavement space which Londoners seem to love so much. You enter into the right hand part of the pub, where a couple of steps lead up to a sizeable, smart seating area to the right and the bar area over to the left. The servery has a long L-shaped counter and pleasant bar back, although seating in the area opposite is rather limited, with most tables situated beyond the point where the pub turns 90 degrees down the left hand side. Seating throughout is mixed but of a pretty high quality, although I found myself seated at a table to the right of the bar with unusual stools that were fixed to the table on swivelling arms. The decor throughout is smart, with various allusions to astronomy, although I wasn’t able to fathom what the pub’s connection with this field is. There are stairs at the far right end of the room leading down to the Hubble Bar – a large space with loads more seating in a typical cellar bar, with its own servery to one side.
The usual range of Fullers beers were lined up on handpull and a very friendly barmaid served me a good pint of their Summer Ale – my first of the season and certainly a good advert for the brewery’s wider range. The standard Ale & Pie menu was available, but drinkers outnumbered diners by a huge majority, with just a couple of tables in the far corner settling down to eat.
Whilst this lacks the visual impact of other Ale & Pie venues in the city, I thought it was a decent pub with plenty of seating, comfortable surrounds and some decent beer. There are a number of good pubs around this part of town so that I’m rarely stuck for inspiration when looking for a good pint, but there is always room for another good option and I’d keep this place in mind when I’m next in the area.
On 21st August 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Shooting Star
This place was very busy when we visited on Thursday evening, with no chance of getting a seat. The raised area at the back was unfortunately out of bounds as it had apparently been booked for a private party.
Being a Fuller's pub the choice of ales was fairly predicable, but they had pretty much the full range on, but these days with Oliver's Island taking the place of Chiswick. As it's an Ale & Pie house they obviously do food, but I didn't get the chance to scrutinise a menu at the corner of the bar counter where we were squeezed in. It looked a really nice pub, and I reckon it would be nice and comfortable if you don't visit when it's packed to the rafters. I would visit again - at a quieter time.
On 24th February 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philipp MacDowell left this review about The Shooting Star
This pub serves four very well-kept ales (all Fullers; all pumps working) and serves delicious food (pies); I argue that the price is right: take location into account.Many reviewers are in favour of cheap ale in cheap chains, but this policy suffocates small,authentic, traditional, privately owned pubs that represent British history rather than American style chains. The building dates back to 1896 and is of historic significance as till 1956 it housed the board of guardians and trustees for the relie of the Jewish poor; the ground- floor was subsequently transformed into a bar. The tiled flooring, wooden area around the bar as well as the wooden panelling are definitely of recent production (fake). The whole atmosphere is a bit that of an airport wetherspoon.
On 25th February 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Shooting Star
L shaped Fuller's ale & pie house. Interior as described below.
On 25th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Shooting Star
A comfortable and well appointed Fullers Ale and Pie house serving a good range of their beers. Chiswick, Pride, ESB, Discovery and Red Fox seasonal beer were on at the time although even for the location I felt £3.60 to be a bit steep for the Red Fox. Attractive floral displays outside, inside there is mostly traditional style seating, tiled flooring with a wooden area around the bar plus a raised area is carpeted. Lower panelled walls, red above, ruched curtains, various local photos of the area, in particular of nearby Petticoat Lane market. One wall has a large mural of a comet approaching Earth, presumably linked to the pub name.
Downstairs are the toilets, and a small seperate function room with a bar available for hire.
An ok spot for a pint not far from Liverpool St station and certainly more relaxing and civilised than the station bars.
On 26th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Shooting Star
This is an L-shaped Fullers ale and pie house that has eight hand pumps that were dispensing Pride, ESB, Discovery and Chiswick alongside a standard draught range and Leffe. The barman was very polite and the Guinness was just as good and expensive as any other Fullers pub. Obviously food is served all day and although I didn’t try any I usually find Fullers food to be very good. The interior is the usual dark wood that is polished to death with not a speck of dust to be seen and one of the two barmen was buffing as if his life depended on it. The pub is raised up from street level by four or five steps, but a small wheelchair lift has been installed at the entrance. Unsurprisingly there is also a disabled toilet and the main toilets are located downstairs past the cellar bar which was hired out for an office function during my visit.
There is no outside seating, but there is plenty of standing room with ledges for beer placement around the exterior of the pub and there are a couple of awnings for smokers to shelter under when raining.
I’m a big fan of Fullers pubs, but I found this one to be a bit stuffy and I doubt that I will return.
On 20th July 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Shooting Star
I like this place, but then I like Fullers Ales. The Shooting Star is a modern décor Fullers Ale & Pie house just off Bishopsgate in Middlesex Street.
Yes it is a bit corporate, but then it’s set up to take as much of the local City workers dollar as it possibly can.
Inside it’s a largish L shaped space with ample seating area at both ends and a decent enough standing place in front of the central bar serving area. As well as the full Fullers and Gales range on hand pump it has a decent collection of Fullers bottled beers including London Porter.
The beer quality has always been good in my experience and also never found a problem with the service, even on a busy workday evening.
Like a lot of City pubs, this place is not open at the weekend..
On 19th February 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]