QX Magazine

10/09/11: Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this? In my 27-year tenure at QX magazine (well, it certainly feels like that) I’ve been itching to give one of my favourite bars a little review action.

And here it is.

If you’ve never been to the George and Dragon, you’re missing a small but perfectly formed treat! Personally, you can keep your snobby cocktail bars with preening queens, you can keep your shirtless muscleboys; for me, this unassuming Hackney Road boozer is where it’s at.

Not only is the décor a delicious mish mash of bizarre objets d’art’s left over from years of random parties, but the clientele is a ridiculously polysexual melting pot of hot young fellas, gorgeous fashionista girls, East End geezers and people, like myself, who don’t want to fit into the neat little boxes the gay scene often tries to put us in.

Weeknights are a fantastic place to catch up with mates in slightly leftfield surroundings and get involved with a plethora of quirky theme nights, whilst weekends are absolutely heaving with Shoreditch sistas out for a good time.

Of course, this isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste… a Soho-based friend of mine was horrified at where I’d brought him, and was soon running back to the comforting bosom of Lady Gaga and Old Compton Street. But other friends have absolutely loved the off-kilter action.

If you’re looking for something different, come say hello to George.

[Show as slideshow]

2-4 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 7NS
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by Joel Ryder