Royal Oak, Shoreditch  rated3 pints - click for an explanation of our ratings

location:

Shoreditch

address:

73 Columbia Road, E2 7RG

phone:

0871 984 3421*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Cambridge Heath Railway station
(860m)

Shoreditch High Street (opens 2010) London Overground station
(870m) - zone 2

Bethnal Green London Underground station
(910m)

Whitechapel London Underground station
(1.2Km) - zone 2

Old Street London Underground stationRailway station
(1.3Km) - zone 1

how to find it:

It's not really very close to either station, being about halfway between the two stations, in the middle of the flower Market on Columbia Road. Walk along Bethnal Green Road, from either station, until you get to Barnet Grove (on your right from Bethnal Green station and on your left from Liverpool Street). Walk up Barnet Grove until you get to Columbia Road then turn left and you should see the place on your right on the corner.

click here for a larger map

nearby attraction(s):

Geffrye Museum (530m)

York Hall (980m)

picture of Royal OakAnyone who's been to Columbia Road flower market will have seen this pub. Architecturally, although it's in a between-the-wars style, it fits perfectly well with the Victorian surroundings (and we think we've seen it on the telly a good few times, it's that kind of location) and inside there's a lot of the old style panelling left (complete with Truman livery) and a wonderful glazed suspended ceiling. In a nod to its nearly gentrified location, there's the usual exposed floorboards, along with a mishmash of old wooden and squashy furniture to attract the younger locals. There's also decently kept beer Adnam's and Timothy Taylor - on the hand pumps, a decent range of wines and an oddly shaped back yard, understandably popular with the smokers. The food seems a bit pricey - at £9 for a full English breakfast (handy on a cold Sunday at the flower market) the quality would have to be excellent for it to be forgivable. Still, not a bad place at all and further evidence of the Capital's wealth creeping eastwards (and not just leaping to straight to Essex).

reviewed:
1/9/2007
reviewed by pubdog

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

beer garden or outdoor seating available - click for explanationrear courtyard
open late - click for explanationlate opening
Hungry? click here to find and book a table around Shoreditch
free booking at pubs and restaurants powered by

second opinion: (don't just take our word for it)

have your say - comment on this pubHave your say - click to comment on this pub and read what others think about it.