please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
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A load of fun, can't say fairer than that
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The carpet in this pub is the nastiest stickiest piece of old rag i have ever trod on ...its gross.
Beer here is okay and the clients are the usual hoxton trendy public school boy types pretending they are from the hood.............great place to get pissed....and vomit ....
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A rambunctious pub full of Shoreditch types - on a recent visit, a guy resembling the kid from Yellow Pages' "French Polishers" advert was seen talking to a fellow aiming for that "Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs" look. The ironically bequiffed aside, the place revels in its alarmingly threadbare carpet and would be bemusing to anyone not familiar with the way of life that is Hoxton.
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lovely decay
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Has the potential to fall into a Hawley Arms-style trendy trap, instead they keep their feet on the ground with a great pint of Deuchars. Usually packed out on a weekend, but worth it for the sticky carpets and pickled eggs!
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Spotted Alex from Arctic Monkeys in here once. They do a good pint of Staropramen. A mixed crowd, including some kids that seem to dress like Frank Spencer, but they are probably too young to realise. A real grotty hole, but good for it.
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You can see the basement through some of the holes in the wooden floorboards at the bar. Whats not to like? If you're tired of the braying yuppies at other establishments you'll love this place.
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This pub exhibits all the unwholesome qualities that would invariably drive me away from pubs: quality ales on display but out of stock, sweaty, overcrowded, a segment of the clientelle that could do with a soap and sponge etc. Yet, perversely I love The Griffin and I always go back for more. Partly I suppose because the jukebox is one of the best of any pub in London and when you've had a few two many chances are they have the song you want to hear at that moment in an evironment of bohemian decay that matches your own.
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Shoreditch is the new Notting Hill. sad but true, folks.
Oh, this place is complete pony by the way.
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Stumbled upon this dirty old little gem one winters afternoon. Never seen anything like it. Went back last night (Saturday) after a couple of years and still enjoyed my visit. Laid back crowd. Place is almost in a timewarp. Reccommend it.
MattB - 12 Mar 2006 18:31 |
One of the least pretentious and most honest of the Shoreditch / Hoxton Battle-cruisers. Good dart-board and pool table, both of which can be used to withering effect if the Nathan Barley/Trustafarian quotient gets too high.
mikez - 13 Dec 2005 16:43 |
If this pub was anywhere else it would have closed down. But gets away with being a dirty old man's pub in shoreditch clothing as it's 'an original boozer!'..
Not my cup of tea, but they seem to be doing ok out of it - try the Sunday Weatherall thing if that's your bag
anonymous - 4 Jul 2005 17:42 |
Have been back recently to discovered some light redevelopement, they've extended the bar sympathetically. Atmostsphere hasn't changed, still a great little spot for a couple of ales. Looks like it may survive.
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great bar. the bankers/financial types haven't taken over this gym of a pub - yet. still some fun hip people but not any trendier than thou types. good jukebox, good meeting up/catching up place. let's hope the "suit" people don't pour into it.
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Someone told me it's been refurbished - is this true?
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Awfull place, full of people in their 30's with no grace. The Hub of the 'Urban Golf' project - probably the most pretentious undertaking ever, it's motto is "a nice walk spoilt - by snobbery - time for urban golf" - yeah, like you lot are working class!
john - 16 Sep 2004 12:34 |
Stone Roses on the Jukey, Good selection on tap, original Shoreditch crowd, and a sandwich shop style counter. Winner
Adam James Bilton - 15 Sep 2004 14:00 |
went there by accident. Shoreditch has become too shiny in recent years so it's good that a place like this survives. Laid back and ever so cool
Kev - 4 Jun 2004 10:06 |
Glorious
chris - 20 May 2004 13:35 |
Go and have a beer here before it closes. £1.50 for a pint of Flowers last time I was there. Oh yer and see if you can work out if the thing in the glass cooler counter is bread or meat.
Dan - 14 May 2004 11:14 |
In here the other night full of shoreditch's older, cooler crowd great music no bangin beats. Nice vibe I'd go again.
Iain - 18 Dec 2003 15:34 |
traditional old pub, rough round the edges but all the better for it. nice crowd, classic juke box, pub grub and great music on sat and sun.
rob - 11 Aug 2003 12:35 |
