Ole Kyiv, Old Street, EC1

Visited 23/10/25. Visited previously as Alchemist on 25/04/22. No cask. Simple keg offering of three from Shepherd Neame, the Iron Wharf stout, the Orchard View apple cider and the First Drop session IPA then Litovel, Cruz and Moretti. This is a Ukrainian bar / restaurant near Old St tube station. Inside it is bare boarded with the bar counter along the right-hand wall in the front part of the venue, which is the bar area. There is a video wall opposite the bar counter. Tall stools along the bar counter, which has a bronze-coloured metal surface, and with the nice lit bar back it is a pleasant bar area. There are some tall and regular tables around the entrance area and a communal tall bench with leather stools at the back of the bar area. A frosted glass partition in the middle of the venue shields off the rear restaurant area that has a tan leather banquette along the left-hand glass fronted side serving regular tables the same served by regular chairs facing the window and next to a line of booth tables. Overall nice lighting and pleasant what I assumed to be soft rock Ukrainian music. All good so far apart from the bland beer range but obviously meeting its regular clients' needs and tastes. However, I was shocked to be asked to pay £4.49 for a half of the Litovel, served in a pint glass with a rather large froth head (see photo of actual drink dispensed) and to be told that a pint of the same was double that (£8.98). Had to remind myself I was on City Rd rather than a bar in a flash Mayfair hotel! The other draught beers were priced similarly I was told. Not one I would ever contemplate a return visit to on grounds of pricing - a total rip-off. Rated accordingly.

Formerly a branch of The Alchemist chain, and a bit tricky to spot as it's located a short distance up Provost Street despite the City Road address. Smart modern furniture and decoration in the front bar and rear dining areas behind the central screens with obscured glazing. No draught beer at the moment, but several bottled beers from Ukraine including the Opillya (or Opillia) Koryfei lager (£6.50) and a larger number of Ukrainian wines too.

Official site of Ole Kyiv - olekyiv.uk

Official site of Ole Kyiv - olekyiv.uk