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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Craft Beer Co
Dating from at least 1926, this was originally the Oporto Stores, which closed in September 1959, to be rebuilt in 1961 for Charrington’s on the ground floor of this municipal tower block, later known as Rudy’s Revenge, to become a CBeebies in 2014.
The interior is plain and modern, the least pub-like branch I’ve visited. It’s cramped and crowded with very poor acoustics; the downstairs bar was empty though not out of bounds, so I suppose people don’t fancy subterranean drinking; as mentioned, this isn’t a place to meet up or include on a crawl, due to the limited space.
There were four ciders on with one clip reversed, then just the five ales with five pumps unused. Because of the crush at the bar, it was very hard to read the pumps, so I went for the only one I could read, being just to my right, 360° Tacoma APA at £2.60 a half and fine, though a little dry for my tastes.
I can’t really enthuse about this place as much as some, as I want a far better all-round pub experience which this place doesn’t offer. The Harp down the road offers a real pub experience and with greater ale choice, so I don’t envisage a return visit, but the minimum 00.00 closing time is a benefit.
On 30th October 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Craft Beer Co
As already mentioned a location where the beer is king and one I have been using a lot recently due to it being handily placed on our post Ronnie Scott’s walking route back to Holborn tube station. The only thing wrong with it is that the upstairs sections are too bloody small and vertical drinking both inside or outside on the pavement is not the most pleasant experience and the downstairs room, although a larger and more comfortable seating space, suffers from such appalling acoustics that you have to shout at each other even when its only half full.
But you can forgive a lot when considering the provided beer choice on the stunning row of 15 ale handpumps and 30 keg taps. I also like the way they have regular focusses on a guest brewer when they give up half the hand pumps to that brewer. I could not believe my luck to find that last week the focussed brewer was Oakham, only to find that the Citra was not one of the promoted brewery beers. Fortunately the excellent Black Hole Porter and Oblivion were, so disappointment overcome.
I do feel a bit stingy and if it was solely about the beer this place would be a 10. But for an overall pub visiting experience, it’s not.
On 11th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Craft Beer Co
First re-visit since going on the day after it opened, and this has become the major destination pub for the St Giles / Covent Garden area as it was destined to be from the outset. Incredible range from 15 handpumps (including six from Vibrant Forest on this occasion, from which I went for the Black Forest 'piquant porter' at £2.20, half) and 30 craft keg taps with a vast range of styles (and prices!). Only issue is the size of the place: just a narrow bar with limited seating at street level plus a small and very dark lounge downstairs.
On 7th January 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Craft Beer Co
What a place this is! Not large on the ground floor but probably the best selection of cask and keg ales I've ever seen. Currently sitting at a window seat drinking Dark Star Revelation @ 5.7%. Ale paradise.
On 25th October 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Craft Beer Co
Quite a small characterless interior at ground floor level with more space downstairs and plenty people standing outside during my visit. Massive real ale and keg selection as extensive as I've seen. The beer is the star here.
On 29th September 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Craft Beer Co
This is a lot smaller than other Craft Beer Co. establishments that I have been in and apart from a drinking shelf running the length of the side windows,there is little room to sit around the wooden floored bar.The tuns placed outside behind a roped off area does allow vertical drinkers to overspill,smoke and rest their pint somewhere.I didnt investigate the downstairs room ,but I guess this is where you would have to disappear to if in a group and wanting to eat from the burger menu.Scotch Eggs (£3.50) or Pork Pies (£4.50) might have to suffice around the bar area.
The star of the show is their real ale selection from 15 handpumps,all but one working on my Wednesday afternoon visit.The line up was the best I've seen at a Craft Beer Co.,which by definition made it one of the best I've ever seen in the capital.Multiple brews from leading micros such as Blackjack,Oakham,Hawkeshead,Dark Star and Fyne across a range of styles and strenghts showed real thought had been at work.My Fyne Ryenegade was tip top,but expect pint pricing to be north of £4.There are 30 keg taps if that is your bag and there is a booklet describing the keg offerings,some regulars others guests.
It doesn't seem much from the outside,but this place is on the list for a revisit and I will base myself here with other real ale aficionadoes for a major session in the near future given the sheer quality of ale on offer.£4+ pp ? Here,it is a price worth paying.
On 24th September 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Craft Beer Co
A pub where beer is king with an excellent choice of whatever is your bag, 15 or so cask handpumps plus an incredible 30 or so keykeg fonts as well as bottles. Various of the cask beers were from The Summer Wine Brewing Co, although in total around 10 were on, I had the Oregon West Coast Pale Ale which rocked up at £4.45. That is still too much for a pint of beer for me and puts me off a place that charges it. I paid nearly a pound less for a decent similar strength beer in the nearby Holborn Whippet later the same day.
The main street level room has limited seating with only a couple of tables plus stools for 15 or so at a window ledge opposite the bar. Downstairs there is a so called lounge bar, a dingy affair with no natural light and dark painted walls although interest is provided by old brewery advertisements. There is some outdoor drinking space, roped off from the pavement with barrel tables for vertical drinking.
The beer range is great, but as is usual for the chain the place just isn't comfortable especially for groups. I'd go in again for an interesting beer or two but I'd never agree to meeting up with mates here.
On 11th July 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Craft Beer Co
Positioned in a prominent position opposite Shaftesbury Theatre and also near High Holborn, which is very busy with commuters walking to and from Holborn Underground. The Craft Beer company have added some large window openings, so any passers by can see what they're all about. There were six Anarchy Brewery beers from Morpeth, Northumberland on handpump, with a choice of 9 others. Beers tried on this visit were Anarchy Cascade, Anarchy Simcoe, Clerkenwell Pale and Siren Vienna Beer.
On 13th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Craft Beer Co
When I was in here the other day they seemed to be showcasing beers from the Salamander and Rooster breweries. We had the Rooster Mission Impossible; a decent enough ale at £3.95 a pint. They use the rarely seen lined glasses here, ensuring one gets a full pint. There are sixteen handpumps here, all of which were in use, one dishing out a cider, and the other fifteen real ales. Numerous keg fonts (30 or so perhaps) form a seemingly impenetrable cage along one section of the counter. There didn’t seem to be any beer lists on display, and while it was easy enough to scrutinise all the pumps and fonts when quiet before deciding what to order, I reckon it would be nigh on impossible to see everything that’s on offer when it gets really busy. As is the case with Craft Co outlets, food is from Forty Burgers, with the standard burger, including chips etc, weighing in at £9.70.
The ground floor main bar has just tall tables and tall stools, and with the only piece of (admittedly rather nice) decor being an ancient Worthington Brewery mirror. There’s also a basement room, with more standard furnishings, although no natural light of course. This is where those who were eating moved to, and who can blame them? I could have done without the raucus rock music playing upstairs, but others must like it I suppose. I can see no reason to visit this pub other than for the excellent range of beers.
On 22nd September 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Craft Beer Co
The same ,now familiar Craft Pub Co set up beer-wise,this one is more Bar than Pub but none the poorer for that,the upstairs was busy Saturday afternoon and all seating was taken,there was room in the downstairs lounge area but not really my cup of tea down there so I was happy with some vertical drinking at the bar for my stay.My Magic Rock Ringmaster was in good form.Handily placed for a Covent Garden pub crawl.
On 3rd August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]