Daly's Beer Hall, Temple, WC2

This basement bar has operated under a number of guises in recent years, including as an Australian theme bar called The Southerner and a German bierkeller called Bierpalast. Thankfully, a recent change of ownership has seen it alight on a far more promising raison-d’être – a brewpub and home to the Essex Street Brewery. The bar is accessed by a staircase which leads you down from street level, past a number of old beer engines and a selection of beer vessels, into a bare boarded room with exposed concrete walls and pillars throughout. To the rear is a similarly bleak concrete servery with a wooden counter and bar back fittings. The décor is a bit quirky and includes hop lined ceilings, a number of metal-mesh containers full of glasses, tankards etc… and some art pieces that detail the brewing process. Standard and low stool seating fills the majority of the room, although comfier padded benches and banquette booths can be found around the perimeter. A series of lettered doors run along the left hand wall, which was most confusing when trying to find the toilets, which I eventually discovered were to the rear left, past a bicycle that hangs from one wall. A large TV screen was showing cricket in the front left corner with quiet indie music playing in the background and I also spotted a dartboard. The walls of the gents’ toilets had been papered with what might be described as ‘beer porn’ – a series of pages from various books detailing the finest beers in the world. The bar offers a decent selection of beery delights, as you might hope, with the handpulls dispensing the in-house brews. On this visit, these comprised Essex Street The Gavel, Calcutta Club, Grumpy Scot, Smoke House and Temple Best Bitter. Sambrooks Pumphouse Pale was the solitary guest and Old Rosie cider was also available. Sixteen keg beers were available from taps on the bar back, including mainstream brews such as Amstel and more obscure offerings from microbreweries such as Redchurch. I tried a pint of the Calcutta Club, which I thought was a tasty Indian Pale Ale and in good condition. Temple strikes me as an unusual location for a brewpub, but they were still doing a brisk trade late into my Friday evening visit. I thought the place was a bit rough around the edges but I enjoyed my pint and welcome the chance to visit somewhere a bit different in this part of the city.

Rustic basement ale house - previously the German-style Bierschenke and the Australian-themed Southerner - with brew-kit visible as you descend the stairs beside the linked Davy's Wine Bar above. Six real ales on handpump, including four of their own Essex Street beers - Tempale, The Gavel, Calcutta Club IPA and Dark Knight brown porter (£3.75) - plus Endless pale ale from Redwillow as a guest and Old Rosie cider. Also has 16 craft keg taps.

Shabby chic distressed effect basement bar.Lots of signs and bare plaster.Nice shiney brewery as well.Seems tiny compared to the previous bar that was here.Their own brewed beers have been very good.3 own beers on and the Antipodean was lovely.Not impressed with the décor but good beer is what its all about.