The Joiners Arms, Shoreditch, London

A gay pub that also attracts non gay people mostly from the Hoxton/Shoreditch scene.
It is on weekends always absolutley packed to a point that it can be difficult to breathe.
When you go outside you'll find on of the more remarkable things about that pub. A bunch of over zealous door people half of whom are openly homophobic. If you are gay you may find it uncomfortable to overhear a conversation by the door staff that is meant to add a sense of security.
Or perhaps it isn't. At the end of the night they chase the people away in proper Nazi style. One minute you were in the bar the next you on the street because they decide bang, it's all over. That's when the fun begins for the door staff who walk in a line towards the crowd whilst shouting.Even on pavements that do not border the pub. Sticks and torches are missing. As is an awareness about rights and responsibilities. Quite appalling!

Terrifying gay pub on Hackney Road where you can observe drunk and/ or horny trendies stealth cruising. Don't come here if you're scared of testosterone, really low cut v-neck vests and confined spaces as this place always seems to be heaving.

The ridiculous sexually charged atmosphere is kind of funny but after a while I find it a little uncomfortable in there not having a penis.

But otherwise before I feel massively unwelcome I usually have a splendid time.

always great fun on sunday evening.

Not the one of the nicest smelling places with a unisex toilets(in most gay bars), but gets very sweaty, packed and sexy on weekends. On Saturdays open til about 3-4am and after you can head right across the street to the Ol’ Axe- usually a rock-a-billy night and open til 6am at which almost everyone from Joiners ends up in.

You will see anything from bum(homeless, not booty bum)-inspired to Balenciaga. Straightest straight to the crazy dress-up dolls that manage to seduce the straightest man in Hackney!

The Joiner’s Arms has endless charm and is one of the leading gay venues in Hackney. It is small and relaxed, at least when I went there on a Monday night for some Free Jazz (free as in gratis, but also free as in helter-skelter and off the wall). Apparently Saturdays get completely raucous. I loved the décor, including a pink Union Jack.

Great post-George & Dragon venue. Drinks are incongruously expensive given that they clearly don’t spend any of their revenue on the decor but when it’s busy you won’t care. More of a muscle Mary crowd than George and Dragon though still plenty of Hoxtonites braving deepest darkest Hackney.

It ain’t the most salubrious of locations, with the Hoxton hobos and Haggerston homies congregating on street corners howling good-natured abuse. So we find the Joiners Arms, fronted by a battleaxe boxer-esque bar 'woman’ who looks like she’s done ten rounds with Mike Tyson. Compact and grubby, this place is always packed. Whilst two people get the pleasure of a quick game of snooker, any other misfortunate walking past gets the delight of a snooker cue in the ribs. Late night Friday and Saturdays bring muscle Marys’ and beer stains, being gay has never been so much fun! Pop on down to nearby George and Dragon for some cleaner entertainment.