Skip to main content
Pub ££ 🐾 Dogs Welcome

The Shakespeare

2 Goswell Road, Barbican

View on Google Maps

Photo: Lily Gong-Smillie / Google Maps

About The Shakespeare

The Shakespeare sits on Goswell Road near Barbican. This wood-furnished pub serves an Anglo-Italian food menu alongside beer, wine and cocktails. The venue takes bookings and welcomes groups, with outdoor seating available and dogs permitted.

Menu & facilities

🍺 Beer 🍷 Wine 🍸 Cocktails
🌤️ Outdoor seating 🍴 Dine-in

Opening hours

Monday
4:00 – 11:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Friday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Saturday
4:00 – 11:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.

What diners say

Gabriella Williams

We recently held a work baby shower at The Shakespeare and it was brilliant! The staff were fantastic! They let me go in early and set up the area with decorations, they were so kind and accommodating, I honestly cannot thank them enough! Especially Alex and Ruthie

3 months ago · via Google

K Migs

A good pub close to Barbican, with plenty of tables to sit down. I really liked the “Shakes Alphabet” — fun and clever, and it adds a nice touch to the place.

4 months ago · via Google

London Pub Map

🚇 Barbican 🍺 £6.70 Moretti ❤️ A brutalist Barbican boozer. The Shakespeare sits on a corner of a crescent of shops and flats at the front end of the Golden Lane Estate EC1. The nearest Tube is Barbican which is only a two minute walk. The Shakespeare was built in 1964 and is Grade II listed. The name is inspired by the Bard himself, who lived some hundred metres away throughout his time in London. The is a one bar pub with a comedy club in the basement. The bar is set out in almost a “H” shape with the servery on the left hand side as you walk in. Even though this pub is traditionally decorated, due to the architecture of the building it does feel modern in here. The seating is a mix of elongated leatherette banquettes, a few poser tables and traditional tables and chairs. Around the walls are gold framed Elizabethan era repro portraits, mirrors and chalkboards with promotions. The beer choice was a straightforward selection of keg beers and ciders. I opted for a Moretti, decent enough pint but a bit pricey for this lager. There is a simple eclectic food menu comprising of Burgers, pasta and Toasties, a Ham & Cheese Toastie cost £5.95. I arrived around 4.30pm on a sunny Friday afternoon in July. The pub was fairly quiet as Fridays in the city are not as busy as they once was. There were a few punters sat inside, the majority were sat outside enjoying the summer sun and watching the world go by. The service here was excellent, the Guvnor is a bit of a character, he was jovial and set an upbeat tone. @theshakespearebarbican is not the most handsome of boozers you’ll come across and almost has an estate pub feel. I enjoyed my visit here primarily due to the pub’s location and sitting outside watching the comings and goings around the Barbican. This pub is worth a look of you’re in the area. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 07.07.23

2 years ago · via Google

Sazid Ahmad

A great pub with great atmosphere, comfy sofa/chairs, a piano, a resident cat- and most importantly has a few boardgames. So essentially you can always come here with your friends and play (for free might I add- unlike those commercial and expensive boardgame pubs)

3 years ago · via Google

See all reviews on Google →

Easygoing, wood-furnished pub hung with framed pictures, serving an Anglo-Italian food menu.

Summary via Google

At a glance

Address
The Shakespeare, 2 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AA Get directions
Cuisine
British
Guest rating
4.1 / 5 (623 reviews)
Price level
££
Dogs allowed
Yes
Good for children
No
Good for groups
Yes
Booking required
Yes
Destination
Barbican