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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Oslo
Well positioned opposite Hackney Central station, this is a large bar and live music venue set in a rather impressive building that seemingly forms part of the adjacent railway line. The ground floor bar has a concrete floor, with the servery running down the length of the left-hand wall, allowing plenty of space for seating opposite. The bar has a rustic wood counter, which I thought looked quite appealing, and at the far end it has the unusual feature of fold-down bar stools, built into the counter front, which I thought was a nice idea, although they were sadly locked into the ‘closed’ position, with plenty of regular bar stools taking their place. The bare brick bar back mirrors the rest of the room and has some metal frame shelving units and a beer board that was seemingly completely out of date. The room has been filled with long tables served by simple chairs through much of the centre of the room, plus a mix of drinking ledges and small round tables to the right. The décor is quirky, stylish and contemporary, including features like ghost-shaped lampshades, seaside sketches on the rear wall and an odd-looking trophy on a high ledge to the right – it all sounds like an unlikely combination, but it somehow works. The 400-capacity live music venue is upstairs and has its own bar and good sightlines to the mid-height stage.
The aforementioned beer boards listed a real ale option which I ordered only to be told that they stopped selling cask here some time ago. This left me a choice from around eight or so keg options including a house lager and beers from Lervig, Paulaner and Beavertown. I tried the Crate Stout (£5.00) which felt flat and was super-cold, making it a bit of a slog to get through.
I’ve been here a few times for gigs and have generally enjoyed the experience, but this was the first time I decided to check out the bar beforehand and I can’t say it matches up. Despite the swanky interior, I wasn’t really won over and am glad that there are plenty of other worthy pubs in the area which will serve as my pre-gig drinking holes from now on.
On 2nd September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Oslo
Oslo is more restaurant than bar with a pretty waitress asking whether we were eating as soon as we sat down. We were but there isn't any obligation to do so.
It's a large, high ceilinged, open plan space which has been done nicely to make what was part of the station feel comfortable. The building's origins are very apparent on the way to the loo.
The specialisation here is burgers and they have an imaginative selection including a tempura soft shell crab burger. This was recommended but wasn't quite as spectacular as the description suggests.
There were 3 handpumps with only one in operation serving a not particularly good Purity Mad Goose.
A trendy spot no doubt and ok for a burger if that's what you fancy but not the place to head for a range of well kept ales.
On 19th September 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Oslo
This part of Hackney is not well served with restaurants ,so we came in here to eat rather than chance a Hen Cabin experience.The building has scale and an interior designer has been at work with the lampshades throughout the interior with muslin drapes of different covers used effectively .By the entrance is a caged bottle store ,beyond which is an unusual concrete bar running most of the length of one wall.The wooden tip up chairs attached to one end are locked in an unusable state,shame.The open kitchen is at the rear ,while the body of the interior has ranks of bench tables,so you may dine in close proximity to others,but that the sharing economy.There is a club upstairs ,not open on my Wednesday evening visit.
Table service from a very pretty waitress,but my food was only passable.You dont have to eat,there are 6 keg taps and three handpumps ,on my trip one unclipped,the Hammerton N1 had run out but the clip not turned while the ramaining Purity Mad Goose was a bit out of condition.
There seemed no need for a doorman,as the pub was quiet and I was underwhelmed and will swerve this place when next in the area.
On 19th August 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Oslo
A relatively upmarket and trendy bar situated in what must once have been the main station building to Hackney Central. The ground floor bar has a bare cracked screeded floor, wooden plank fronted bar along one side with unusual folding stools affixed, some "feature" corrugated iron panels on the walls as well as paper clad chandeliers and globe lights. Lots of exposed stock brickwork with a few arched openings. The high ceiling has exposed ductwork, a back wall has some modern art with a fish related theme. Tables are of various sizes, each has a bottle of water, glasses and a vase of flowers on top. Three handpumps, one was unclipped, Sambrook's Wandle and Five Points Hook Island Red (£4.40 but 6%). Keg choices included Meantime Yakima Red, Crate IPA plus their stout, Thatcher's cider; I do not know the provenance of the Oslo Lager. A food servery on the back wall was dishing up mostly burgers as I could see.
There is a music venue upstairs which was roped off this afternoon. Today was rather chilled and pleasant but I'd expect a different vibe on a gig night.
On 23rd January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Oslo
Modern, if fairly basic, bar in an old station building with a music venue above. Mix of furniture and limited decor apart from the architectural lighting embellishments. On a busy evening, because of a sold-out gig just about to start, I found only Redemption Big Chief (£4.40) available from the three handpumps (but at least you could take it upstairs with you).
On 13th September 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Oslo
This is a pub where the new and emerging Hackney Hipster would like with it's way over the top prices. Although the Redemtion Big Chief was in good form it was vastly overpriced at £4.60 a pint. This is not a place for a quiet pint with loud music playing. Most of the tables were laid out for dining but this may have been because it was near Christmas time. The Hackney Hipster must like his Christmas dinner early.
On 11th December 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
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Alan Winfield left this review about Oslo
Oslo is housed in an old building that is next to Hackney Overground,so very handy for a last drink.
Once inside there is a large oblong shaped room with the bar on the right side,the seating is mainly normal tables and chairs.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Sambrooks Wandle which went down well,the other beer was from Five Points brewery.
This seemed like a very upmarket type of place,not really to my liking,but it was packed on my early Saturday evening visit,so other people must like it here.
Pub visited 4/10/2014
On 4th October 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Oslo
I rather liked this pub but its definitely aimed at the younger crowd.Very stylish lighting and the use of bare brick and corrugated sheeting looked good.Had a d/j on so loudish music.Wandle, Landlord and Redemption -Big Chief were on.Decent beer.
On 28th June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Oslo
This is a new bar sited in the old Hackney Station. Inside it’s a cavernous room, with most of the walls consisting of exposed original station brickwork. The bar counter looks as if it’s constructed from recovered railway sleepers, and on one wall is some corrugated iron presumably as a most unusual decorative feature as I can’t believe it’s serving any practical purpose. The black painted ceiling has masses of black painted trunking on it – maybe it’s serving a practical purpose but personally I don’t particularly want to see the plumbing and reckon it would be better covered up. Despite the age of the building, the interior is uber modern in its design, but it looks as if the original stone floor of the station has been retained. At the back in front of the hatchway to kitchen there are tables laid for diners, but in the front part of the room there are all manner of mismatched tables and chairs for use by drinkers. There’s a club upstairs, and at least on Friday it’s free entry before 11.00 PM
But there were a couple of ales on – Sambrook Wandle and Redemption Trinity, the latter at £2 for a half which is not cheap for a 3% ABV beer. A fairly simple lunch menu is available during the week – sarnies are £5 a pop and include such pub grub favourites as “house smoked brisket, horseradish cheddar, pickles and homemade mustard”. It sounds rather good and I might well have partaken had I not already succumbed to the temptation of a ‘spoons traditional breakfast.
When I was in they were playing a Smith’s (or maybe a Morrissey) album, which for some reason failed to bring the place to life. I reckon this is the sort of place where you visit for the novelty value. It doesn’t have any traditional pub atmosphere (it’s a modern bar after all), and although it does real ale the choice isn’t exceptional, and as it’s not really my kind of place I don’t expect to visit again.
On 6th April 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]