Tipped

Incomplete hallucination

August 09, 2008

For the last few nights the Foundry was hosting me and my friends almost every night. It happened somehow that we started or finished our evenings right there. Without any particular reason, I'm emotionally committed to the pub and sponsor it on a regular basis.
The Foundry looks like an incomplete anarchistic/artistic hallucination. First of all, it's a pub and gallery but it's also London couriers' unofficial meeting point. It's certainly one of the most interesting places to drink not only because of cheap prices but also because of interior design.
There are lots of elements totally out of space that may surprise you everywhere. You can find headless dolls or old pants on the ceiling, buzzing monitors displaying something (I'm not sure what it is) or a rat in the toilet (hopefully, artificial one). Everything seems to be random and really old.
My favourite part of the room upstairs, is a small 'library' with bookshelves and a few seats. It's really cosy and makes you feel separated from the crowd. There are two exhibitions area downstairs and any artist has a chance to fill the space, hence there are lots of interesting events happening all the time.
Bar staff is really nice and 'liberal' plus I like the Foundry music.
Oh, and if you get drunk, it'll take you just 3 minutes to get to Old Street station.

Tags: beer, pub, art, gallery, courier

See and Be Seen by Hipsters

April 07, 2008

I had passed the Foundry innumerable times before finally succumbing to it on a lovely warm evening last week. With its location at the junction of Old Street and Great Eastern Street, it is rather prominently posted as the point of the wedge leading into Shoreditch and the hopelessly hip environs therein. With an absolutely massive billboard above the bar, you can't help but feel somewhat exploited, but that doesn't seem to stop punters from flocking to this bar.
As it was a lovely evening, the bulk of the crowd was out front in a very spacious section of sidewalk in large clumps. I have to admit I was a bit surprised as the gathered crowds were a bit older and a bit more professional looking than I had expected, but no doubt the scenester's are at far more fashionable and unknown bars deeper into the East end.
Inside the place is alright, but a bit shallow - it only goes about 20 feet into the building that it is sort of awkwardly positioned in. There it lots of art hanging on the walls, including a pretty heavy presence of CCTV-inspired works. I'm not sure if these piece are permanent or temporary, but they gave the requisite gritty urban feel to the bar, even if the clientele didn't strike me as too gritty. The loos are downstairs and are splendidly covered with stickers and graffiti, so I suppose they get marks for that.
The drinks were fine, meanwhile, and not outrageously priced. There was not a ton of variety in selection, although I did get a chance to try the humourously named Eco Warrior brew, which is a local Shoreditch product, and comes in a peculiar bottle.
This place is a good one to start the night off if you are venturing out into Shoreditch or elsewhere in the area. It attracts a big crowd and we met some interesting characters there, but I wouldn't necessarily stay for the long haul. I'm told it has a late license, so it could also be a convenient place to top off before heading to the buses at Old Street Circus just beyond, and what with the hospital and fire station nearby you get plenty of action on the street to observe.

Tags: late license, local beers