Beer + Burger, North Greenwich, SE10

Part of a small chain of craft beer bars that also happen to flip burgers for your gastronomic pleasure, this is presumably their flagship venue, located within The O2. Rent must be pretty high, as they seem to have run out of budget to smarten the place up, presenting instead a pretty basic rectangular room with concrete floor, plain walls and exposed utilities across the ceiling. Eight long, high tables have been formed into two rows down each side of the room, served by high stools, and these offer the only seating available within the unit, although a couple of high round tables have been placed in the centre of the room for people to stand around. A big neon bar sign on the right-hand wall is flanked by a couple of back-lit boards that detail the burger options as well as show times for the O2 Arena. Meanwhile, over on the left side of the room, the wall has the bar’s name stencilled across it in floor to ceiling lettering. The servery is to the rear and has a simple counter and a bar back dominated by a very large back-lit board which has the full draught range listed across it in scruffy marker pen handwriting. The taps are all along the bar back, beneath the beer board and there is a neon sign above that reads “Serving the best beer on the planet” – quite a claim! Canteen-style benches and tables for overspill seating can be found on the concourse outside, under a nice colourful mural and there was music from the acts playing in the arena that evening playing in the bar throughout my stay. I counted a total of twenty keg lines which were made up of seventeen craft beers, two ciders and one which was out of action. I tried the Goodness Brewing Yes! Session IPA and made the mistake of initially asking for a pint, which the barmaid very helpfully pointed out would set me back over £7.00, so I went with her suggestion of a two-thirds measure, for which I was fleeced a mere £4.70. Having said that, beer prices within the O2 Arena are around the £7.00 a pint mark and for beer considerably less interesting than you’ll find in here, so it might not be the worst option out there. I didn’t really think all that much of this place, although it does at least represent an improvement in beer selection terms, compared to any other bars within the complex, but is still horribly over-priced for a captive market. I’ll probably end up back here someday but drinking on the peninsula still remains a depressing experience.

Modern craft beer bar in the O2 food zone. As described below, rows of tall tables and stools with a wall display of 20 keg taps at the back, all glowing in the bright colours and lights under the exposed pipe- and ductwork. Some rather annoying music completed the scene. A fair old range of beers and ciders though, most of which you have probably never heard of, but prices are punishing.

An addition to the otherwise dismal O2 drinking experience, this one is more beer than burger, although the regimented tall tables and light, semi-industrial decor certainly won't appeal to everybody. There is also no real ale, and the prices are unexpectedly expensive, but the diverse range of 18 craft beers and a couple of ciders can't be faulted, and my pint of Bohem Amos pilsner (£6.20) was certainly the best pint I've had in and around this venue.