BrewDog Chancery Lane, Chancery Lane, EC4

This is another addition to Brewdog’s Central London pub estate, occupying a large, yet somehow also rather cramped space and set out in a modern twist on their usual style, reminiscent of a smaller version of their huge bar at Tower Hill. The interior is set across a split-level space with limited partitioning, dark grey and black tiled wall, bare floorboards with brick flooring around the bar, and the usual messy, undressed industrial-style ceiling. Seating is amply provided throughout the room, with benches and chairs in large numbers and a few high tables without stools directly opposite the bar, for people to stand around. Low level lighting helps create a decent ambiance in the evening, to the point that I actually though the bar was closed on approach due to the lack of light coming through the windows! The servery runs along the back wall, complete with a nice black tiled counter front and the usual cinema-style beer board with keg taps beneath, dominating the bar back. Moving past the left side of the bar, a rear room emerges, offering what appeared to be a calmer spot away from the massed post-work crowd that were packing out the noisy main bar area. Beer fridges stood next to the bar offering bottles and cans for take-out and there was a Brewdog merch stand here too. Loud music played on my mid-week visit, but this was easily drowned out by the general hubbub of a full house. The beer board listed sixteen Brewdog beers on draught along with six pretty expensive guest brews. In fact, there was nothing under £6.00 a pint on the entire board and many beers were priced around this mark for a half or even a third. I fancied checking out the Punk IPA, which I haven’t had for a while, and had to fork out £6.90 for the privilege although it was a pretty decent pint thankfully. As always with this chain, the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and seemed to cope admirably with the fatal combination of a packed bar and slow pouring taps. I thought this was a decent enough branch of Brewdog that perhaps felt a little more comfortable and conducive to a longer session than some of their more utilitarian outlets. The main issue for me here, as with most of their London bars, was the pricing, which is way too high for fairly run-of-the-mill craft beers – why am I paying the best part of £7 for a Punk IPA here, when I can get the same beer in a ‘Spoons for a fraction of the price?

Official site of BrewDog Chancery Lane - www.brewdog.com

Official site of BrewDog Chancery Lane - www.brewdog.com

A large and fairly typical Brewdog, perhaps a little more restrained than some with an emphasis on table service rather than crowding round the bar. It is broken up into various separate areas but parts can be a bit dark (mind the step on entry!) and of course under the usual horrible industrial ducting. Normal wall of 2 dozen or so keg taps, admittedly with some interesting brews but eye-watering prices and nothing under £6.35. Handpumps now removed.

Facebook page of BrewDog Chancery Lane - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of BrewDog Chancery Lane - www.facebook.com

Large, modern, 'L'-shaped, split-level bar / restaurant with various seating / dining areas. With lots of tables reserved late on a Friday afternoon, space was at a premium but doubtless this is a fairly transient phenomenon as people drift home. Good variety from the numerous keg taps (including the Budvar Tankové Pivo) but there are also four handpumps which were dispensing Kirkstall Three Swords and Porterhouse Plain Porter (£3.25) when I visited, with Watney's Pale Ale and Citra Milkshake IPA from Tiny Rebel on next.