The Hop Inn, Hornchurch

The Hop Inn is just a couple of minutes stroll from Emerson Park Station and its half-hourly service. This busy place is very much at the premium end of the micro pub market, with the four ales averaging around £6 and the keg obviously a bit more than that. The drinks menu lists any number of wines, gins and more. Similar to the micropub just down the line, table service and payment seems to be the rule here, as they run a tab for you to sort out on departure. In my view this is the better, though pricier, of the Liberty Line's two micros.

This fairly new micropub near Emerson Park station and a short bus ride from Hornchurch tube won CAMRA's Greater London Pub of the Year competition for 2021. It also won their London Cider pub of the Year award too. It is really easy to see why and I think that it is also my favourite pub in the capital, albeit not exactly local to me. There were 4 other customers present when I arrived at Sunday lunchtime. The barman was extremely friendly, enthusiastic and witty. He was happy to talk about the beers and ciders, whilst engaging in friendly banter with the locals. A barmaid also appeared shortly after and was also friendly. Then the owners appeared. They were also friendly and stopped to chat. You get the idea. The interior is bright and airy with windows at the front giving good light. The bar is at the rear right-hand corner, with casks on stillage, fridges with bottles and cans and bag in the box ciders, all temperature controlled. Blackboards list the selection of each. Adjoining premises host a bottle shop. I set about trying the 3 ciders I hadn't previously tried and ended up with a bonus one, as somehow I managed to cause confusion with my first order! Prices aren't cheap, but are fairly normal for London standards. Whilst there, numerous people came and went, all seemingly sharing a desire for sampling different beers and ciders in a very welcoming environment. 4 cask ales were on during my visit - Gun Chummy Bluster, Redemption Trinity, Settle Epic IPA & Colchester Old King Coel. There were 10 real ciders - Beardspoon KC Tribute, Nightingale Tenterden, Big Nose & Beardy Boar's Back, Turner's Apple Pie, Bushel & Peck Rich & Mellow, Hogan's Harvest Press, Heck's Dunkerton Late SV, Temple Medium Dry, Perry's Grey Heron & Orchard Revival Pioneer Perry. Craft beers were Omnipollo Anamnesis, Vault City Apple Bramble Cinnamon Sour & Brugse Zot Halve Maan, with Ross-on-Wye Birdbarker another cider choice on tap. The ale and cider ranges are constantly changing. Judging by locals' comments, they turn over quickly. Not the easiest place for me to get to from West London. But I'm already contemplating when I might be able to fit in a return visit. Well recommended and a rare 10/10 from me.

Official site of The Hop Inn - hopinnhornchurch.co.uk

Official site of The Hop Inn - hopinnhornchurch.co.uk

Official site of The Hop Inn - www.facebook.com