The Birdcage

Could it be? A place where the locals of the east end can co-exist with the hipsters and the haircuts and the super tight jeans? Is that too much? Well, the point is made because the Birdcage is a great pub that both retains a strong east-end identity as well as attracting a new crowd, eager to indulge in the true history of London leisure time. The emerald green of its tiled façade is as sweet on the eyes as the sound of the weekend karaoke – genuinely- and it’s the karaoke that makes the pub at the weekend. This is a place for singers with a better set of lungs than most TV talent show winners and for all those who know they sound like a cat being strangled and do it anyway. All are shown respect, which generally goes for the attitude in the pub as a whole. The landlady and her staff are friendly, with personalities that set the place apart from the general acceptance that staff are to be seen rather than heard. The lagers are a pedestrian mix of big names and the ale is nothing special but there’s a pool table to go along with the other entertainment; a rarity these days. It seems to be an unspoken rule that the local seniors take the chairs on the outside while the rest of the bar is packed so tight the street is the only option for respite. The Birdcage is probably an acquired taste but for most people the combination of a quiet local in the week and a rowdy social on weekends is a winner.