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Dirty Dick's, Bishopsgate

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user reviews of Dirty Dick's, Bishopsgate

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I was last here in the late 1990s. Whilst I wasn't planning to come here on Saturday, I thought I'd use the opportunity to pay it a visit whilst the Woodin's Shades was still closed. Passed some rather confused looking workmen on the way in (more about them later). This is a Youngs pub. Ales were Youngs Bitter & Junction & Wandle from Sambrooks. I opted for a bottle of cider. At £5.50, I wish I hadn't! The main bar is a rather dark affair with a few little corners with seating. But the large space in the middle is presumably used for upright drinking for the city crowd. Decided to use the facilities at the rear of the pub and then the lights went out! Struggled for a few minutes to find my way back down the stairs and into the bar in the pitch black. The bar itself was now even darker than before, but not as dark as the gents. Outside were some rather red-faced workmen, with a few gathered policemen and spectators. Apparently a mini explosion had occurred. With no emergency lighting in the toilet, no wonder this pub has its name!
blue_scrumpy - 26 Jan 2015 21:26
Gang of smokers blocking the entrance who didn't move over when asked so had to be shoved. Generally very rude punters, not helped by overworked staff who couldn't keep track of who was next with one guy refusing to serve anyone as he was "cleaning" despite the fact he'd been checking his phone and chatting to another staff member for ages. Nearly walked out, but did, eventually, get served. The whole place smelt slightly of stale beer with plenty of empty glasses littering the tables - so much for the "cleaning". More expensive than the other pubs on the area. Nothing to recommend.
TwoFourTwo - 7 Oct 2014 16:59
Not a bad place.The Bombadier was a good pint.and the pub aint bad. Holds a lot of memories for from my misspent youth as part of the boots and braces brigade
tottenhamsean - 6 May 2014 15:26
Booked this place for a function after visiting here many times before and I really enjoyed it. The staff were very overworked and some of them were new but they tried really hard to make sure everything went well. They have a good selection of real ales and also a good wine list and the food was fine. On Saturday nights they start to run out of things so adjust your expectations accordingly. Nice atmosphere.
thegreatbarred - 20 Jan 2014 15:23
Overpriced, poor, crap. Small pub . very tourist. Dont bother!
chavsum - 3 Nov 2013 21:41
Dirty Dicks, hmmm, gimmick pub, pricey, double brandy & coke and pint of Youngs Gold, �11.25 - compared to the 7 pubs we had visited in the district where we paid an average price of �7.55!
Dirty Dicks = Dirty Robbing Barstewards!
dawgeo - 1 Apr 2012 10:11
Update to my posting of 3rd July last year.
I find it very disconcerting going into any pub, seeing a range of around 5 ales including a guest and then being told only one - the weakest - was on! No attempt was made to turn round the clips, presumably management policy to show what WOULD have been on etc etc. A poor finish to my day out which sent me scuttling across the road to the White Hart. Will have to consider this more thoroughly when deciding where to go in future.
ButchEgg - 25 Mar 2012 23:01
Been using Dick's for years and agree that it's one of the better pubs in the area (but try Woodins Shades nearby)
The place is quite atmospheric and always clean and has a welcoming feel about it.
Beers are always good but pricey and the food is good pub fare usually served by pleasant staff.
The staff seem to change nearly every time I visit and since the economic downturn there do seem fewer of them, perhaps because there are fewer customers. At least it doesn't get as crowded with City Posers as it used to !

Jimdee - 10 Feb 2012 12:44
Actually pretty cosy and nice wooden beams although maybe looks a little 'forced'. Still, I'd certainly go back. The ales are fine and there's usually some good tables and hovels to enjoy a session.
Richard_ReadingFC - 7 Feb 2012 11:30
Just a typical Liverpool Street pub really.

A mixture of patrons culminating in an odd yet easy going enough atmosphere. There tends to be the familiar groups of people attending this pub, the tourists, your average local workers and the inevitable city boys annoying anyone and everyone with their inane bravado.

The staff are lazy yet amiable, although one does get the impression the laziness is borne out of the apathy towards their job and patrons due to the severe lack of staff behind the bar in the first place.

Essentially, the only reason you would drink here is if it�s the least busy of the nearby alternatives.

EnfieldTaaaanBlud - 13 Jan 2012 13:32
it would probably be cheaper to put the fire out with champagne!
mother123 - 11 Jan 2012 16:04
Don't drink Fosters then. It's only good for one thing - and that's for putting out a fire!
PieFace - 10 Jan 2012 15:29
went in there yesterday-fosters has gone up 20p to 4 QUID YES 4 QUID A PINT-this must be the dearest pint of fosters in the country-if you walk across the road its 3.40-al capone must be running the show-all this and no toilet rolls or air dryer available!
mother123 - 6 Jan 2012 15:34
Decent enough place with a convenient location.

Beer (Young's) in fair fettle and decent enough music for my tastes (80's Ska) in the background. TV showed the BBC final score.
willesden_seadog - 14 Aug 2011 02:11
Visited on the last two saturdays (18th & 25th June). My Dad used to show me the outside of this pub when I was a boy but I'd never visited. That is until now - some 45 years later. I loved it! Very busy bar but pleased it was open on a saturday. Not cheap - Youngs special and a J20 �5.85 but on both occasions the beer and atmosphere was superb. Friendly staff and an excellent duty manager who remembered my drinks each time despite the crowds. Food looked good so perhaps next time. Pub added to my portfolio. Thanks Dad.
ButchEgg - 3 Jul 2011 12:55
Popped in Saturday 12th around 14:00,
Friendly bar staff, shame about bar staffs loud & p1ssed hangers-on with their bottle of cheap vodka from the offy.
�4.03 for a pint of Staropramen but on the plus side the place was full of crumpet !
topPINT - 16 Mar 2011 07:38
this is a nice pub, staff friendly and one of the best pubs in the area if not the best however very disconcerting having arrived to it en route from the fens of eastern england where a pint of fosters can be had for �1.46 and having to shell out �3.85 for a fosters here-bizarre-thats nearly 4 quid a go!
excellent totty tho-
mother123 - 26 Jan 2011 19:07
only been in the ground floor bar area, but was impressed by the interior and the layout. a few 'snug' like areas and a big open plan area. decent selection of lagers and ales, would happily use this pub when near liverpool street station again.
CHELSEA_on_tour - 14 Dec 2010 13:12
Situated in Bishopsgate, across the road from Liverpool Street Station, is Dirty Dicks, a well known watering hole that came into the Young's portfolio in 1991 following their acquisition of the Finch's pub group.

"Dirty Dick" was, as all the pub guides tell us, one Nathaniel Bentley, an 18th Century warehouse owner who stopped washing and cleaning up following the sudden death of his fianc�. The pub was formerly called The Old Jerusalem, but took on the Dirty Dicks name from the former dirty warehouse because of the notoriety it had acquired. The present pub dates back to 1804, although the upper part of the building has since been rebuilt.

Nowadays, it's a reasonably attractive city pub spread over three floors. The main bar - at ground level - features low ceilings, much exposed brickwork, oak beams and, despite excessively loud "background" music on my recent late evening visit, a pleasant atmosphere with a wide customer mix, not just restricted to "suits". The upstairs bar houses Hobsons restaurant, but still with a bar and a drinking area. The downstairs vaults - to where I didn't venture - offers regular Stand Up Comedy, Karaoke and other forms of so called entertainment.

On my recent visit, the usual Young's range of beers was on, plus Butcombe Bitter as a guest. The London Gold - at a whopping � 3.55p - was reasonable. Young's Special and Ordinary were priced at � 3.40p and � 3.20p respectively.

This is a pretty reasonable pub, but the nearby Lord Aberconway, on which I have just posted, is preferable in my book, on the grounds of beer range, quality and price.
JohnBonser - 13 Aug 2010 08:44
Best beer in city, pipes well looked after. Staff very friendly especially Chris, Leanne, Lucie, Dagmar, Fran, Phil, Julian, Madge, and Mabel the ghost. Certainly more expensive than surrounding pubs but worth it for the good beer and atmosphere.
Skullyuk - 9 Aug 2010 12:50
It is great to see an old fashioned London boozer in amongst the trendyness that surronds it. Well worth a visit. Great atmosphere and the bar stff have been really great on each of my visits.
LennyBanter - 3 Aug 2010 23:39
Great place! Really liked the atmosphere and history of this place - old wooden caskets and paintings etc everywhere - kind of dark......nice! Leffe was good too :>
adamwalsh - 7 Jun 2010 07:49
Full of "suits" on their lunch break when I visited several weeks back, very nice well kept pint of Young's London Gold was quaffed (slowly @ �3.40pint!!)
.........6/10
fat_beer_badger - 22 Apr 2010 15:15
Excellent ales and friendly staff. Gets busy but can still get served which is a nice change! Stayed nearby and popped in here each evening for a least a couple
keith253 - 16 Mar 2010 11:24
Went there for the first time in ages - beer hasn't got any cheaper in the credit crunch, has it!!! :-0
zabadak - 18 Jan 2010 13:52
Popped in again after a few months away and was happy to see the place still lives up to my expectations.
The best in the area.
Great beer and the Winter Warmer is spot on.
Staff have changed but still great service.(same Landlord for years)
Had a meal with friends and thoroughly enjoyed my Steak Pie while i was jealous of my mate who had the Venison meat balls ( reccomended)
Will be back.

martian2 - 13 Jan 2010 09:02
Popped in here for a couple of pints early Saturday afternoon. Given that its a Young's pub, the pint of Young's bitter I was served wasn't great. The London Gold was a lot fresher tasting. Service was friendly but slow. Decent enough pub, but pricey as you'd expect from this area.
bananaco - 3 Jan 2010 16:58
The upstairs bar provides a nice quiet haven from the madness of Friday night in the square mile. If you're feeling invigorated by 11pm when they close that down then downstairs is open 'til one. Nothing special but I like that you have the refuge, and the staff up there are nice too.
realalesnob - 12 Oct 2009 19:14
As my trains were delayed from the adjacent Liverpool Street I went to Dirty Dicks for a beer with my Brother. My first pint was a Young's summer special called Kew, which was horrible, so I ordered my usual Bombardier for my next pint. I suspect the pipes still contained cleaning agent as it tasted absolutely foul, but didn't smell off. On returning this pint a second was proffered, but was just as bad. By now I felt decidedly unwell and had to use DD's facilities....... I have to report that despite this place being one of the most expensive pubs in the City (Peroni is an eye watering �4.25 a pint); it's Dirty not only in name. Had I not been put in a fix by the dreadful beer, I would have gladly passed on the chance to use the vomit encrusted seat, ankle deep in bog roll cubicle, filthy, smelly, dryer free toilet.

Avoid this place like the plague; there are far better places nearby. Anywhere, in fact!

Frankie.London - 7 Oct 2009 13:34
The beer is good but the food was terrible. A group of us had something to eat at about 8pm. Hand cut ham, eggs and chips...the ham came out of a packet and was thin, the eggs were hard and the chips had been fried in oil fish had previously been in. Wedges were a joke, three for �4! I had sausage in sandwich and chips again very low standard.

Avoid this place for food, go to Kings Stores round the corner instead.


imp123 - 14 Sep 2009 15:41
I don't see the attraction of this place. It's a bit, well, naff. Though it was busy when I went, but that could be because of its situation near Liverpool St station. 5/10 not my cup of tea!
dpaajones - 16 Aug 2009 12:07
Very nice pub, although a bit on the expensive side. Cant really see the justification for that, however pleasant enough place to drink, though ive only been in on weekend dinner when just the one bar was open.
Saleblu - 19 May 2009 14:27
I held my Half-Centennial knees-up here last weekend on a Satuday night in the window area of the upstairs bar. The food was excellent (the platters and Nachos make for a much more sociable finger food buffet) and really good value. Service was also sharp and polite (thanks, Dagmar x) and the Youngs beer well kept, and the whole venue has real character. A great time was had by all.
Wiccaman777 - 30 Mar 2009 23:15
Still a great place to go for good service and well kept ale.

Prices are still on the up and although I love the place, I'm struggling to see how they can justify being so high compared to other venues. Pints went up another 8 pence last week and I thought they were expensive already. I'm not suggesting more one minute that they should be on a par with the likes of the Wetherspoon over the road for obvious reasons, but at over 50 pence more for a pint, is it justified?

I'll still go there, and that answers my own question I suppose. Without giving them license to take liberties, I think it is more important to keep the idiots out of this great pub by pricing them out. Maybe that's what the Guv'nor is doing, and on that note, he runs it very well.
SJohnson - 11 Mar 2009 10:18
Expensive but a good boozer. If you are popping in for a couple of beers then this is the place but if you are in for a session I would check out cheaper alternatives in the area.

Bar staff are very polite and unlike many pubs actually have a good idea who should be served next (or at least when we were in there they did).
Micky_P - 9 Mar 2009 21:56
Love it , always use this pub when in liverpool st area. far better than any of M&B's offerings that strangle the area. always a good pint in here. youngs ordinary during the day and a special in the evening.
The_Pub_Inspector - 24 Feb 2009 21:00
I visit "DD's" about once a month, sometimes twice. I agree that it is very expensive.The atmosphere is quite unique with the pub being spread over three floors, with bars in the cellar and ground floor with a restaurant area on the first floor. They seem to retain their staff for a year or two which is quite good for a city pub.

The food is of good quality with a good choice and the service prompt and polite. The restaurant is largely empty nowadays which is a shame but not surprising.

Unfortunately, the prices of food and drink means that I shall limit my visits to this pub for corporate entertainment in future as there are cheaper alternatives nearby. (One comment from a working man who asked for a pint of Guinness at the bar was "I want to buy a pint not the whole pub!)
Jaguarman - 18 Feb 2009 13:13
Over a year since last visited DDs.
Happy to say no change in the consistant good service.
Great atmosphere and Stiil great pint of Special.
Keep it up.
martian2 - 31 Jan 2009 13:10
Very expensive but a lovely little boozer, still a real old look to it and a fantastic pint of Youngs Special on offer. My favourite pub in London.
The_D_Man - 9 Jan 2009 21:36
Young's Bitter was in superb condition when I called-in last Thursday luchtime. Very handy for quick pint when using liverpool Street Station.
wobblybob - 27 Sep 2008 19:03
Zabadak - Young's have now stopped supplying Stella to all of their pubs and so none of them are allowed to stock it!

Strongbow now �3.55 per pint! This must be the most expensive about at the moment, when will it stop going up?

SJohnson - 4 Sep 2008 10:21
Went to the cellar bar on Friday last for a private function. Not bad although the air-con wasn't working. Also, got there about 7.30pm, no Stella! Already? On a Friday? Sheesh! Also, there was only one barman serving so had to wait 15 mins to get served my first drink of the day. Ladyfriend not amused!

Apart from that, all was OK.
zabadak - 11 Aug 2008 12:13
First time in last Sunday and only stopped for the one. Enjoyed the place and will certainly call in again
Wheel154 - 13 May 2008 15:26
I have been to this pub on a Thursday too and I must agree we had a great night - we also saw that weird little guy hanging around the bar and the barmaids - must be that Newbo guy tortoise68 mentioned!
maddie10 - 23 Apr 2008 09:56
Fantastic pub. Really busy on a Thursday. Try and go to top bar. Smashing barmaid called Lucie serving, but be careful ...... always a short guy (She calls him Newbo, I think) boring her !!!
tortoise68 - 23 Apr 2008 09:01
Let's face it, Young's beer isn't very good. If Fullers had this it would be worth visiting more than once.
GuideDogSaint - 26 Jan 2008 01:31
Have called in here on and off for over 20years its about the best i have found in this area.
Beersupper - 21 Nov 2007 19:16
KENINCAMDEN real funny name .....not 2nd August 2007.
I DON'T GET THE REAL FUNNY NAME BIT.
IT IS A WORLD FAMOUS PUB WITH THE HISTORY BIULT AROUND.... DIRTY DICK nick name for Nathanial Bentley. circa 1745.
look up the history and you will understand.
Out of all the pubs in the area i rate DDs one of the most friendly.
not for the people who think the word dick can only mean one think.
By the way. Is your name Richard??????
martian2 - 10 Sep 2007 13:09
real fuuny name ....not. You'll be hard pudhed to find a decent place to drink round Liverpool Street, this place no different.
kenincamden - 2 Aug 2007 14:43
ok, but very overated,I think it is living on its reputation from years ago when it was a good pub
becks007 - 10 Jun 2007 09:43
Fantastic PUB,
Lets hope it stays this way and the Pub co is not allowed to change it.
Enjoy the atmosphere especialy on a Friday pm.
Draught Leffe left me a bit wobbly though.
martian2 - 18 May 2007 16:33
Nice down to earth pub, nice for meeting people out of the train station, though prices a bit expensive. But would go here again if on a crawl in the area!
Mazzieboozer - 5 Apr 2007 12:04
A classic boozer that doesn't pretent to be anything it isn't.

That said I was very surprised to find Strongbow priced at �3.20 a few weeks back. The P&P next door,that you'd expect to be more expensive, was still �3.00 for the same drink.

However this wouldn't stop me going there as I do like the place, but imagine my further disbelief when I popped back last week and it had gone up again to �3.35!
SJohnson - 26 Mar 2007 11:10
ummmm.....old man young's still very much there!
anonymous - 20 Mar 2007 16:46
The good thing about this pub is now that old man Young has gone, it's possible to get a decent pint here (Bombadier).
anonymous - 16 Feb 2007 19:44
Excellent just excellent

This place has barely changed since I first started drinking here in 1989 (indeed I can remember seeing Cameroon tonk the Argies in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup)

Small moment of apprehension when the Essex man/girl magnet P&P opened next door but Dirty Dick's sails on as one of the finest City watering holes
murgatroyd - 27 Jan 2007 10:56
Perfect place to get a decent pint of Youngs before getting the tube/train home.
andy.c - 3 Jan 2007 22:55
Been visiting here on and off for a few years - it's a clean, tidy pub and a pleasant place to stop off for a pint if you happen to be in the area.
MINTYBOOM - 2 Jan 2007 18:47
A timeless classic.

Nice busy atmostphere and serves a good pint of Young's.

Many is the time I've been lured in there on the way back to Liverpool Street.

How times change: this pub, along with most in the City, used to close before 9pm and you wouldn't get served unless you were wearing a suit...
Andrew_Smith - 7 Dec 2006 09:32
That eastern European barmaid upstairs is stunning! Great pub too, if a little smoky.
Jack_Carter - 27 Oct 2006 15:40
Great service, friendly staff, makes it !
GIVEBLOODPLAYHOCKEY - 2 Jun 2006 19:57
Funnily enough, I too visited this pub for the first time in years (7, I think) and would agree with Moose58 that it hasn't changed one bit.

It's a good pub, provided you like Young's beer which I can't say I do all that much.
Darren_in_the_City - 19 May 2006 11:30
This was an absolutely fabulous boozer. I haven't been inside Dirty Dick's for about 5 years and I know that doesn't matter. The place never changes (good), the beer never changes (better) and it is still the only proper place in the city to pop out for "45 minutes". I love it.
Moose58 - 26 Apr 2006 20:58
been here a few times and normally go into the ground level bar , quite roomy and nice a proper old looking place in the middle of the glass of the city .
get a nice drop of beer here and the staff are friendly a nice place during the day when the suits are at work
romfordir - 27 Mar 2006 16:57
I wish the dirty stuff was back. Good. I like Young's beer but Not all their current new look pub refurbishments - too much travelodge yellow in them for me. You can tell it's a Young's pub But there are lots of good corners and stuff in here and I liked it especially for it's location. It's a pity there was no Dirty Dick's on handpump in there for novelty value. Barman serving had a pleasant manner.
mitomighty - 3 Mar 2006 17:07
not bad place for quiet pint of youngs mid afternoon, though i notice despite the air conditioning???? it doesnt amount to much of a concession to the majority of us non smokers
moclips2002 - 14 Feb 2006 19:51
My Grandad used to drink in this pub many years ago...still a good place to stop for a drink after work.
nido - 9 Feb 2006 22:46
Brilliant old mans pub. Dingy, smokey atmosphere but pleasant service and is set out on 3 levels so you can usually get a table if there before 5pm....
drunkmarv - 8 Jan 2006 14:29
Back in the mid-late 70's my Uncle and Aunt were landlord and landlady of Dirty Dicks. Many a fun night was had stroking the cat on the wall with my uncle pulling the cord and the cat spinning.

I have not been there in 25 years so cant say what it's like now, but here is a bit of history...

Nathaniel Bentley was an ironmonger who had a shop in Leadenhall Street.
On the eve of his wedding, tragedy struck. His bride-to-be died. So distraught was Nathaniel that he locked up the room in which he had prepared the wedding feast, never to enter it again.
A broken man, he neither washed or changed his clothes. When his cats died he just left them.
The English love an eccentric and his notoriety meant his business flourished. When Nathaniel retired in 1804, the landlord of the Old Port Wine Shop in Bishopsgate bought the contents lock, stock and dead cats. He put them on display at his pub and renamed it 'Dirty Dick's'.

In 1870 the pub was rebuilt from ground level, the wine vaults are part of the original building. The 'dirty' contents were carefully relocated in the new pub.
Sadly it was decided in the mid nineteen-eighties that a clean up was in order and the dirty artefacts were cleared away.
Today's cleaned-up pub is pleasant with bare floor boards and an abundance of timber beams. The upstairs bar forms a gallery and the vaulted cellar houses the restaurant.


JoeLou22 - 8 Dec 2005 20:42
Well beat me with a jambock..!!
Stopped in for a beer just before lunchtime, the downstairs bar was very quiet, Cricket on TV, some light music filling the room and the Saffa barman having the fundamentals of the 24 hour clock explained to him!It was Ok for a quick stop off I guess and I feel that I must have arrived too early as the place was unremarkable.....except for the fact that I paid THREE pounds of a pint of lager for the first (and hopefully the last)time in my life!
harlequin - 29 Oct 2005 22:28
Stop Press! Nono has left and moved to Colchester in darkest Essex. This is a terribly sad event although Dirty Dicks will live on regardless.
PieFace - 8 Sep 2005 17:25
Went there a few times in the late 70s. I was stationed outside of Huntingdon. On several of the trips to London, we had to take newbies to this pub.
I've heard they cleaned it up since then. When I was there, there were all sorts of items stapled or glued to the walls. If you sat in a booth, you could spend quite some time just reading all the stuff added to the walls.
By that time, there were 2 or 3 cats that were stuck to the walls, mainly in the areas behind the bar. There was also a small alligator that was hanging from the ceiling.
roger_at_efn - 20 Jul 2005 21:09
Just had a very pleasant lunch here, (upstairs). New menu launched yesterday. The food here rarely disappoints and Nono always looks after you. Where else in the City can you get such a decent knife and fork for and a pint for less than a tenner?
PieFace - 21 Jun 2005 14:35
Everyone who drinks here wants either a quick divorce or an orange peel nose (potentially both).
Definitely a drinkers pub! These people understand what an aspiring alcoholic needs from them, a quick pint or 7 before staggering back to the trains.
This is not a place to pull, or even think about pulling.
Dr_Cirrohsis - 14 Jun 2005 11:03
a good one, this...great place to go solo - a professional's boozer...lovely set of optics
tanderson7 - 31 Mar 2005 10:25
Not somewhere I'd stay too long, but a good place to meet for a couple of pints of Youngs beer - which is pretty good. It's over 3 floors, so you'll generally get a seat and (although I agree with womble about staying away from pubs near mainline stations) it's a lot better than the other offerings in the area - i.e. Hamiltons, White Hart, Railway, etc.
pnorton - 8 Mar 2005 11:59
Good grief! You all like it! Let me provide a bit of balance. It would be an OK pub downstairs were it not for the fact that the weekday clientele are some of the more revolting elements of City of London culture. This is a pub for those office juniors who do not have the salaries or expense accounts of their elders and betters. However, it does not put off the photocopier crew from a-hooting and a-hollering about how great they all are and how maybe they can even afford a car - next year. It is too dark to tell if the girls are girls or some other sort of Bishopgate life. Perhaps this is the reason why so many fellow posters on this page have had so much trouble 'pulling'. Most drinkers aspire to be able to pull their braces at the next promotion. The only pulling not going on is the pulling of decent pints in a solid pub atmosphere, which you will not get here. Continue into Spittalfields and go searching there instead - it really does prove the old adage that no pub within 500m of a mainline railway station is worth the effort.
City_Womble - 15 Feb 2005 15:38
Lol at Spel's comment re. the barmaid. She is a good lass that one, if a bit excitable! The professionaly bored looking Nordic barmaid is my favourite, I tried to put a move on her one night but got warned off by the barmaid Spel mentions. Don't try don't get!

Nice friendly staff, bit of atmosphere if you want a traditional city pub with a bit of character. Lots of history to this pub, look it up!

Ideal for a few sherbets before moving up to the bars of Shoreditch or the West End Etc. We use it as a meeting point for eveyone coming in from various parts of the capital / Essex etc before we head out later, very nicely situated for that outside as its right outside Liv st Station. on Bishopsgate, just past the Old Bill station and the All Bar One meat market ;o)

Best place is upstairs, less busy, somewhere to sit.

Someone said it's a blokes pub, although whenever i've been its been just slightly less than half and half blokes and ladies I reckon so don't be put off by that. Seen some very nice young ladies in here actually, including the Nordic barmaid (think she is Swedish?).

Give it a whirl.
krylon76 - 8 Jan 2005 18:44
Nice pub with well-kept Young's beers. Upstairs normally provides some seeting, if you don't mind being served by a strange lezbian with short hair that changes colour often.

Good pub for the City.
Spel_Unca - 22 Dec 2004 16:01
Good, authentic old fashioned city boozer. Gets pretty rammed downstairs but there's always a table to be had on the first floor - and by the time this shuts (early) the crowd downstairs has generally thinned. Usual range of Youngs beers, well kept. Food is good if on the pricey side (and it's not really the sort of place you would come to on expenses!) This and the Shooting Star (round the corner) are a lifesaver at this end of the City.
Mr Lash - 11 Nov 2004 12:39
Great pub and in my opinion serves the best bitter in the Liverpool Street area. One of the few around here to have ambience, but the early-closing of the upstairs bar is annoying.
wpjh - 13 Oct 2004 16:36
Just gets better. The new menu upstairs, (weekdays until 3pm), is as good as anything you will find. Pies, chops, good drinking food. Does a lovely bottle of Rioja too.
PieFace - 23 Jul 2004 15:38
good pub. used to be a dirty old man's house. now its a boozer with top beers - its a bloke's drinking pub, but a great place. unusual.
stoichkov - 30 Jun 2004 12:47
Excellent beer. I was drinking the wonderful Christmas Pudding Ale last Thursday as they still have some left over! The food upstairs is great fodder - especially the Barnsley Chop. I will continue to drink in this pub for as long as I live. Love it.
PieFace - 14 Apr 2004 13:58
Good range of Youngs beers both draught and bottles. Good atmosphere and one of the better City pubs.
Millay - 1 Feb 2004 13:11
Still genius. Best pub in the city by a distance - if only they'd keep the upstairs open longer of an evening.
Matt - 12 Jan 2004 12:26
rudest staff i have ever come across. They where unwilling to listen when I attempted to make a compliaint to the point where the manager just walked away before i had even said three words. Barstaff argued that although my sister is alergic to red wine i had ordered it for her and refused to listen to reason then calling me Rude. Totally outrageous I will never go there again.
j wiseman - 30 Oct 2003 14:22
only place round the area where you might get a seat (upstairs). Much much much better than Hamilton Hall, and nice bar staff.
corin_pearce - 18 Aug 2003 17:11
During WWll I used to occasionally take the current Popsy down to this oasis, which was not as tarted up as it is obviously now, but which enjoyed a better prestige than it now seems to possess. The cat mentioned by Tracy was a mummified old moggie mounted impressively on a polished wooden board, and bearing an impressive small notice that it brought great good luck to stroke the animal. Having alerted the barman with a couple of bob, the sheila was persuaded that this was reputed to be very effective. As soon as she touched the corpse, the barman pulled the string, the back legs of the feline jerked, the sheila got airborne, and the assembled drinkers went into paroxysms of laughter! As far as the Popsy was concerned, this was sometimes counterproductive! As I remember, (which is not always accurate these days) it was a Dive Bar, and you descended a flight of steps which were worn till the air almost showed through, to enter through a battered and split door which had been 'repaired' with the aid of the side of a Price's Ships Candles box affixed across the split. An ambience all of it's own! Bob
R.W.Coddington - 5 Aug 2003 13:40
Not as out-of-date as the other reviews make it sound, although stuffed with bizarre crap hanging on the walls. One of the few pubs in this area with anything approximating an atmosphere (try the White Hart on Liverpool St. for a good stab at Worst Pub Ever). The staff dooperate a bizarre policy of shutting the cozy upstairs bar at 9:30p.m. though. Stays clear of the Essex-ness of nearby pubs on Friday nights - it's like there's a sign at the door saying "NO BACK OFFICE ALLOWED".
Matt - 5 Aug 2003 06:09
Apparrently in the 40's the landlord had a dead cat rigged up on the wall, when you pulled it's tail it's eyes lit up!?!
Tracy - 1 Aug 2003 13:16
incomparable service and bar staff, lovely pint of guinness
chris mchale - 26 Jun 2003 14:17
During WWII one of my relatives when he was on leave went to this pub. He was an Irish Tenor with a beautiful voice, he used to sing for free beer. He was from Fredericton New Brunswick Canada but he always talked about missing Dirty Dick's... I was always wondering what the heck he was talking about until I went to it this year!
Megan Blumenthal - [email protected] - 31 May 2003 16:07
I visited the pub in 1944 and was impressed I think
Tom Hurry - 22 Feb 2003 00:54
In 1949 my sister and myself were on route to spend Christmas with our grandparent in Bethnal Green. We stood oppersite the Dirty Dick waiting for a No. 8 bus I promised myself that one day I would go in the Dirty Dick. It was Christmas eve and our parents had charge of the luggage and I had charge of our Budgie in its cage. So if anyone remembers being stared at by a little girl holding a cage with pigtails it was me. Today I fulfill that wish and went in for a sherry and a roast beef dinner. I wont leave it that long before I go back again this time with my sister.
Sheila Rix - 19 Jan 2003 23:30
My father used to go to this pub when he was on leave in London during WWII. His base was in Ipswich in Northern England. Their train would arrive at nearby Liverpool station, and this was the nearest pub. They probably didn't have too much time before the pubs closed. He spoke if the dark, cobwebbed atmoshpere of the place. It was one of the places I sought out on my trip to London in 1997. The exterior may not have changed much, but I believe the interior has been renovated from those WWII days. It made a big impression on my Dad. He spoke of it often.
David Waskowiak - [email protected] - 25 Dec 2002 17:53
This place is especially good in hot whether as it has very good air conditioning.
Alistair - 28 Nov 2002 14:55
Dirty Dicks is a "Must Go To" pub. It has a great luncheon food bar upstairs and a Bar with atmosphere downstairs. The Barkeeps will tell you wonderful stories about it's history. You'll love it.
Ruth Rasmer - 20 Oct 2002 15:13

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