Zeppelin Shelter, London E1

About us

Sitting in a somewhat neglected area just south of Aldgate, this was until 2007 the abysmal and somewhat notorious Bar Bed. Now however a new bar has taken its place under the name Zeppelin Shelter. Sure enough inside you'll find plenty of war related nostalgia. From the George V tea tray on the piano to the various military hats on the wall and the reproduction newspapers in the loos, it's a subtle nod to a theme (unlike the sledgehammer of a name). Whatever happened to the interior as Bar Bed removed most traces of what original features may have been here, but there's still enough remnants to create a proper pub feeling. Service was friendly, the solitary ale (Wandle) was well kept (the beers were off on the other two hand pumps) and the tunes healthily eclectic. The upstairs bar has darts, pool (£1) and an Elvis pintable, plus access to a small terrace. All-in-all, name notwithstanding, The Zeppelin Shelter is big improvement on the Bar Bed and a handy place for pub games.