Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Clubs That Are Now Pubs with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Hops, Crewe
Crewe
CW1 2DF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Hops
Looks like a converted house – not too obvious on approach. A Belgian style café bar, as the name suggests; perhaps not what you’d expect to find in this rough and ready town. Interior wasn’t overly memorable, perhaps much less of a homage/pastiche than I was expecting. GBG listed with a fair selection of cask here (six in all) but I was drawn to the Belgian draft and bottled stuff, with an 8.8% Xmas beer on keg (Gordon Xmas by Brewery John Martin & Brewery Timmermans) which was lovely and reasonably priced. Nice quiet place on early Sunday afternoon with friendly punters, I liked it here and would absolutely make the effort to get off the train and spend a bit longer next time.
On 19th March 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5533 recommendations about 5514 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Hops
Upping my rating following a recent re-visit. This time there were a few more customers in so there was a bit more atmosphere. Service was friendly. The two cask ales I sampled were on top form.
On 21st August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 814 recommendations about 648 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Hops
Visited on a recent Thursday evening after 7pm, and Hops was pretty quiet with just another couple of customers present. This is a Belgian style bar but also does cask ales, which was the reason for my visit. Six hand pulls and five of those were on at the time of my visit, including Tom's Tap & Brewhouse Coffee Stout, which I went for. A local brewery being represented is always good to see.
Doesn't seem to have gone overboard on the Belgian theme - there are plenty of historic photos on the walls, framed CAMRA 'Pub of the Year' awards and some Belgian beer signage. There is an upstairs area that I didn't investigate.
Would probably be more enjoyable with more customers in, to generate a bit more atmosphere - but service was friendly and it's not a bad place at all and well worth checking out.
On 9th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 814 recommendations about 648 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Hops
Hops is a Belgian style café-bar that looked extremely inviting as I approached on a recent sunny Saturday afternoon. Most of the café tables out the front were being used and there were a couple of beardy types ready newspapers in the bar area. The serving counter is found to the left of the entrance and seating takes up the rest of the ground floor. This isn’t the biggest place so I imagine it gets a bit cosy when the weather isn’t so clement. There was some low background music playing, which I think was just a radio behind the bar for the benefit of the friendly barmen rather than the customers. There are some stairs that I didn’t venture up.
The bar supports six hand pumps and five of these were in operation during my visit. These were drawing Salopian Shropshire Gold, Thornbridge Lord Marples and Redwillow Weightless alongside Ship of Fools and Abyss from Neptune. There is also a craft keg selection. This place is well worth a look.
On 27th April 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5885 recommendations about 5851 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Hops
Although branding itself as a Belgian-style café bar, this is also a fine (and award-winning) real ale and cider pub. The exterior gives the appearance of a converted detached house, although the inside has been opened-out and given a comprehensively modern makeover. Yes, there is a good selection of draught and bottled Belgian beers, but my eye was inevitably drawn to the choice from the six handpumps. These included a couple from Cwrw Ial, one each from Mallinson's, Rat and the local Tom's Tap, but I went for the Brewsmith Bitter (which was much lighter than expected, but in fine form).
On 2nd December 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8588 recommendations about 8588 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Hops
An unpromisingly unpublike building from the outside, but once inside this is clearly the best pub in Crewe, as attested by numerous awards and continuing presence in the Good Beer Guide. The lad running the bar had clearly not expected so many Luton Town fans to come looking for good real ale, as he appeared to be on his own. I was quite early and when I had the last drop from a barrel of Trawlerboys Best Bitter (a little cloudy but still in good nick), he had time to start pulling the next beer through before too many thirsty Hatters arrived. When I called back on the way to the ground it was full, but I managed to get served with an excellent half - no make that a pint please - of Titanic Captain Smith. (Other beers can be seen in my photos.) This pub is a good 15 minutes walk from the station, but it would be worthwhile getting off your train, walking up here for a beer or two and then back for the next train an hour later. Believe me, it's the only reason for getting off a train in Crewe.
Date of visit: 25th November 2017
On 7th December 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4215 recommendations about 3883 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Hops
Excellent pub. Mr Ray has the description below.
On 15th May 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Hops
Another good pub and well worth a visit, plus it's only a few minutes walk around the corner from the Borough. I didn't know what to expect on approach to this pub, I thought it was going to be an over priced trendy joint, full of the in crowd. It turned out to be quite the opposite, with like minded beer drinkers and the prices were reasonable too. The bar was on the left of the entrance with five ales on and a choice of four ciders and an extensive menu of Belgium and continental beers. There was plenty of seating downstairs, plus a lounge area upstairs and adequate seating out front.
There was a good collection of pump clips up the stair case, with some beer pics around the walls. Beers tried were Howard Town Glotts Hop, Three Tuns XXX, and finishing on a cider named Gwatkin No Bull.
On 22nd April 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3596 recommendations about 3596 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Hops
Belgium cafe bar in the cntre of Crewe, partially hidden behind the main streets and about 20 minute walk from the station.
Chunky light wood kitchen tables and chairs, the walls are decorated with beery items and there are various magazines and books to read.
As the name suggests its a bar for drinking beer, with 5 real ales locally sourced and various Belgium bottled ales.
Nice place for a drink, though the beer temperature was slighlty warm.
On 17th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1520 recommendations about 1497 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Kez Challacombe left this review about Hops
Town center Belgium style pub, next to the old church and police station and library, a real treat to visit, 5 great real ales on, mostly locally sauced, many draught Belgium beers on, and a hundred bottled belgium beers. Very friendly and warm welcome. No gimmicks or music.
On 31st August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 24 recommendations about 22 pubs]