The rise in popularity of Shoreditch has brought with it numerous non descript bars and gatro pub makeovers. The Griffin however has been left alone and is one of the few good pubs left in the area.
It looks and feels like an old man pub but this place was claimed by the local fashion / media / design types a while ago. That said, its not up its arse - people generally come here for an after work beer (or 7) and its usually pretty chilled.
On a warm night there can be as many people hanging out on the street outside as there are in the pub which can make it a bit of a nightmare at the bar but on a school night its just a great place to have a beer with a mate.
They often have DJs playing eclectic background music and they even have a quizz once a week. The one time I did the quiz the prizes were donated by Payul Raymond Publications (top shelf soft porn mags) who must be based round the corner - it was a pretty good quiz and we won a cock ring for our troubles - everything was going well until we broke it whilst pretending it was a hair band. So it goes at 10.45pm in the Griffin.