Holborn Whippet, Holborn, WC1

The Holborn Whippet is a new venture brought to us by some of the people involved with the Euston Tap, although it’s not clear if it is part of that particular chain or not – even the bar staff seemed unsure when I asked. This place has more of a pub feel to it than the likes of the Euston Tap, although there are still similarities between the two. The entrance takes you into the main bar with a smaller room to the right where the ale taps can be found. This room has wooden flooring and part panelled walls with the top half painted white. Large windows look out to the pedestrianised street outside which a few drinkers had spilled out onto. The main room is partitioned in two with some tiling in evidence although most of the walls are decorated with sketches of folk either down the pub or out walking their whippets. Seating comes in the form of a lot of high stools and drinking ledges and the odd banquette. The servery is fairly compact and has blackboards listing the ale choices above the bar back and mirrors bearing the pub’s name and logo above. An undressed staircase led down through a storage area full of beer barrels and kitchen equipment to the toilets, suggesting that the place opened prior to actually being ready. A sample food menu was being promoted, so perhaps the kitchen, which will eventually provide food in the ‘pizza and charcoal grill’ style, is not yet ready for action. As mentioned below, the blackboards listing the available beers are a little confusing, perhaps because it’s not possible to list everything that’s on offer on the same board. All cask ales are listed in the room to the right and on my visit the offerings were Bristol Beer Factory Seven and Sunrise (£3.40), Dark Star Sussex Extra Stout, Gadds No 3, Adnams Ghost Ship and Thornbridge Brother Rabbit. The Sunrise was another enjoyable pint from BBF and had been kept in good condition. There’s an extensive, unusual keg range similar to those found in the ‘Tap’ pubs and with prices to match. I can only agree with the previous reviewers that this is still clearly a work in progress and that the true picture will be revealed over time. I enjoyed my pint here and would most certainly give it another look the next time I’m in the area, by which time I hope things will be fully up to speed.

A bit of a rough diamond at the moment it looked like a rush job to get opened. Quite a plain interior with dark wooden flooring a wooden horseshoe shaped bar and a mixture of tiling and wood on the lower levels of the walls. A large selection of keg + cask beers, ciders and lagers dispensed from taps set in the wall. Once the opening snagging has been sorted this diamond should polish up nicely. If visiting this pub double it up with the nearby Princess Louise a sam smith's pub with a stunning old style interior.

Official site of the Holborn Whippet - www.holbornwhippet.com

Official site of the Holborn Whippet - www.holbornwhippet.com