Craft 101, East Cowes

paulof horsham left this review about Craft 101

In Craft 101, I found standard craft bar fare with a couple of hand pumps to supplement the 10 keg taps. Those taps are mostly devoted to the modern pale ales we've come to expect, with the 2 pumps chalked for Vibrant Forest and Electric Bear, but sadly now sold out for the week (casks are tapped on a Tuesday and when they're gone, they're gone - the venue is closed on Sunday evenings and all day Monday). Keg prices at £5.60 - £8 a pint are fairly reasonable by 2025 standards.

The shop window frontage on a west-facing street lets in plenty of light and, on this warm afternoon, certainly amplifies the strong sun, with the fan unable to really help matters - I'm not sure I'd want to be in here for too long come high summer. In addition, the narrow bare boards that pass for seating with low tables at a full arm stretch are seemingly designed to minimise your stay, and my backside insisted I take the hint and move on after a couple.

There's only 2 pubs in the centre of East Cowes these days, so your mini pub crawl may as well call in. Cask enthusiasts should probably ensure they hit the venue before the weekend.

On 18^th May 2025 - rating: 6
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