Basecamp Taproom, Bermondsey, SE16

Depending on which end you start, this may well be considered the first stop on the famed Bermondsey Beer Mile. For us though it was the last stop, and I thought that worked quite well as it is much more of a large pub as opposed to a brewery or warehouse that just happens to sell beer, and I thought it made a good end to our session. Unlike most of the others which are housed in tunnels under the railway arches, this is located on a deserted (on our Saturday evening visit anyway) industrial estate and looks quite anonymous from the outside. Once you get through the door though it was a real contrast, opening out in to a large split level pub that was buzzing. Although the décor was still rather industrial at heart with some sort of concrete screed on the floor and a corrugated iron roof, it at least had a bit of character to it rather than being quite soulless as many of the brewery tap outlets on the mile can be. The bar counter was a central island in the middle of the pub, clad in more corrugated iron, whilst light fixtures and foliage were strung from the roof. A mezzanine level floor ran around much of the perimeter of the pub and most of this had exposed brick work walls, although some of the white brickwork elsewhere looked rather fake. A large bank of ‘fridges just inside the door held cans of beer to purchase and there was further merchandise for sale such as hats, t-shirts and glasses. A few barrels on stillage were at the back of the pub, although I assume that these were decorative rather than functional. Beer choice was displayed on video screens dotted around the pub, and on this occasion consisted of Hemisphere, Easy Peeler, Juicebox, Shape Shifter IPA, Last Train, Flatiron Red, Imperial Beartooth, Into The Woods, Lost At Sea, Typhoon Hazy IPA and Nightcap, with Little Creatures Pale Ale as the sole guest offering. Overall, I quite liked this place with it’s buzzy atmosphere and thought it well worth checking out, despite the somewhat desolate location.