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Picture of The Hand & Shears
Image posted by Blackthorn _
Submitted on Tuesday, 2nd May 2023
With picture contributions to 5138 other pubs
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The Hand & Shears, EC1

1 Middle Street
EC1
EC1A 7JA
Phone: 02076000257
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Hand & Shears (Average Rating: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Blackthorn _ left this review about The Hand & Shears

A traditional looking street corner pub located between Smithfield market and The Barbican complex, it has an attractive dark green wooden frontage with leaded windows and a curved doorway on the corner, with troughs of plants running along top. A sign above the door says that it was established in 1532, although I'm sure the current building must be more modern than this.

Internally it doesn’t disappoint either with full height, dark wood panelling on much of the walls creating quite an elegant feel, old church pews for seating with green padded bench cushions, a large wooden clock on the wall and numerous old black and white portraits and drawings. An old black fireplace was in one corner, although I’m not sure if this is still used, and there was also an old pair of shears on the wall, presumably in reference to the pub’s name, although I did not spot any hands, fortunately. The central bar counter is an oval shape serving both the front and rear rooms.

Beers on tap were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Bass and Directors, whilst a fourth pump appeared unused. The solitary cider was a rather disappointing Aspall’s. Overall though, other than the cider choice, a very pleasant pub and well worth seeking out.

On 19th May 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Moby Duck left this review about The Hand & Shears

Still unchanged from my first visit over twenty years ago, definitely the archetypal traditional pub.The beers don't seem to change too much either, on this visit there was Courage Best, Black Sheep Bitter, Youngs Original and Timothy Taylor Landlord, not my particular beer scene but a must visit pub nontheless.

On 28th April 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Hand & Shears

Exactly my sort of pub.... a real gem that I discovered when completing CAMRA's Pub Walk.

Totally traditional and unspoiled - you could be in any are in the C20th but for me, it had a kind of 1950's feel.

All wood panelling in three rooms around a central bar.

Two Timothy Taylor beers on and I was in heaven.

Instantly into my top 10 london pubs.

On 1st March 2020 - rating: 10
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


View more reviews of The Hand & Shears (13)
This pub features in the following crawls:
Clerkenwell to Barbican by Roy Collins
External web links for The Hand & Shears

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Farringdon (London), 0.36 miles, 7 min walk (show)
City Thameslink, 0.39 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Moorgate, 0.63 miles, 12 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Hand & Shears, EC1
19th May 2023, 11:08
Review submitted by Blackthorn _ amended by Blackthorn _
 
19th May 2023, 09:49
Review submitted by Blackthorn _

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 January 2020 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Car Park : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Darts : Yes - Upstairs. - last updated 09 January 2020 by Tris C
  • Function Room : Yes last updated 03 September 2016 by Tris C
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 27 October 2018 by hondo .
  • Jukebox : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 20 November 2018 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 October 2018 by hondo .
  • Real Cider : No last updated 22 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 15 April 2016 by Tris C
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