We were staying at the Hoxton Hotel so I am unfamiliar with other pubs in the area. We had a decent meal here of the steak, Mediterranean platter, goat cheese tart, small glass of wine, and 2 pints for £44. The food arrived quickly and the portions were large. The service was friendly and quick. Their credit card machine wasn't working though so we had to pay cash. read more

The Reliance - Goat cheese and red pepper tart - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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The Reliance is one of the better pubs in Old Street. There is generally a bit of a buzz to the place and the bar staff are usually up for a bit of banter. Last time I was there my my friends and I headed straight upstairs and it was really nice and quite unusual that we all managed to get seats together on a Friday night. For once in Old Street we weren't forced to stand awkwardly or get budged by people walking past. Although the menu has gone a bit gastro and the beer can be very expensive I still think of The Reliance as a proper pub's pub. The jukebox says it all and you're far more likely to hear Oasis and Girls Aloud than any electro/emo/trendy mix. I like to come here when I'm trying to avoid the usual Shoreditch crowd. Although there's still plenty of scenesters, I don't feel like I'm out of place or that my haircut is just too damn symmetrical to fit in. read more

The Reliance - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Argh, had quite a night here. Says a lot about the pub that none of my property went missing, including the wallet I left on the bar for another half an hour - that's the last time I take my chances like that though! Presently surprised by the prices, slightly cheaper if anything than my locals in Bethnal Green. Staff were also really nice and getting served was not too bad even on a packed Friday. It's really nice when it's a bit quieter though, very cosy. read more

We ordered espresso martinis which were not very good. The barman seemed very irritated by the fact we said we were going to go to a new bar. To make matters worse the manager told my friend, who is queer, that she is "loco" and told her that she should change the way she behaves if she wanted to be accepted in other places. He was in general very homophobic, and rude. If I could give this place a zero I would. I recommend that everyone boycotts it. read more

So the beer swilling lads I was with informed me they serve a decent Czech lager, Belgian beer offering three hand pumps of varying quality. As a lady, my priority is obviously the toilets. Despite having a more pubby vibe than many other drinking establishments in the area, you should prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the loos. The cubicles have a kind of sideways stable door, creating a rustic, bucolic nostalgia. Inside the cubicles, these are the first toilets on this blog that have TURN CLOCKWISE FOR ROLL bog roll dispensers. Thanks for handy info. Aside from the clog-like dispenser the cubicles provide ample space to emerge dramatically from the stable doors unscathed, yeeha! read more

The Reliance - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Decently comfortable bar in the heart of Shoreditch. Not too crowded, music wasn't too loud, and the bathrooms had a vending machine with panty hose. As someone who generally prefers to sit down and chat with a drink rather than spend my night screaming at my bartender and my friends while shimmying to the latest top 40 hits I was pleased to find this place busy but not heaving on a Friday night. Wait for drinks was short and I was able to tell the bartender what I wanted at a comfortable level. Music inside was good. Vibe was friendly and my friends and I chatted in a corner with drinks (standard priced bottles from their fridge, nothing special but also not unwelcome) until 1am, when we then realised we'd missed the last tube home and needed to make our way onto a night bus or order an uber. If that's not a successful end to a Friday night then I don't know what is. read more

I've been here quite a few times. I think it must be less trendy than it was and it's definitely less packed. On a Saturday night we got a table upstairs. Where it was relaxed and comfortable and very pubby indeed, perfect for a quiet night out with friends with beards. They have quite a good range of beers, though the pint of Yakima Red was definitely nothing like the best I've had. I switched to one of their Czech lagers and was happy. I think maybe I'd agree with some of the other reviewers that some of their staff could do with a friendliness transplant. read more

Cozy and civilized. Ideal for chit chat over a pint or kicking back after a long day. As I understand it the Reliance is a favorite watering hole for creative and media types. It is, after all, located in the heart of Shoreditch. The place is never too crowded so as to make the bar unapproachable; the music is set to a sane volume so conversations can still be had. Really chill place over all. read more

I have only been to this pub during the day at the weekend, so I am not sure what it gets like when it is busier. I'm going to need to come back to figure that out at some point. During the day it is a very chilled, laid back pub with music to match. It's a good place to spend a lazy afternoon with some friends enjoying the drinks on offer (they have ales, lagers, cocktails.pretty much any poison you might desire). read more

This pub is ok, I'm not crazy about it. What is good about it, is that it has loads of space, so it's perfect for going with a big group. I like the upstairs part, it's a vast space for a pub and it has a bar as well so you don't have to go up and down, spilling your booze. Also the selection of beers is not too shabby. The people you will find here are young creative types, but not the super trendy. One thing though is that it's a bit pricy, I paid £4 for a Belgian beer! I've learned to ask before I order my drink after this. It seems unpretentious but the bar staff can be slightly rude. I suggest if you need a meeting point before a night out in Shoreditch this place works. read more

The Reliance - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Fab pub on Old Street, that retains the cosy atmosphere of a local, and is comparably unpretentious. They serve a good range of beers, prices are Shoreditch standard so expect to be paying out as much as £4 for a pint. They also have a great food menu, and are famed for their yummy Sunday roasts. I really like the upstairs of this pub, it's littered with many tables so is perfect if you're there with a group of people and manage to nab one. Reliance is particularly nice on a winters evening, come, grab a comfy seat and warm up. I imagine it would be great in here around Christmas, and is a Sunday favourite of mine. read more

The Reliance is a very good Shoreditch pub, famed for its quiz nights and serving just about the best Bloody Mary's in E2. The kind of place you almost forget about as a local, being not nearly as hyped as some other very mediocre pubs in Shoreditch, The Reliance has a wealth of seating, friendly staff, and is more relaxed than many of its contemporaries. Try to nab a seat upstairs if you're in a group and ask the staff about the quizzes. Yes, you get some young upstarts that treat it like a blood sport - broadsheets at the ready and all - but it's damn good fun and I can't say I've found anywhere else in Shoreditch with a jolly good pub quiz. If you like your pubs traditional with an East London twist, head to the Reliance. read more

Decent enough boozer for the Shoreditch crowd. Nice ambience, nice service, good ale, pretty average pub grub - kind of greasy but at least made from actual potato chips. London Pride and a couple of guest ales on tap. Fairly solid. Probably one of the best pubs in Shoreditch. So why only 3 stars? Well, the 4th star is coveted in me-land. And the pubs around here are, to be honest, rubbish. The crowd is generally pretty decent - this is a standard boozer in a substandard area.... read more

The Sunday roast here is fantastic; the beef tender, the potatoes roasted perfectly with a crispy outside, the Yorkshire pastry crunchy on the outside. Tasty turnips carrots and cabbage round it all out. Good draught beer selection. Proper proper proper!! read more

The Reliance - Excellent British roast - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I dont go for the atmosphere. I go for the food. It has been consistently good every time. I've had burgers, crab cakes and roasts there and I've always been pleased with what I've been served. It also offers a nut roast on Sundays, which was given a major thumbs up from my veggie friend. It's not terribly busy around lunchtime, which means you can actually hear your luncheon partner(s) and have quick service in a popular area. read more

Stopped by on a Sunday night to grab a couple of beers and loved the dive English bar atmosphere! Tons of great local beers on tap and the service was greet, if you're looking for a nice relaxing bar with good selection go here! read more

The Reliance - Lit over premium Czech lager - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A mediocre free house in Hoxton. There are three casks, none of which were particularly interesting, although I did find something new to me. There is a decent range of keg beers, with two Czech lagers that I've never seen in London. Decent bottle selection as well with some nice Belgian offerings. Prices about average or slightly above. The ambiance is stripped-down pub. There's an upstairs but I didn't check it out; what's up there, brother? A pretty young crowd during my visit on a Friday evening. Nothing special, although it is right across the street from City Beverage Company, so you could pop in here quickly to see what's on cask. read more

Oh Reliance! I'm not quite sure what to think of you. When we first met several years ago, I was a little disappointed that you were a relatively bland pub in Shoreditch with mediocre food. Now though, with all the terrible dance bars in the area, catering for the weekend stag and hen parties, you almost feel like a place of sanctuary. I even appreciate you have improved your beer offering with Meantime's London Pale Ale. I like you now, but you really could do better, maybe by adding some craftier beer. I think we can be friends - I might even go as far as trying your food again, but you've still got a long way to go if we're going to hang out on a regular basis. read more

Came here with work colleagues after our Xmas lunch. The place was fairly empty as we rocked up around 3pm but as the night wore on the place became more busy. It was decked out with nice Xmas decorations and had a cozy vibe. The bartender was nice but not the most attentive. I'll definitely come back here since it's close to the office. read more

Nice pub, have been here a few times and always enjoyed it. Still a good atmosphere but good luck getting served if you're a lady! First round I was completely ignored by one of the girls serving, and the manager had to ask her to serve me. Second time she's 'waitin for a guy to pick up his drinks. She couldn't possibly pour my drinks while she's waiting. He comes back, pays and takes his drinks. In the meantime she's swanned off to eat her sandwich! Seriously!!! She knew I was waiting! A couple of bites and a swig of her drink later she's ready to serve me. Hallelujah!!!! read more

This was the first pub for us on this particular Saturday night pub crawl ...friends of ours had started a few hours earlier and were pressing on to the next one. Looking back it was the nicest pub throughout the evening. It has a great atmosphere and the prices are not cheap but also not overpriced. They have an upstairs area where you can push a couple of tables together for bigger groups. I rather liked it and would have stayed longer, as it was a nice pub just to hang out and have a chat. read more

The Reliance is a cozy, neighborhood pub located on Old Street. It is run by an expat American who has been in the UK for a couple of decades. It's a very friendly place and fills up with city workers and local hipsters most nights of the week. I love to go here with a couple of mates and down a few pints to kick off an evening on the East side. They serve pub grub as well and do a decent lunch time business. The Reliance is another great local pub among the many in the Hoxton area. read more

Yeah it's alright here. I first came here to interview a local band for a website and remember leaving very drunk. Unfortunately it falls off the radar slightly. I guess this area is all about Hoxton square and cool bars. Rob H is right - it is one of the better pubs in this area. It's not very big though ,which is probably why it gets so busy. But if you're in the area, you could do a lot worse. read more

Sort of fades in comparison under the sheer weight of trendy bars in the area as quite an ordinary pub. But sometimes all you want is a somewhere nondescript and most definitely non-hipster. All I remember about this place is that they were very generous with their measures, didn't get too mad about a group of drunk men and glamour models bundling on the floor and were very polite when one of the party fell down the stairs WHILE vomiting. read more

I've been to the Reliance a few times now for work lunches with colleagues. It's a very chilled out put during the day and the staff are very good at making you feel welcome. There are loads of places to choose for lunch in the area but the Reliance is great in that it's not one of those 'trying-too-hard-to-be-cool' bars. It serves very good pub food at decent prices and is happy to cater for groups. read more

Was there twice this weekend. Saturday night was great. Good atmosphere and good crowd. Only issue is the repugnant sewer smell every so often, removed by air freshner. Sunday night different story. Miserable girl behind the bar who was more interested in sucking the fried rice from between her teeth whilst serving customers with a scowl, to return to the end of the bar and literally shovel it in. A tip to the wise, if you can't be even remotely pleasant or even fake a smile, don't work in a customer facing role. A disgrace to behold. I may try again in the future, as the other bar staff were pleasant and very accommodating, for 5 sober professional guys having a few beers. read more

Nice pub with good vibes. Doesn't get too busy during the week but obviously a popular choice on the weekends. Not the cheapest but they have a wicked selection of beers and do their cocktails well. read more