The Foundry

Review

Apparently the things in the windows are done by thingumajig out of the KLF. I'll remember his name. Inside there was a pair of stuffed fabric pillars, one with fabric spikes sticking out of it, the other with lined fabric holes. Not far from this there's a poster explaining that you can exhibit whatever you like as long as, and I paraphrase, you make a bit of an effort, what you exhibit hasn't been shown before, and you let the pub keep one of the exhibits.

It used to be the Old Street branch of Barclays, according to the sign outside and the black eagle with three crowns argent propped up by the bar on the inside. It looks as if they diligently removed most of the bankaphernalia from it and decided to leave it half-renovated. Lots of light fittings taped and cleated to the ceiling with hanging wires. Biroed doodles on the wall. Art and architecture books, some in Chinese, bought by the yard.

To its credit, it does have Pitfield Ale in bottles (if there is a cask pump it's in the kitchen behind the bar) and some very comfortable sofas that it would be awfully easy to end up stuck in. Loud and comprehensive sound system with mixing desks, but on a Saturday afternoon in July with only a few people in it wasn't loud for long.

Bill Drummond. That was him. It would have been only proper to spend more time consulting our A to Zs than we did. (14.vii.2001)

Nearby pubs

The Barley Mow
The Prince Arthur

External links

Insomnia Zine review (seems to have been written by Nathan Barley)