Latest reviews from City
| 60 /100 Crosse Keys (JDW) (Bar) 9 GRACECHURCH STREET “Large place very busy on a Friday evening. Came for the eat & pint combo. Decent Irish red ale, food very average“ |
| 56 /100 Sir John Hawkshaw (JDW) (Bar) CANNON STREET STATION “Located directly next to the train platforms. It’s quite a small Spoons, compact. Only three guest real ales available, plus three of the usual rubbish. The three guest ales were quite decent on my visit, though. Priced at about £4.50 per pint as of January 2024. Prompt and friendly service although it wasn’t too busy during my lunchtime visit.
Obviously not a destination pub but worth stopping in if you’re using the station.“ |
| 66 /100 Sir John Hawkshaw (JDW) (Bar) CANNON STREET STATION “Visited a couple of times most recently during the Spring Spoons beer fest March 2023 - found actually inside Cannon Street station I wish this place has been around when I used to work above Cannon Street Station a long time ago. Quite a nicely presented spoons, not that big understandably but makes the most of the room. Service was friendly and swift on last visit, picked up a couple of fest ticks, and I am sure many commuters waiting for their train from Cannon Street make use of this which I would of if it had been around back then. Not bad overall for a spoons.“ |
| 62 /100 ST. MICHAEL’S ALLEY “Beautiful old pub in the city. Staff was unfriendly. Lineup was ok. Very packed with city workers just getting out of work. Atmosphere is the best part, so come when it's not crowded.“ |
| 72 /100 Counting House (Bar) 50 CORNHILL “Another old haunt from years back working in the square mile, last visit March 2023. Still one of the most aesthetically pleasing of any London pub on the eye so was nice to revisit this Fullers establishment once more. Centrally located bar serving Fullers across cask and keg and some craft from the likes of (Mondo/Tiny Rebel) a fairly decent selection overall and service friendly on visiting on a early afternoon. Overall again not a must visit destination from a beer perspective, but worth popping in just to see one of London's best pubs on the eye.“ |
| 74 /100 9 CRUTCHED FRIARS “Bavarian bar / restaurant located close to the Tower of London. I called in very quickly for a couple of takeouts, came across a little more modern than the traditional olde German bars, though the female bar staff were wearing lederhosen. Beer range was Munich-focussed, one apfelwein though didn't have time to try it. Some alcohol free options. Good range of styles rather than just lager. I'd call in again.“ |
| 70 /100 Counting House (Bar) 50 CORNHILL “Acogedor PUB de fullers.“ |
| 80 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Been here quite a few times now, and last visit was in August 2022. Very large place with lots of seating both inside and out, was not too busy on our weekday visit as before office kicking out time (but have seen it very busy on weekday evenings before) Great tap selection including their own locally brewed lines, plus your usual Brewdog (both UK and DE on our last visit) and guest taps, all served on 4 x 1/3rd flights if requested. Fridges with many decent cans/bottles, food also offered (was decent last time I ate there years back) Overall well worth a visit, recommended.“ |
| 74 /100 Seething Lane Tap (Bar) 14-15 SEETHING LANE “This Brewdog place is just a stones throw away from the excellent Brewdog Outpost Tower Hill. Its kind of tucked away and was quiet in the late August 2022 weekday afternoon when we visited. Usual Brewdog style beer board, friendly staff behind the more conventional/old fashioned pub bar and offer the same 4 1/3rd flights. Nice interior with lots of comfy booth style seating, did get busy though later in afternoon as "the suits" from surrounding offices descended. Bonus points for being a upto date UT verified venue, and also worth a visit to tick of this place if already visiting the Outpost.“ |
| 84 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “This was one of my better BrewDog visits around London. The place is massive, spanning an entire city block, with tons of both inside and outside seating. 25+ taps, with a nice seasonal and guest selection, plus a few taps brewed in the small onsite system, which is cool. They also have a solid bottle selection, with some interesting heavy beers that I haven’t seen many other places. Very friendly service as always. One of the best BrewDogs in London — worth seeking out.“ |
| 56 /100 Liberty Bounds (JDW) (Bar) 15 TRINITY SQUARE “Busy Spoons near Tower Bridge. 10 cask lines, tried one, it was vinegar. All this from a GBG 2022 pub too. Poor!“ |
| 76 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Went on a Friday afternoon, busy but not packed, full range of Beers available. Food was reasonably priced.
On the downside looks like they had an issue with the ladies toilet, so they made the gent's unisex.
Not a bad experience of my first Brew Dog pub.“ |
| 74 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Very much more impressive space than other BD places I've visited, it's cavernous with a chic-industrial theme going on. Loads of beers on offer, with both BD and guest brewery stuff available. Staff were engaging and friendly, and I was pleased to see 2 full length shuffleboard 'courts' in operation“ |
| 76 /100 Seething Lane Tap (Bar) 14-15 SEETHING LANE “This is a comfortable place. It's a BrewDog pub in all but name and they eschew the faux-dystopian industrial feel for a more relaxed atmosphere. However it's obviously a link in the BrewDog chain from the beer choice to the Wings Wednesday promotional posters. And yes, the beer is BrewDog centric with beers from 'friends' such as Orbit, BBNo, Anspach & Hobday and so forth. It seems churlish to complain about such a comfortable set-up, however I wouldn't kind a few more cutting edge breweries or styles alongside sessionable London. Still one of the better pubs in the area.“ |
| 84 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Say what you will about BrewDog, but after a handful of pubs with very limited selection, it was hard not to weep at the 32 taps available here. Of course it lacks the charm of the olde-worlde City pubs, and once you've seen one BrewDog you've seen them all, but the beer list and prices were well-presented, and service was quick and friendly. It isn't cheap but the beer is worth it. I was very tempted to opt for an Outpost beer when I saw the Yonder aged sour. Here is metal more attractive. I could stay here all day.“ |
| 62 /100 Walrus & Carpenter (Bar) 45 MONUMENT ST. “Fairly dull if comely Nicholson's pub in the City. There is surprisingly little seating in the pub, but there are ample seats outside. The beer list is typical Nicholson's these days, even pared down a bit from the average, with a few cask ales, some easily obtainable keg (Camden, Purity) and a couple of Beavertown in cans. The cask ale is cheap for the area and in good condition, but this is a pub that you can avoid if you're looking for new beers.“ |
| 66 /100 Lamb Tavern (Young's) (Bar) 10-12 LEADENHALL MARKET “Another one of those pubs near the City where the atmosphere trumps the beer choice. All the businesses in Leadenhall Market seem to have the same type of frontage, which gives it character but makes it harder to find what you are looking for. The Lamb has no downstairs seating inside, which is a bonus as the outside seating gives me a window to the market and the passers-by. A bit dull on the beer front, as alluded to before. Three cask (two Young's plus St Austell Proper Job) and a whole slew of macro and easily available keg. I opted for a Beavertown lager that was a new tick for me, the only tick available. A quirky and atmospheric boozer whose location is its main selling point, and fair enough.“ |
| 66 /100 Ship (Nicholson's) (Bar) 11 TALBOT COURT “Although it isn't the most beer-centric, this is the best experience in full I've had in a Nicholson's pub in a while. Its a lively little pub tucked away in a courtyard, and despite its lack of pretence (or maybe because of it) it has a lovely atmosphere. While the courtyard table seemed the most pleasant I opted for the well-worn interior, where a friendly greeting - and a tick, although it's Brains Rev James Pale - awaited me. This is atmospheric enough for us daytrippers, but make no mistake that this is a Londoners' pub.“ |
| 72 /100 Hydrant (Fuller’s) (Bar) EQUITABLE HOUSE, 1 MONUMENT ST, “The Hydrant is right across from the Monument to the Great Fire (Hydrant, geddit?). If you're sitting outside you can even read the inscription from your table. Nice ambience. Inside, it's a bit more gaudy, US diner-y, and staid. It's a Fullers pub, but aside from the cask offerings (London Pride and Olivers Island) you wouldn't know it. They could do with a decent beer list as the keg beers are dotted all over. I spotted one from Warpigs which was good but - and here's the thing- very expensive. This place is dear, even for the City. It is almost double the price of the Pelt Trader, OK I'm drinking Warpigs - they just had a mini-tap takeover - but £6.50 is crazy for a half of APA even if it's imported from the moon. Worth it? For a half maybe but I'd need to win the lottery to undertake a session here! Even so, I certainly was tempted to try a can or two though, from the likes of Modern Times and Belching Beaver.“ |
| 72 /100 Pelt Trader (Bar) DOWGATE HILL (OPPOSITE SKINNERS HALL) “Decent little one-room craft beer bar. In spitting distance of Southwark Bridge but you wouldn't know it in here. It's pleasantly dark and atmospheric with the acoustics amplifying the conversation over low piped music. The beer selection isn't all craft - you can count König Pilsner and Guinness among the multiple taps - but they do carry the best of sessionable London: Hackney, Howling Hops, Kernel, Hammerton. I picked up a couple of ticks here and could've picked up a few more. Pizzas served. Pros: Cheap for the area, friendly. Cons: Can't read the beer board, and the barman and I couldn't hear each other properly even though it was far from heaving. And the craft choice doesn't seem to extend that far past hoppy pales. A nice experience but I may not be all that tempted to make it a destination.“ |
| 64 /100 29 WATLING STREET “Ye Olde Watling is one of two Nicholson's pubs within a minute or so walk. Ye Ole Watling, on a main thoroughfare, is more popular, maybe a bit smaller, and not quite as comfortable as Williamson's Tavern. Also (and I know this shouldn't put me off) but they seem to be decorating for... something. I hope not Christmas in mid-September but I think it is. The front room where the bar is feel very tiny with four tables, but there's a larger area in the back. Loos down steep stairs. The beer choice is far, far better than any Nicholson's pub I've visited in 2021, although there are still no ticks for me. Eight handpulls (all core nationals such as Wainwright and Rev James), Camden Town, Purity and Tiny Rebel Cali on keg, with a couple of Beavertown, Schofferhofer Grapefruit and St Stephanus in bottle/cans. I can work with that. With a more exciting beer choice this place would be a cracker.“ |
| 62 /100 Williamson’s Tavern (Bar) 1 GROVELAND COURT “Decent Nicholson's pub down a little courtyard near St Mary-le-Bow. The front room is smaller than it looks like it would be, with an impressive bar in the centre. To the right there's another, larger area with a separate bar. The olde-worlde feel is a little bit spoiled by fruit machines and piped music but I can live with that. Now, I have complained in the past about the post-pandemic reduction in the beer choice in Nicholson's pubs. This place seems like it's about as good as it gets in the chain at the moment, with Purity Mad Goose, Doom Bar and Ghost Ship on cask, with Camden Town Pale and Hells on keg alongside Purity Session IPA. The only bottles/cans of note were Neck Oil and Gamma Ray. This choice would've been amazing in the shire in 2013, but central London 2021 has a bit more to offer. Still, my Ghost Ship is in good nick and you're here for the atmos not the beer anyway. Can be missed, but maybe should be visited at least once.“ |
| 66 /100 26/27 GREAT TOWER STREET “Visited August 2018.“ |
| 62 /100 Cheshire Cheese (Bar) 48 CRUTCHED FRIARS, “Visited August 2018.“ |
| 58 /100 Crutched Friar (Bar) 39-41 CRUTCHED FRIARS “Visited August 2018.“ |
| 62 /100 Liberty Bounds (JDW) (Bar) 15 TRINITY SQUARE “Visited December 2015.“ |
| 58 /100 Sir John Hawkshaw (JDW) (Bar) CANNON STREET STATION “Visit December 2011.“ |
| 78 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Visited August 2018.“ |
| 72 /100 Crutched Friar (Bar) 39-41 CRUTCHED FRIARS “Nice old building inside and out. About six handpumps and lots on keg albeit only about 4 or 5 would qualify as "craft". But I ain't complaining as I scored the new Friendship Adventure brewery here! Being in the city it is not cheap!!“ |
| 60 /100 Liberty Bounds (JDW) (Bar) 15 TRINITY SQUARE “Big yet full spoons set on 2 floors. Nice interior and standard selection of beers.“ |
| 68 /100 Pelt Trader (Bar) DOWGATE HILL (OPPOSITE SKINNERS HALL) “Large bar near London Bridge, in London, UK. The space is used inefficiently here, in my view. Lots of empty space in the middle, with very few tables available. Service is, as usual, quick and impersonal. A bartender struggled to tell me exactly which Timmermans kriek they had on cask. 20 beers between tap and cask, nice variety and selection. Overall, a valid location for beer, but could be improved significantly.“ |
| 64 /100 Hydrant (Fuller’s) (Bar) EQUITABLE HOUSE, 1 MONUMENT ST, “Visited 25/11/2019. Nicely presented place, bright, tables neatly laid out, long bar area giving the impression it had more beers available than it actually had, with most pumps/taps being duplicated. Got busy at 5pm, but had been quite quiet in the run-up. Upstairs appears to be a function area judging by the big group that went up there. Service was a bit patchy. First stop after crossing London Bridge and worth a look. London prices. 20% off take-outs though Un****d list was well out of date so they didn't have what I asked for.“ |
| 30 /100 Oyster Shed (Youngs) (Bar) 1 ANGEL LANE “This is quite an up market eatery on the north bank of the Thames in the city area, great views towards Southwark Cathedral and the Shard. There is rather a stark choice of beers, little of interest really. Way too expensive for the beers that are available. Not a place I would bother with in the future.“ |
| 80 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Large BrewDog bar in London. Good selection of both BrewDog and Guest beers on tap. I think there were 32 taps. They had an alcohol free beer on tap which is to be commended (Punk AF). Also has a bottle shop and a merchandise shop.“ |
| 52 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Came here last year and yet my rating is missing. So here I am again and although my first experience was great, this one not so much. Ordered a flight, two locally brewed and two normal Brewdog beers. Not wowed at all. Food arrived and we darn near finished it all before drinks...is this the right way to serve people? I ordered the Cluck Norris which was horrific choice, the chicken looked like last nights leftovers pounded into patty chunks. The location is nice and spacious. Lots of beers on for the tickers and to go beers as well. Service sucked.“ |
| 90 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Wielki, monstrualny multitap w centrum z lasem kranów. Robi wrazenie, choc ceny tez robia...“ |
| 72 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “A typical Brewdog bar in mayn respects. Possibly the biggest one I've visited though. Large selection of beers though for some reason they have beers on tap which are not mentioned on the taplist.“ |
| 62 /100 67 FENCHURCH STREET “Red brick corner pub with a couple of entrances. There's not a lot of room in here, everything is pretty close to the 'L' shaped bar against the inner wall so you'll end up bumping into people at peak hours. It's a pleasantly traditional affair with Shepherd Neame's ales the main reason to come here, with their current seasonal special available on my visit.“ |
| 58 /100 Crutched Friar (Bar) 39-41 CRUTCHED FRIARS “Cavernous venue on the south side of Fenchurch Street Station. The interesting brick and tile work is enough to give this place some character, otherwise it wouldn't be that dissimilar to the bland Cheshire Cheese pub a short walk away under the rail bridge. The row of cask ales are mildly more interesting here, but not that interesting - the last Fullers seasonal brew floated my boat, but that was it.“ |
| 52 /100 Cheshire Cheese (Bar) 48 CRUTCHED FRIARS, “Directly underneath the arches of the track out of Fenchurch Street Station, it occupies several units and is traditional in style, but quite a functional drinking place too. It does have a half a dozen wickets at the bar, but all the cask options are often seen ones and nothing too exciting. The same can be said of its craft keg choices.“ |
| 62 /100 26/27 GREAT TOWER STREET “Opposite BrewDog at Tower Hill, this offers up a more traditional experience than its nearest competitor, in a square front facing room with its bar agains the back wall. Despite a fine ambiance and appearance it only stocks the most regular of the Fullers brands.“ |
| 76 /100 UNIT 3, THE MINSTER BUILDING, GREAT TOWER STREET “Busy slightly below ground level venue that's never deep, but is extremely long in design in the modern building it occupies. There's a more extensive selection here of both the Brewdog range and guests than in the venues I usually visit, which is definitely a plus point. At one end of the room there's shuffleboards. Food seems to be popular here and there's lots of diner type tables available to sit at.“ |
| 50 /100 Bodean’s Tower Hill (Restaurant) 16 BYWARD STREET “Almost opposite the Tower of London, it's a small American styled bar serving food, marketing itself as a smoke house, so not that appealing to a Vegetarian like myself. The beers are not worth going in for with Samuel Adams taking prominence in a very bland limited selection of keg lines.“ |
| 54 /100 Tank and Paddle Minster (Bar) MINSTER COURT, 3 MINCING LANE “One of several drinking and food places in a covered courtyard off the middle of Mincing Lane. It's a very modern venue and expansive inside. They seem to concentrate on Pizza as their main food offering, there's about 10 keg ales/ciders here, but practically all are often seen ones - nothing new for me here. A Tiny Rebel regular was the most out of town and most classified as a 'guest' ale, but most local beer seekers will have tried it previously.“ |
| 44 /100 Wine Lodge (Bar) 143 FENCHURCH STREET “Pretty much a spit and sawdust venue for the City's suits, it's mostly macro beer sold in here, with very little wine taking prominence or being drunk when I was in there. There's 3 hand pumps, with two often seen local brews and a guest, which was a micro new brew for me so the experience wasn't completely redundant. Has one keg craft brew which was Greene King Yardbird when I was in.“ |
| 74 /100 Counting House (Bar) 50 CORNHILL “With a double horseshoe central bar area, decorated with different style safe's to represent the venues historic banking links, this is a fine Fullers venue with seats dotted all around the aforementioned, and a first floor veranda which also offers fine views into the superbly appointed traditional public house below. There' are a couple of other rooms to the rear. The selection is mostly Fullers, cask and keg, with a greater choice of both than most of its other places in the City, with a guest ale also available on my visit.“ |
