The Birdcage

Pub in Bethnal Green
The Birdcage image
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6 / 10 from 6 reviews
Address
80 Columbia Road
Bethnal Green
London
E2 7QB
Map
Region
Bethnal Green
Nearest Station
Hoxton
0.29 miles
Category
Pubs
Opening Summary
Mon - Thurs: 16:00 - 23:00
Fri & Sat: 12:00 - 01:00
Sun: 09:00 - 22:30
Venue Facilities

Big Screen TV

Children Welcome

Credit Cards Accepted

Music Played

Pub Quiz every Tuesday - Prize £50 bar tab.

The Birdcage Picture Gallery

The Birdcage Picture

All In London Review

a great pub that retains a strong east-end identity as well as attracting a new crowd

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.

Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Nov 7, 2011


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Located on Columbia Road, The Birdcage is a traditional boozer with a love for karaoke. Thanks to its hip location it has been co-opted by trendy locals as a jaunty hangout. However, when the lights dim and the singing begins, voices transcend generations and demographics as the music becomes the one true God that all can worship under. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a superstar for five minutes, this is the place to come.

User Reviews

Andrew Saunders
from Clapton

Dec 5, 2014

The Birdcage - and by that I mean London's most enjoyable venue, where raspy voiced locals and hot art students mixed to sing karaoke and dance - has been butchered by a 'more of the same' craft beer pub with hideous wallpaper catering to tragic men who don't realise that twirly moustaches were cool for about a minute, and whose soul contribution to the world is to illustrate the fact that Shoreditch died around the turn of the century. Soulless, depressing, a reminder of everything that's awful in life. The new venue does not deserve to carry the name. Thank you money grabbing new owners
Lauren
from Shoreditch

Nov 21, 2013

Birdcage is a wonderful place, almost in the middle of re-defining your every expectation of what a pub is. Uniquely the Birdcage retains its East End character mixed with a new hip crowd together, set on the idyllic Columbia Road amongst homogenised Shoreditch. I just moved in locally and was amazed by the variety in the pub, from a mad quiz on a Tuesday, to music nights and the famous karaoke. It's always fun and never pretentious.
Anonymous

May 26, 2010

what a fantastic pub full of wonderful people karaoke alan is excellent and you will find him there most sat nights. this place is full of fantastic singers john and teresa are warm and friendly people who always welcome you with a smile and a handshake from the gov
you might be lucky and come across a couple of local characters who we met last year they use to sing there regulary irish billy and phil who are brothers fantastic singers excellent entertainers although i have not seem them for a while now
WHERE ARE YOU BOYZ, strongly reccomend a visit TO THIS PUB one of the last old east end boozers
Anonymous

Apr 22, 2010

The birdcage is a great place for people who aren't looking for a bar, not in a rush, and want a cheap beer without the fuss. On random night during the week and every weekend there is free karaoke. I think if you want food, fine wine, and a designer seats this is not the place to go. But if you want to relax after a hard day of work, play some pool and drink a cold cheap beer, you should drop by.
Anonymous

Dec 31, 2008

The atmosphere in the 'Birdcage' was horrible, you wait to be served when the barmaid can be bothered! And to top it off the woman who served me and my colleague was very arrogant and unfriendly. We wanted something to eat but walked out after one drink as we didnt feel welcome at all. It was all very strange and bizarre as we were informed that it was an ok pub seeing as they are far and few nowadays but we would not recommend it to anyone!
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