Marie Lloyd, Old Street  

Two streets but a million metaphorical miles away from bustling Hoxton Square, it was no surprise that this sad and depressing backstreet pub would eventually shut down. As the old regulars passed away or switched to the homely delights of Sky TV, it's card was marked; the last time we passed it was empty. We used to wonder if Marie Lloyd - a once famous Victorian Music Hall singer - would've been happy to have this pub named after her. Still, it was heartening to discover that some brave soul has decided to give the place a refurbishment and aim for a more sophisticated clientele. The outside is an inviting shade of green and they actually spent time finding out about Ms Lloyd, as underneath the name it reads: "A bit of what you fancy will do you good" - one of her more appropriate quotes. It's still early, early days here - they've yet to properly sort out some of the fundamentals, such as proper lighting, sufficient furniture and a suitable sound system, but the new colour scheme is pleasant and service excellent. We'll be keeping a close eye on developments here and wish them luck (photo to come).

reviewed:
08/04/2008

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