As trendy as the East End gets
Near-inconspicuous trendy corner pub with a near-indeterminate-gay/straight thing going on, located in the alternately artsy and rough area Shoreditch in London's East End. Opened in 2002 in its current incarnation by Richard Battye, the small, cosy, imaginatively decorated space includes a corner area taken up by a DJ spinning a supply of obscurities and cool oldies on vinyl. Quite a special one-off place, but on occasion might strike some as perhaps just a smidgen self-consciously hip. Compatible neighbours include Nelsons Head [see entry] and the Joiners Arms [see entry], which is just a couple of minutes' walk east along Hackney Rd but which has taken the trendy thing to a more aggressive conclusion. Tube station: Old Street, then a six-minute walk east past the high-definition Shoreditch/Hoxton art scene. Just around the corner from the George is Columbia Rd, which stages a buzzy outdoor plant and flower market every Sunday morning [see entry].

Tags: Mixed Gay/Straight