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The Old Blue Last

live music venues•
London
London

The Old Blue Last

38 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3ES, United Kingdom

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Christoff

Christoff's Take

Insider review

Tucked away on Great Eastern Street, The Old Blue Last embodies everything brilliant and chaotic about Shoreditch nightlife. This refurbished pub cleverly splits its personality between intimate upstairs jazz performances and raucous downstairs sports viewing, creating a venue that's both Instagram-worthy and authentically local.

The Old Blue Last: Where Shoreditch's Jazz Soul Meets Weekend Mayhem

A tale of two venues in one refurbished Great Eastern Street pub

My Honest Review

Atmosphere & Ambiance

The Old Blue Last operates as two distinct experiences under one roof, and the atmosphere shifts dramatically depending on where you find yourself. The upstairs live music venue maintains an intimate setting that's perfect for daily performances ranging from jazz to folk, creating a sophisticated backdrop that scores a respectable 4.5 out of 10 on the refinement scale. Meanwhile, the downstairs area buzzes with big screen sports coverage and weekend party energy that pushes the venue's overall energy level to an impressive 8.5 out of 10. The space has clearly embraced its role in the Shoreditch scene, attracting a Gen Z-focused crowd that keeps the trendy factor high at 8.0 out of 10. However, this popularity comes at a cost - the venue scores only 6.0 out of 10 for conversation-friendly atmosphere, particularly during those notoriously crowded Friday dance nights when moving around becomes a genuine challenge.

Food & Drink

While The Old Blue Last doesn't provide specific menu details, the focus here is clearly on the drinks experience rather than culinary offerings. The real draw is the happy hour deals running from 1-5 PM on weekdays, which align perfectly with the venue's budget-friendly price level of 1 out of 4. As a refurbished pub, you can expect standard pub fare, but the emphasis is decidedly on creating an affordable drinking environment that supports the live music programming. The lack of detailed menu information suggests food isn't the main attraction - this is a place where the liquid refreshments fuel the music and dancing rather than fine dining taking center stage.

Service & Experience

The service experience at The Old Blue Last appears designed around managing high energy crowds and facilitating the live music programming. With extended hours running until 3 AM on weekends and daily live performances to coordinate, the staff clearly have their work cut out for them. The venue's popularity as both a local favorite and Instagram-worthy destination means they're experienced in handling diverse crowds, from jazz enthusiasts during weekday performances to weekend party-goers. However, specific details about service quality aren't available, though the venue's ability to maintain its acclaimed status while hosting daily events suggests a competent operation behind the scenes.

Value for Money

At a price level of 1 out of 4, The Old Blue Last delivers exceptional value, particularly when you factor in the daily live music programming and extended operating hours. The weekday happy hour from 1-5 PM offers genuine savings, while the nightly entertainment provides far more value than most Shoreditch venues at this price point. The combination of live jazz and folk performances upstairs with sports coverage downstairs means you're essentially getting multiple venue experiences for the price of one budget-friendly pub. However, the trade-off for this affordability becomes apparent on busy nights when the space fills beyond comfort levels, potentially impacting the overall experience quality despite the excellent price point.

Insider Tips

Best Time to Visit

Timing is everything at The Old Blue Last. Hit the weekday happy hour from 1-5 PM for the best drink deals, then stick around for the upstairs jazz nights for an optimal experience. Avoid Friday nights unless you enjoy being packed like sardines - the dance nights get extremely crowded. Weekend visits work best if you arrive early or very late, taking advantage of those 3 AM closing times.

What to Focus On

Focus on maximizing the happy hour deals during weekday afternoons. While specific drink recommendations aren't available, the emphasis should be on taking advantage of those 1-5 PM weekday specials before transitioning to the evening's live music programming.

Christoff's Insider Tips

The perfect combo is weekday happy hour from 1-5 PM followed by upstairs jazz nights - maximum vibe for minimum spendThe venue stays open until 3 AM on weekends, making it ideal for late-night continuation after other Shoreditch spots closeUpstairs and downstairs offer completely different experiences - scout both areas to find your preferred vibe for the evening

The Final Verdict

The Old Blue Last succeeds by refusing to be just one thing. It's simultaneously a jazz venue and sports pub, a local hangout and Instagram destination, an intimate music space and weekend party spot. This flexibility, scoring 7.5 out of 10, makes it genuinely useful for different moods and occasions. The daily live music programming sets it apart from standard Shoreditch pubs, while the budget-friendly pricing keeps it accessible. Yes, it gets uncomfortably crowded on popular nights, and the conversation-friendly factor suffers during peak times, but the combination of affordability, live music, and late hours creates a uniquely valuable Shoreditch experience.

Christoff's Rating:
7.2/10

Perfect For:

Jazz and folk music enthusiasts seeking intimate daily performancesBudget-conscious Shoreditch explorers wanting maximum valueLate-night party seekers who need a 3 AM closing time

Quick Details

1

The Old Blue Last

🎨 Shoreditch scene
🍻 Happy hour deals
⭐️ Jazz nights
🌙 Late night
⭐️ Intimate venue

This refurbished Shoreditch gem perfectly balances accessibility with quality programming. The venue's two-level setup creates distinct experiences: downstairs serves as a traditional pub with big screen sports, while upstairs transforms into an intimate concert space hosting daily performances from jazz to folk. The weekday happy hour from 1-5pm makes this one of London's most affordable music destinations, especially impressive given the Shoreditch location. Weekend nights extend until 3am with dance-focused programming, but it's the daily live music that makes this venue special. The intimate upstairs setting ensures every performance feels personal, whether you're discovering new artists or catching established acts in a stripped-down environment.

What's Great

✓ Daily live jazz and folk performances

✓ Cheap happy hour drinks from 1-5pm weekdays

Keep in Mind

× Gets extremely crowded on Friday dance nights making movement difficult

Christoff

Christoff's Tip:

Hit weekday happy hour from 1-5pm then catch the upstairs jazz nights for maximum value

Vibe check scores

Trendiness
Sophistication
Noise Level
Uniqueness

Venue details

🕐"Mon: 1pm-12am\nTue-Wed: 12:30pm-12am, Thu: 12:30pm-1am\nFri-Sat: 12:30pm-3am, Sun: 12:30pm-12:30am"
📍38 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3ES, United Kingdom
💷££
🌐Website

Featured In My Guides

The Old Blue Last has been featured in 1 of my curated guides. Here's where you can find more context and discover similar spots.

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