The George & Dragon (Shoreditch) (Closed Permanently)

Near-inconspicuous 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 and imaginatively done up 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. Tube station: Old Street, then a six-minute walk east through 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]. Sadly in August 2015 came the announcement of the pub's imminent demise owing to lease demands. And the doors finally closed in December...but then came the announcement of a new venue, the Queen Adelaide, down the road at 483 Hackney Rd [see entry].