Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Sir Christopher Hatton, EC1
EC1
EC1N 7RA
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Nicholson's house on multi layers in the base of a modern building with more external tables under the overhang on the building than there are in the main bar.This is a few steps below street level ,lots of high tables and a long bar along the rear wall,and a calmer section up a few steps with a mix of furniture.There is a downstairs cellar bar but completely unused on my Friday afterwork visit.
The muzak was exceptionally noisy ,the low ceilings elevated the din,as did the flagstone floor around the bar,it just felt hectic and not inviting.The handpumps were offering two real ciders and real ales in Nicholsons St Austell Pale,Sharps Solar Wave and Signature Brew Roadie ,steep at £3.15 the half ,NBSS 2.5.Corporate menus were dotted about but no one was eating.
Not enough the justify a revisit,could be better if someone cared.
On 26th November 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
A Nicholsons pub, semi - sunken below street level, the interior is of little note much like Nicholsons beer policy nowadays, gone are the days of finding something remotely interesting aside from St Austell Proper Job which in itself is now rather commonplace. An unremarkable pub I shall likely bypass next time.
On 28th April 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
An atypical Nicholson's pub, which is down a few steps with a polished stone floor giving a cellar feel. Decor includes glazed tile walls and copper light fittings, while the doubled sets of handpumps and keg fonts on the bar are prominent features. A large patio area has been created from the pedestrianised street outside, under big awnings. Sadly just Doom Bar and Tribute available om pump, with 3 or 4 others 'coming soon', but the Tribute was at least drinkable.
On 28th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Nicholson’s pub housed in a soulless modern office block the split level interior has a bit more character than you might expect.
On 9th October 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
The name is taken from a former chancellor and rumoured lover of Elizabeth I and local land owner whose name is taken for Hatton Garden, home to diamond geezers both legitimate and otherwise, the local 88-90 Hatton Garden being the site of a recent infamous jewel heist. Indeed, this venue occupies part of a building site occupied by department store Gamages until 1972, now home to a building which until recently housed De Beers' diamond repository in its basement.
I haven't been in here since it was the Goose around 14 years ago, so can't really remember it.
It's essentially a lower ground floor fake 'old' pub with a rough stone floor with bar to the rear. Lavatories are downstairs along with the cellar bar where my group was to convene. As such it's quite typical of a place that has a faux 'historic' pitch so you probably know what to expect except that it's better than average without flashing TV screens or loud music.
Quite comfortable inside with around 5-6 ales; I couldn't see them all as a couple of bar hogs spoiled the view. I opted for a pint of the Adnam's Fat Sprat which was fine and competitively priced.
In all this isn't a bad place and is better than one would expect but unless you're desperate, there's better to be found eastward in Smithfield rendering a return visit otiose.
On 24th May 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Being a Nicholson's pub there was a decent range of ales on - Nicholson's Pale Ale (St Austell), 6X, Doom Bar, Leeds Gathering Storm, Ramsgate Brewery Great British Beer (with Al Murray on the pump clip!) (£1.90 a half), and By The Horns Joe's Tea Co. Apparently Joe's Tea Co (rather unsurprisingly) contains tea and bergamot oil. The barman kindly gave me a taster, and the taste of tea was a bit over the top. Not my cup of tea I might say. I didn't see a menu at the ledge where I sat, but there were plenty of people eating at the normal tables and chairs on a raised area at the front by the windows. Being a Nicholson's pub I wouldn't expect the menu to hold any surprises.
Apart from on the aforementioned raised area, seating in the main bar area was all tall tables, backless tall stools and at ledges. There are a fair number of seats out at the front, which is not a bad place to sit as the pub is set back from the main road down a pedestrian thoroughfare. The main bar area has a flagstone floor, and as it is set well back from the small windows at the front I found it quite a gloomy place. The beer quality and choice was good, but as a pub it didn't really rock my boat. It felt a bit like being in a subterranean dive.
On 15th June 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Just a minute or two from Chancery Lane tube station, this is a large, smart Nicholson's pub set slightly below street level which, as the previous reviewer points out, can make it feel like a subterranean bar. The main bar is a wide room with the servery, split in two by a large brick pillar, on the rear wall. The quarry stone floor bar area has a number of rustic looking pillars surrounded by drinking ledges, allowing for a good amount of vertical drinking space. The bar itself has a dark wood counter and a number of mirrors on the bar back, including one etched glass 'Nicholson's' mirror. High padded bench and stool seating can be found over to the left hand side, where a couple of sofas are also available and a large TV screen was turned off in favour of quiet background music. To the front there is a raised section with dark floorboards covered by a huge rug and standard tables and chairs that seem ideal for those wanting to eat. The room is decorated with old pictures, adverts and other framed bits and bobs, but it's all rather understated and feels a bit bland. Stairs over to the right lead down to a cellar bar and dining room which is typical of other dining rooms in Nicholson's London pubs and had a bar on the end wall, notably with hand pumps. My visit was quite late on a weekday evening, so there were only a few other customers in and the bar staff seemed more concerned with getting everyone out rather than having to serve a new customer.
The ale selection was the usual Nicholson's mix of popular standards and slightly more obscure regional brews. The full range on this visit was Sharps Doom Bar, Marstons Pedigree, Purity Ubu, Orkney Dark Island, St Austell Proper Job, Truman's Runner and My Generation Session Pale. The Dark Island is one of my 'go-to' beers normally, but on this occasion I was let down by a very poor quality pint which I was happy to write off and put right in the nearby Craft Beer Co.
I found this place lacking in any real character, admittedly not helped by the fact it was almost empty, and would suggest this is one of the city's weaker Nicholson's venues. There are lots of good pubs around the Chancery Lane area which means this place might work as part of a crawl but is unlikely to get a look in if I have to be more selective.
On 18th April 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Feels very much like a cellar bar, despite being down just a few steps under a modern office block. Having said that, the main bar and side seating areas are well lit so the place actually isn't that gloomy. More tables at the front, under an arcade and out on the pavement. Seven real ales from a total of 12 handpumps: Nicholson's Pale Ale, Doom Bar, Truman's Runner, Harvest Pale, Pure UBU, Daleside Old Leg Over and Harviestoun Broken Dial (£3.75).
On 22nd March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Nothing really exciting on the beer choice on this visit, so I went for an old staple, London Pride. The staff were pleasant enough, and the service was good.
On 6th January 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Sir Christopher Hatton
Agree with Steve not one of the best Nicolsons.Always the beer I want is coming soon.Handy if in the area but not for me.
On 16th September 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]