Under the Hammer, Aberdeen

This intimate basement bar is situated underneath an auction house hence the slightly awkward but rather ingenious name. It is quite easy to walk past the sunken entrance, especially as the Globe next door is the focal point as you approach. The low ceiling interior has a tiled floor, exposed stone walls and a mass of discreetly hidden air conditioning pipes. Being underground the natural light doesn’t penetrate too far so the emphasis switches to candle power, mostly stuck into the top of wax encruststed bottles. A small snug fits nicely into one corner below the pavement. Local artwork (for sale) adorns the walls and low piped music creates a relaxing and quite intimate ambience. There is a solitary small basic TV in one corner. Despite having all the trappings of wine bar, it does have more of a pub approach with pews and solid furnishings preferred to loungy sofas and ankle high tables. They are a regular Good Beer Guide entry with up to 4 ales available (Caledonian Deuchars, Bombardier, Inveralmond Ossian and 1 unused on my visit). I didn’t note any food details and I would also mention that it has more limited opening times than the average pub (it was closed when we came here a couple of days earlier) so worth checking if you are making a specific visit. It isn’t the most obvious choice as part of Aberdeens pub circuit but it is certainly worthy of taking the time out to pop in.

This is a very interesting basement level pub. Very busy on a Friday night. Also very warm and humid. However, this was the best 'pub' of the night with a very comfortable atmosphere. It is small, open plan and has undressed stone. The usual beer with three real ale pulls, Inveralmond Ossian (delicious) Greene King Abbott (untried) and a third ale which I did not note. This is well worth the visit - a very nice pub.

Nice friendly pub with good staff. Can get very busy and noisy at weekends but in general, a nice place to go.