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Detail Pages
Craft Beer Co, EC1
EC1
EC1N 7TR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Craft Beer Co
Grade II-listed and rebuilt in the mid-19th century, as the Coach & Horses, this dates from 1785 and until CBeebies turfed up, it had been known as the Clock House – there’s a clock to the corner splay – by at least 1974, when it appeared in the GBG and first visited by me in March 2016.
With a CAMRA heritage citation of *, the green banded occluded windows are a clear indication that this was once a Charrington’s house and a nicely retained touch; the etched glass partitions are a modern addition, courtesy of Taylor’s Classics of Stafford. It’s the ceiling that’s the star here, with the ribs and ventilation grills dating from the 19th century, likewise the attractive mirrored bar back; the ceiling’s mirrored panels with Roman numerals are a late 20th century addition; also of note is the pretty fireplace, topped with the to-die-for Charrington’s mirror. Given the small interior, furniture is tall stuff to the periphery, décor is thin and customers are mixed with quite a few for my Tuesday visit at 9.34pm, all in good spirits.
The pump selection here seems somewhat pneumatic, with more coming online later in the week, six on the go, with a good selection of strengths and styles as expected, my first choice of Macintosh Best (£2.85 a half) was in good nick, likewise the Mill Hill Mallow Monsta (£2.85), both served by attentive bar staff.
This is a decent place and although it doesn’t have the 10-pump selection of sister pub Cask (visited the day before), it does offer a far more authentic pub experience – probably because it’s a pub – and also the beer here was in drinkable condition.
On 16th May 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2005 recommendations about 1971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Craft Beer Co
The last time I visited here was in 2014. Back then, they had 12 real ales spread over the 16 handpulls and also a couple of real ciders. These days they have dispensed with real cider and only have 2 real ales.
Covid has certainly affected City pubs badly and the once successful Craft chain seems to be struggling a little, with at least 2 of their branches having closed. This one survives, albeit with only one other customer present on a weekday afternoon other than ourselves.
The reduction in real ales may also be due to the increasing popularity of craft beers, of which they still have a good selection, presumably as they are easier to keep.
Kent Craft Pale Ale & Siren Broken Dream were the 2 ales. The barman was friendly and knowledgeable and we had the choice of sitting anywhere! Downstairs has a fantastic mirrored ceiling, whilst there is further seating upstairs.
Still a decent place for a drink, but it desperately needs thing to get back to normal.
On 29th June 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2501 recommendations about 2500 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Craft Beer Co
Still retains its Charrington's heritage and you can't beat a mirrored ceiling. Extensive real ale and keg selection.
On 20th October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2896 recommendations about 2833 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about Craft Beer Co
Returned again for a late pint on a saturday night in september 2016. Dead as a doornail! Just 8 people in the pub, who all had beards, including the bar man. Just had the one pint, which wasn't great. The toilets smelled very bad and were percolating into the bar. Hope this is not a sign of bad things coming???
29/03/2012
Returned on a sunny Friday evening. The place was rammed to capacity with the after work crew, spilling out onto the pavement, much to the dismay of the door man who was vainly trying to keep people from spreading to the road. Three good ales were quaffed, one from Dancing Duck a favourite of mine. I'm sure that we will be back, empty or full this pub is a true gem. Original score 8
On 13th October 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Craft Beer Co
Rather basic room, a long bar supplements the 16 Handpulls of real ale & cider, with high benches & tables. A fully mirrored ceiling. A bit tatty, but the beer is good.
On 2nd July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Craft Beer Co
A well reviewed pub so no extra description needed from me.
On our Thursday lunchtime visit the welcome was warm and the staff very knowledgable on all the beers available and more than willing to offer tasters.
It was a fine day so many were ordering their drinks and standing outside which left the pub feeling calm but still atmospheric.
A wide array of interesting kegs were available and I noted a couple from both Oakham and Thornbridge but the real draw here must be the selection of interesting beers on cask.
My visit found the following available: Kent Pale Craft, Cobnut, Altered States and Prohibition, Tiny Rebel Cereal Killer, Northern Monk Peated Soul, Anarchy Smoke Bomb and Anti-Venom and Wild Beer Millionaire, Madness IPA, Wild Goose Chase and Fresh. It does seem that they focus on one or two breweries at a time but with such a broad selection of strengths and styles I had no complaints. The strengths ranged from the Cereal Killer at 3% to the outstanding Peated Soul at 8.4%. Everything I tried was in very good shape and excellent.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and could very easily have spent the rest of the day here.
On 14th April 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Craft Beer Co.
Amazing to see so many different types of beers along the bar. The majority of the hand pumps were from the Tempest brewery, Kelso, in the Scottish Borders. So we tried two from Tempest the first was Cascadian, a refreshing blonde beer and Ball Park a decent pale ale. Also we went for the Siren Beer Co Oatmeal Pale Ale. If you like beer, then this place will be right up your street.
On 9th January 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Craft Beer Co.
My first clearly overdue visit on Tuesday afternoon, I don't see much point in re-describing the pub as others have covered that in detail apart from to say the mirrored ceiling was an unusual pub feature that I don't recall seeing elsewhere (not in a pub anyway!)Thankfully not as busy as it seems to get sometimes so we timed it well and got a perch on a window shelf, 14 of the 16 were on, mainly carrying beers from Kent Brewery, Magic Rock, Mallinson's and Dark Star. The two cider clips at the bar end were turned around. My pint of Kent's "Beyond the Pale" was superb, very hoppy and dry. All four of us enjoyed our respective choices. The beers are priced by ABV starting from a reasonable £3.40 rising to £4.60 for the heavyweights over 5.9%. I didn't check out the keg prices, I suspect these may eclipse those of the cask range.
There was a bit of background music playing this time but certainly not obtrusive.
A definite destination pub, and can be made into a part of a good crawl of iconic London pubs as we did on the day. A good 8 rating, some traditional style seating might have clinched a 9.
On 28th March 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Craft Beer Co.
Always busy at night but easy to get served.Great selection of beers on my last visit inc 3 from tynebank and 3 from Beer Geek.Stylish pub and they have kept a lot of the origonal features inc the mirrored ceiling.The cask beer is reasonably priced but the keg prices are mega.
On 1st February 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Craft Beer Co.
It was busy in here during my visit on Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas. The bar is located in a rectangular room with a mirrored ceiling, chandelier and huge Charringtons mirror on the far wall. I think that advertising the tables and chairs upstairs as a lounge area is a little wishful, but the added seating did come in useful. There are no televisions and there was no background music playing.
The major draw of this pub is the sixteen hand pumps and numerous craft draught products that are available from the bar. I found the staff to be very polite and I was promptly served even though the bar was crowded. The only food that I saw was scotch eggs which cost £3.50 each and medium sized pork pies that looked very tempting, but I resisted as they were priced at £5 for half.
This pub brings a bit of life to an area that is usually deserted during the weekend and I’ll certainly seek it out again next time I’m in the vicinity.
On 4th January 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5288 recommendations about 5256 pubs]