Craft Beer Co, Hammersmith, W6

A recent addition to the CBC portfolio, inside (almost) the Broadway Shopping Centre and rather convenient for the Apollo (indeed, on our way back from there we saw here and popped in). It all fells quite new and shiny inside, with a vibe akin to an ice cream parlour (maybe it was the pink table legs that did it?). Of most interest are the mirrored honeycomb effect ceiling, the embossed tilework and the geometric patterning of the floor tiles, all quite unique and enjoyable. The chipboard bar front spoilt things a bit, why make it look cheap and shit when the rest of the places has been done so well? Similar to PSM below, there was a synthpop soundtrack playing on my visit. Six ales at the bar plus a load of keg (20?) – there are menus on the tables telling you much each individual craft beer is (and you’d be wise to check, with some clocking-in at over £10 a pint); the cask is priced by %abv banding. I tried a Strong Bitter from a brewery I neglected to note (a bit long in the tooth, NBSS 2.5) and Wild Beer Pogo (3.5), the latter of which ended-up as a pint rather than a half due to the hyperactive barman not actually listening. Mrs Quinno also tried a couple of the craft ones and pronounced herself quite satisfied. Overall, it’s a decent stop.

This latest venture from the reliable Craft Beer Co chain has a slightly odd location inside the Broadway Shopping Centre, which means it is easily passed when heading to or from Hammersmith tube station. Things didn’t bode well when I arrived post-work and found just two bar staff on with a queue snaking from the bar to the back of the pub – not people spread-out along the bar, but a long, winding queue. I nearly gave up and went elsewhere but decided to persevere and eventually made it to the bar where I found a modest cask range of Thornbridge Ashcroft, Kirkstall Claire & Phil’s, Fyne Ales Jim & Stevie’s and the house Pale Ale from Kent Brewery. Two long keg fonts supplemented this selection with countless craft keg options, but I stuck with the cask, giving the Kirkstall a try, which turned out to be a very drinkable pint, although I would’ve probably drunk anything after a wait at the bar like that. The pub has a nice contemporary feel to it and doesn’t immediately strike you as an obvious shop conversion (aside from its location in a shopping centre!), thanks to some creative styling. The room has nice diamond patterned tiles, unusual wall tiles with circular concave mid-sections and some hexagonal-shaped mirrors on the upper part of the walls which create an attractive honeycomb visual effect. The L-shaped servery has a basic bar counter with the aforementioned wall tiles on the bar back surrounding a large, retro-style Craft Beer Co pub mirror. Seating is a mix of padded chairs, button backed banquettes and high tables and stools with a good deal of open space in the centre of the room which is ideal for busier times or for forming a long queue in. A few high tables and chairs had been set out in the courtyard to the rear of the pub and there was an interesting synth-pop soundtrack playing, which seemed to suit the young, transient customer base. I quite liked this place and thought it was an improvement on some of the chain’s other recent openings. The pub is relatively small but has a location with lots of footfall, so having just two bar staff on during the post-work rush hour, prior to a big show at the neighbouring Apollo, was a mistake and would need addressing to ensure repeat custom, but overall there were more positives than negatives and I’m sure I’ll be back again sometime soon.