Craft Beer Co, EC1

My first clearly overdue visit on Tuesday afternoon, I don't see much point in re-describing the pub as others have covered that in detail apart from to say the mirrored ceiling was an unusual pub feature that I don't recall seeing elsewhere (not in a pub anyway!)Thankfully not as busy as it seems to get sometimes so we timed it well and got a perch on a window shelf, 14 of the 16 were on, mainly carrying beers from Kent Brewery, Magic Rock, Mallinson's and Dark Star. The two cider clips at the bar end were turned around. My pint of Kent's "Beyond the Pale" was superb, very hoppy and dry. All four of us enjoyed our respective choices. The beers are priced by ABV starting from a reasonable £3.40 rising to £4.60 for the heavyweights over 5.9%. I didn't check out the keg prices, I suspect these may eclipse those of the cask range. There was a bit of background music playing this time but certainly not obtrusive. A definite destination pub, and can be made into a part of a good crawl of iconic London pubs as we did on the day. A good 8 rating, some traditional style seating might have clinched a 9.

Always busy at night but easy to get served.Great selection of beers on my last visit inc 3 from tynebank and 3 from Beer Geek.Stylish pub and they have kept a lot of the origonal features inc the mirrored ceiling.The cask beer is reasonably priced but the keg prices are mega.

It was busy in here during my visit on Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas. The bar is located in a rectangular room with a mirrored ceiling, chandelier and huge Charringtons mirror on the far wall. I think that advertising the tables and chairs upstairs as a lounge area is a little wishful, but the added seating did come in useful. There are no televisions and there was no background music playing. The major draw of this pub is the sixteen hand pumps and numerous craft draught products that are available from the bar. I found the staff to be very polite and I was promptly served even though the bar was crowded. The only food that I saw was scotch eggs which cost £3.50 each and medium sized pork pies that looked very tempting, but I resisted as they were priced at £5 for half. This pub brings a bit of life to an area that is usually deserted during the weekend and I’ll certainly seek it out again next time I’m in the vicinity.

I visited CBC on a Saturday afternoon July 2012 and was so impressed I had to return for a few more hours the following afternoon. Being the weekend the local area is very quiet and the CBC itself was pleasantly quiet, perhaps 20-30 customers around during the afternoon. Bar staff were very friendly and knew their beers. The range of craft beers on tap is of course superb and the staff were happy to provide suggestions and discuss tastes. There is no better place to spend a weekend afternoon and definitely hope to return. My only complaint with CBC is that they did not open a pub around the corner from where I live in Melbourne, Australia.

I paid my long overdue first visit here during the week – in fact we visited twice, once at lunchtime when it was nearly empty and again during the evening when it was absolutely heaving. The pub itself is as described previously, with notable features being the mirrored ceiling with giant clock face which is obviously a hangover from when this was the Clock House; the well-preserved Charrington’s mirror above the fireplace; and the green banded leaded windows, branding it as an ex Charrington’s pub of course. Oh, and I suppose the presence of 16 handpumps featuring ales from little known breweries, plus another 20 or so keg fonts, could also be described as notable features. Although this is usually something that tends to pass me by, my companion was very impressed with the cleanliness and facilities in the toilets. Ales below 4.0% are still £3.40, rising up the scale as the ABV increases. But you always get a pint as they use lined glasses, so need to ask for top ups here. Even though it was very busy during the evening, the bar was well manned and all four staff were working their socks off to keep the beer flowing. Encouragingly, I didn’t see anybody drinking anything but beer in here, so I wouldn’t recommend this place if you are into cocktails or quality wines. This is a massive and welcome addition to London’s real ale scene. I will definitely be back.

Well, what can I add? Certainly one of London's top beer destinations and worth seeking out for the imports on keg just as much as the 16 ales: they might be expensive, but it's well worth treating yourself to something from Mikkeller or one of the American micros from time to time. Unlike aleand hearty below, we did visit at a busy time and I can confirm that Craft does indeed get pretty crowded on a Friday evening. The crowd spills out onto the street but one is discouraged from stepping off the pavement with one's pint. Mind you, this is going to be the case with any decent Central London boozer on a summer's evening. Been a few times and expect to visit many times more.

An exciting, new wave craft beer emporium, tucked away just off the Clerkenwell Road. Rather smaller than I was expecting and decked out in the slightly sparse modern style, but still impressive for all that. Basically, beer is king here and even the most jaded palate should be able to find something suitable from the 16 hand pumps, 21 keg fonts and scores of bottles on offer. I was more than happy to stay with the ales and found my Thornbridge ‘Kipling’ and Crouch Vale ‘Yakima Gold’ in good nick, but heart flutteringly expensive, at £3.80, for someone used to paying around a pound less, per pint, in the north. The young bar staff were friendly and slick and there was a good atmosphere, from a surprisingly varied clientele, when I called mid-afternoon on a Friday. However, I wouldn’t like to visit at peak times, as I can see it getting ridiculously crowded. Despite that small reservation, I’d recommend the CBC to any true beer fan and will almost certainly call again if in the area.