Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 5 and Version 4 of Horseshoe, EC1R 0AG

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category='Beer Garden,Function Room,Good Beer Guide 2012,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area'
category='Beer Garden,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Function Room,Good Beer Guide 2012,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area'

A cute little pub hidden away in Clerkenwell.

The pub is larger inside than it looks. The bar is at the front with stools where the regulars congregate, and there are some booths hidden away in a darkened area to the side, but also larger rows of tables (with some functional but slightly uncomfortable chairs) extending to the rear of the building, where stairs can be found to a bookable upstairs function room. Out the back is a fairly extensive beer garden, attractively planted and with a number of tables.

The bar has four handpulls for ale, two with Greene King IPA and two with Sharp's Cornish Coaster on an October 2009 visit, decently kept. The usual lagers were also available, including San Miguel and Beck's Vier.

Food is from a short menu, focusing on simple options like pizzas (all around £5). Ewan tried the vegetarian pizza and it was perfectly fine for what it was.

There are several screens around the pub, all of them showing different programmes on Ewan's Friday evening visit (one was showing a reality TV show, another a sports channel, and the third, largest, screen intriguingly output the CCTV camera footage from the pub's beer garden).

Ewan's verdict: The chief virtue of the pub is its unpretentiousness. If there's a slight blokishness to the place, it's offset by the friendly staff and a general uncrowded and relaxed atmosphere (even on a Friday night), unusual for an area dominated by very busy, very loud bars.

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Last visited by Ewan and others, 16 October 2009.

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