Despite being around 150 years old, the Three Compasses is a very modern pub. When head honchos Lauren and Anthony Johns and Briac Le Camus took over the place in 2012, they set about transforming it from an old-school east end boozer into a very nu-school East End boozer. Drag bingo! Life drawing classes! Guest chefs and gourmet burgers! Rather brilliantly, the trio retained the Compasses’ spit-and-sawdust atmosphere but injected the gaff with a generous helping of heart and silliness, forging a real sense of community in the process. The regulars kept coming – the gang installed a plaque dedicated to the late Doris, who visited every day – and the pub’s anarchic spirit make it one of the area's very best.
Time Out tip
When the owners play Talking Heads’ ‘This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)’, which features line, “Home is where I want to be”, that’s a not-so-subtle signal it’s kicking-out time.
Order this
The Compass claims to serve “the best Guinness in Dalston”. Challenge accepted.
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