Macintosh Ale House, Stoke Newington, N16

This (micro?) opened in July 2023 as a tap for Macintosh’s beers. It’s situated to the rear of a little down-at-heel cobbled backstreet lot, looking like a set piece from Steptoe & Son, otherwise described as Hackney Chic. The frontage is painted a lovely shade of green with projecting sign (see photos), the operation comprising two separate rooms, the one to the rear with dartboard and not visited. I chose the main front bar area which is very small: a rough boarded floor, peripheral settles, Britannia tables and normal stools; brown paint to dado height then white up to a low white ceiling. Décor takes the form of just a little breweriana (Friary Meux) and limited adverts for fayre such as bar snacks, which include pork pies. Customers were mixed local bohemian types at the time of my Friday 9.40pm visit, all contributing to a good atmosphere, in what felt like going back in time 100 years to a traditional Edwardian beer house, the only nod to modernity being the discrete ceiling mounted speakers from which an unobtrusive soundtrack wafted. The drinks’ selection is the most limited I’ve ever seen, with just a bottle of Gordon’s mother’s ruin on optics above a sink, then two Macintosh pumps dispensing Pale (£2.75 a half) and Best, £2.40 a half, both in great form, served by a very friendly barman who is apparently none other than Charles Macintosh. This is unquestionably a bonus for the N16 drinking scene, which has plenty of pubs to make up a quality mini-crawl.

Official site of Macintosh Ale House - macintoshales.com

Official site of Macintosh Ale House - macintoshales.com