The Kernel Brewery, Bermondsey, SE16

A genuine victim of its own success, the Kernel Brewery was the first to open in these railway arches in Bermondsey, setting a trend that many others have since followed. However, they have since easily outgrown their two arch unit and, with drinking outside not permitted in this conservation area, have had to close the bar down (as of 5th September 2015) as they were unable to cater for the high level of demand they had generated. This was amply illustrated on my visit a month or so prior to their planned closure. Having arrived from the relatively quiet Partizan and Fourpure breweries, I was amazed to find a queue for the bar that took me the best part of 20 minutes to navigate. The place is set up in two arches, with the brewery and bar in the left half and the seating area and queue in the right hand side. A doorway towards the rear connects the two and gives access to the serving area. The seating space was rammed full on my visit, prompting a doorman to start holding people outside shortly after I arrived, effectively allowing one-in, one-out. The corrugated iron-clad arch isn't much of a looker and was swelteringly hot on a warm summer's day, as well as deafeningly loud. The seating comprises simple canteen style benches and tables and there was little of visual distraction within the room. The brewery side is far nicer, but sadly you are not permitted to take your drink through. As well as the bar and brew plant, there is also a nice shop selling plenty of bottled beer and a few food bits. A large map of London hangs in this room and seemed popular with the remarkable number of foreign tourists within. I also spotted a mezzanine level on this side, towards the rear, with standard tables and chairs, but it was unclear how you gained access to this area. Eight Kernel beers were available on keg, all detailed on a board next to the doorway for the bar, giving you plenty of time to make your selection whilst stood in the queue. Prices here were much more reasonable than in most, if not all, of the other bars on the Beer Mile, with two thirds of a pint of Table Beer costing me just £2.00. The beer was okay, although a bit thin and without the depth of flavour I associate with Kernel brews (it was only 3.0% though). Blackboards within the bar explained the reasons for closing and ended on a note of optimism, suggesting that a new bar may appear at a time and place as yet undetermined. It would be a shame if this place couldn't showcase its beer somewhere in the capital, but this format had clearly run its course and I can't say it was that enjoyable an experience.

Official site of The Kernel Brewery - www.thekernelbrewery.com

Official site of The Kernel Brewery - www.thekernelbrewery.com