When John Coyle, Ivy Neo and Gary Hier first teamed up to create What the Dickens!, the massively popular English pub in Ebisu, neither they -- the publicans -- nor us -- their patrons -- could have guessed what would come from such humble beginnings.

The three remain partners, though Gary has occasionally hit out on his own to involve himself in other projects. The most successful of his breakaway efforts has undoubtedly been the Barge Inn in Narita, fueled by a captive clientele of in-flight crew and passengers laying over at Tokyo's official yet inconveniently located international airport.

The three recently regrouped forces to hit upon yet another neglected segment: the workers in central Tokyo. Ironically, these inner-city salaried employees have had far fewer entertainment options than their counterparts elsewhere in the city. The denizens of downtown's towering monoliths, which spread row upon row throughout the central business district, have previously been forced to head elsewhere to seek entertainment after work. But with the opening of Town Cryer right in the heart of Otemachi, they now have the option of unwinding closer to where they work.