The Golden Heart

Landlady Sandra Esquilant, regular Tracey Emin and Lady Di are given equal profile on the walls of this traditional Truman boozer, a hangout for the arty crowd and Shoreditch flotsam and jetsam. Sandra, whose 30-year marriage to Dennis is celebrated in neon outside (one of several Emin creations here), provides bar-counter cheer.

A sign proclaiming ‘Stand Still and Rot’ is another interesting touch, but your eyes will be most drawn to the penny-chew-coloured jukebox featuring images of the Statue of Liberty. On our latest visit, the CD pages were left open at ‘Chas & Dave’s Street Party’ and Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way, The Best of’ which seemed to characterise the place nicely.

Running in bright red on the walls are the beer names of yesteryear (Eagle Ale, Eagle Stout, and so on); these days it’s Adnams and Leffe on draught, and affordable, well-kept wines.