The Bree Louise, NW1

Randomness Guide to London - Bree Louise entry

As stated below it is the excellent selection of beers on offer here that make this pub an essential one to visit. There were a couple on from the new Tottenham brewery, Redemption, the other night. The pub itself is not especially traditional or comfortable, being rather brightly lit and with a seemingly random mix of chairs and tables as if acquired from a second hand shop. The food smells (pies a speciality) also tend to give the feel of a caff. It is however nothing like many station pubs.... Euston is close by.... as the clientele are virtually all beer enthusiasts so you don't tend to see the down at heel types you might elsewhere. The 50p off a pint for CAMRA card carrying members is a bonus too.

The site of many a 'quick post-train pint' that has turned into an extended drinking session, the Bree Louise is one of London's best ale houses in terms of the range and turnover provided. A recent visit saw eight hand pumps serving up both Sambrook's and Redemption offerings among others, whilst a further ten or so ales were being dispensed by gravity. The beers are generally well kept as you would expect and the staff are efficient and well versed in dealing with large volumes of customers. The interior is fairly bland, as has been mentioned below, but this is a minor gripe and is certainly compensated for by the beer and atmosphere. There are plenty of benches outside for those who prefer a different kind of view. CAMRA members and students are able to take advantage of discounts, which the bar staff are careful to advise you of prior to handing over your cash. However, as I fall into neither category, I found myself paying £3.40 for a pint, which seems a little too steep and is perhaps the main drawback for me. Certainly worth seeking out and the rotation policy makes repeat visits all but compulsory. Enthusiasts can check out upcoming beers on their well run website.

The Bree Louise is a bit tucked away down a back street near Euston Station although it is probably easier to find now that the copious foliage that once obscured the building has seen the sharp end of the shears. Once you have negotiated the office groups that tend to clog up the doorway and the outide benches, you will find a rather mundane and unremarkable smallish interior, quite open with plain décor, furnishings and with very little obvious appeal. A few old black and white photos adorn the walls and there are a couple of TVs but nothing to justify its popularity until you spot the bar. If the 8 hand pumps don’t tempt you then the (up to a) dozen racked casks hopefully will. If neither are your thing then you really are in the wrong place for this is very much an ale tickers paradise with an ever changing range of guest beers mixed in with London Micros as well as a healthy cider selection (everything is listed on a board on the wall). There are times that the staff do leave you a bit perplexed (you don’t expect tio have to reqest top-ups in such a well established ale dominated pub) but service is generally pretty good and there is the 50p discount for CAMRA members to take the edge of what would otherwise be a hefty price tag. The customer base is usually from the sensible end of the market although bagging a seat is often a problem. If you can manage to find a quiet table and some good company, it is a place that you can easily spend the night. If not it would feel a bit cramped and uncomfortable, especially when busy, but either way it is a must visit for Ale fans in London.

Four real ales on handpump and another four dispensed by gravity when I was there the other day. The Royal Albert and Fox’s Nob that I had were both superb. Not cheap at £3 a pint, but good value at £2.50 a pint for CAMRA members. No CAMRA discount on the food though, but I suppose that is fair enough. The food was pretty average – as I recall the ploughmans I had cost about £7 and was OK without being anything special. As others have intimated to me, the pub is fairly plain with no real “character” - but in my view is definitely worth seeking out for the ales alone.

A short walk round the corner from the Doric arch, and we were at our final pub, the Bree Loiuse. We liked this one and it had a cheery atmosphere that enveloped us as soon as we got in. Lots of beers on gravity and we found 3 new to us, but could only manage 2 by now, so enjoyed Marstons Sweet Chariot only tried in bottles before, and Two Bridges O’Stout. Only paid £2.80 for them as they give a good discount for CAMRA members. Very busy as the evening was getting on, and the tables on the pavement outside popular under a canopy despite the rain, giving a continental feel.

I had a couple of pints of £2.50 Doombar in here on Friday from the gravity bar , very nice. There was more ale than I care to mention alongside plenty of standard and regular lagers. I'm not sure why this ale dominated pub has four Stella pumps though! The ale appreciation crew were in abundance, but I still managed to find a nice seat without being bored to death. This place has nice staff and a relaxed atmosphere so If you are an ale fan and in this area, without a doubt, this is the pub you should visit.