The latest Shoreditch boozer to receive a makeover is The Marie Lloyd on Chart Street.

In the blink of an eye it has gone from peeling paint and fighting locals to smart red walls and chesterfield sofas, with a solid oak and toilets so clean they sparkle. Drinks are reasonably priced and though there’s no food yet (the kitchen yet to be finished) we’re on a promise for good quality traditional pub grub.

The outside tables on quiet chart street catch the afternoon sun and add an extra seating dimension to the cosy interior. On our visit the place appeared to be staffed by jobbing models, which is never a bad thing.

If you’re a fan of dramatics, don’t miss your chance to catch Dried and Roasted at the Glitch and Turn on Wednesday 28 May. This superb piece of pub theatre is an entertaining break from the norm and has been choreographed to fit the surrounds of the Marie Lloyd to perfection.

The play introduces an array of characters from bored office workers to ladies on the pull and a philosophical bouncer. All of them are guaranteed to amuse and disturb the audience in what is a quite extraordinary piece of interactive theatre. The door charge is simply ‘whatever you can spare’.

At present the Marie Lloyd offers a pleasant respite from bustling Hoxton Square and Old Street so pop along and enjoy some good old fashioned pub culture with a trendy twist.

The Marie Lloyd
24 Chart Street, N1