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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Hackney Tap
An interesting building, having been Hackney Town Hall (built in 1802) and then a branch of the Midland Bank, it stands next to the Grade 1 Listed St Augustine's Tower, the only remnant of Hackney's oldest building, the parish church (demolished in 1798). All this was of secondary importance when I arrived in Hackney too early for the pubs which I'd planned to visit, neither of which would be open until 4pm, and here I was at 3:30 with a full bladder. Spotting the open door of the Hackney Tap, I made use of the facilities before ordering a half of ELB Phoenix 4%. Looking around, there are some features that deserved a better writer than me to describe, so I took a photo or two. It was quiet mid-afternoon, but I imagine it must get busy, as the bar counter has been designed with self-draining trays built into its steel top, as well as four hand pumps and more keg taps than I could reliably count. The background music met with my approval, according to my notes made at the time, though I can't now remember what was playing. My beer was ok but not to my taste. Still grateful for the open door and functioning wc, I waved a cheery farewell.
On 2nd February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Hackney Tap
Opened by the same people responsible for the popular Euston Tap, this is an interesting addition to the Hackney pub scene, located in a striking former town hall building which retains an interior from its days as a branch of the Midland Bank. The pub has a pretty basic layout, with a roughly square floorplan plus a little panhandle off to the front left. The room is quite nicely appointed, with a high ceiling, smart flooring and a traditional bar counter along the rear wall with a metal top and fancy keg fonts on the bar back, with large arched windows on either side. There are some nice wall panels beneath plain upper sections decorated with a few random paintings and a series of high shelves hold a collection of tankards. Seating is a mix of benches, chairs and high stools, including some of the latter in the narrow strip to the front left that leads to the toilet. A TV behind the bar remained unused and there was a beer boards propped up to the left of the servery, listing the full cask and keg range, with menus on the bar also serving the same purpose. A good amount of seating is available outside, mainly to the right of the building in a paved square fronting the bus station. Three rows of canteen tables and benches plus a few regular tables and chairs provide ample overspill for times when the pub gets particularly busy. A speaker outside was pumping out the same music that could be heard inside the pub.
There were three cask ales on when I first visited this place – Anspach & Hobday The Ordinary Bitter and The American Pale plus Redemption Big Chief - although on subsequent visits, this has been reduced to just two. 22 keg lines flesh out the choices, but these aren’t always all in operation and some lines have pretty mainstream brands in amongst the craft stuff. The Big Chief was £4.00 a pint and in good condition and I’ve visited several times since and always found the beer to be well kept, although for some reason the place always seems to be either packed or empty, with no middle ground in between.
I had high hopes for this place, having very much enjoyed the beer and ambiance in their Euston venue over the years, but I thought this place fell a little short on a few fronts, not least the limited cask range. It’s still a decent option to have when in the area and it’s already part of my go-to set of venues for whenever I find myself in Hackney.
On 13th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Hackney Tap
An interesting conversion of a former free-standing Midland Bank in the pedestrianised area, with a modern feel. The monochromic colour scheme is brightened by by neon lights and there are modern tables, with benches round the outer walls. The steel-topped bar has a clutch of handpumps and a large selection of keg stuff, craft and mainland European. The ales were a very pleasant Redemption Victorian Mild, TT Landlord and TT Landlord Dark. I can't say the place greatly appeals to me but it is a useful watering hole, well-placed for the station.
On 1st December 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Hackney Tap
Another visit last night and the 22 taps are now down to just 12 and the number of pumps has halved to just two, dispensing Redemption's Big Smoke and ELB's Foundation at a very reasonable £3.80.
As predicted, the lavs are a problem. Just one other customer indoors and a few outside, yet I had to queue behind two people which doesn't make for a great ambience in this part of the pub - who wants to have a drink overlooking a queue for the kazi? The women in front of me was hopping from foot to foot, indicating her predicament.
This may have got off to a good start but it's now not so attractive. Marked down accordingly.
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Originally reviewed 21st May 2021.
A recently opened sister venture, the other being situated along the rather grim Euston Road. Here, it’s an altogether more tranquil location, a short walk from Hackney Central station to this rather fine mid-19th century former town hall and latterly a branch of Corals – at last: a bookies gets converted into a pub for once!
Inside and there are two rooms, the one to the left – by the lavs – being by far the smaller. The main room is quite spacious and airy due to the large arched windows and high ceiling. The floor is herringbone parquet with some custard-coloured vinyl. The overall colour scheme is white with field panelling to around shoulder height painted slate grey, along with the window surrounds and ceiling which features spot down lighters. The bar is very impressive being of natural wood with rich detailing, a metal top, dark blue glazed tiled bar back and brass footrail. Furniture comprises high untreated tables to the periphery and one at the centre; they look like something used by a baby. There’s a high banquette to the remaining periphery and a further couple of small wall mounted tablettes to the walls, again with highchairs. Décor comprises some A3-sized trendy framed prints to the walls. Music played – Razorlight – at an agreeable level. The place was about a third full, with rather professional Hackney types. The lavs don’t appear to have been thought out, as mentioned below. They comprise just two unisex cubicles; this puppy has never been redlined and I can imagine that when full, people will be queuing down Mare Street to use them.
We didn’t encounter any of the problems experienced by the previous reviewers: no bouncers, no lav problems (though few customers), with beer ordered orally from the friendly and efficient staff with payment via Apple Pay; no ‘apps’.
Ales: 22 unmarked taps then four pumps dispensing Thornbridge’s Brother Rabbit, Redemption’s Trinity, Anarchy Brew Co’s Blonde Star and Five Points Pale Ale at an incredible £4.00 the pint and on fine form too.
This is a welcome addition to the Hackney drinking scene, though it will probably appeal more to the keg drinker. It would though make for a good threesome with the Cock and Pembury either side, so I may pop in again on passing – provided I wasn’t in imminent need of the loo.
Rated: 6.
On 16th November 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Hackney Tap
As mentioned below a former town hall then bookies with quite a plain interior. A large selection of “craft keg” and 2 real ales on my visit with pizza & gyoza available. Toilets must be fun when it’s busy you might be better going across the road to McDonald’s.
On 30th September 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Hackney Tap
Set in the old town hall this new pub looks quite striking from the outside, inside the single ,quite large room comws across as a little austere, the bar is set against the rear wall, with wooden benches and tables set around two of the remaining three walls, the rest of the seating was made up of high chairs and tables. Ordering is annoyingly as previously mentioned before by accessing an app via a QR code, and even more annoyingly once having navigated that, upon reacging the checkout stage you are prompted to log in or register to complete the transaction as well as proving you're not a robot, after three atempts and failing to complete this task one of the two girls serving came over and said I can take your order if you like! I can't help thinking It would have been so simple to do this old style transaction in the first place.
Just two cask beers were on,Howard Town Monks Gold and Redemption Pale Ale, when I finaly got my hands on a pint of the later I found it to be in good shape at the reasonable London price of £4.20. The other two handpumps were occupied by a couple of real Ciders, there was a much more extensive range of craft keg options available.
It would seem this is a work in progress and there is a bit to do I would say, maybe when covid regs have gone it will bed in nicely, until then it gets a 6/10 from me.
On 22nd May 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Hackney Tap
Located slap bang in the middle of Hackney next to the parish church, I believe the Hackney Tap has only opened this week and is a sister pub to the Euston Tap.
Indoors is larger than the Euston Tap and all smells very new. Finding a free toilet is however a bit of a chore.
For now, seating is on a large plaza outside. A non-communicative bouncer was present. But we were soon shown to a table, albeit with a time limit. This was fine for us, as we still had other places to visit.
Ales and craft beers were listed on a blackboard. The 4 real ales were JW Lees MPA & Bitter, Bristol Beer Factory White Desert & Redemption Trinity. The craft beer list was a little more extensive.
Once again, ordering was via a QR code, which one of our group managed to master. Although we did end up with two halves of one beer, as it seemed impossible to order a pint - the price of progress!
It doesn't quite have the appeal of the Euston Tap at present, but I think this will become a useful port of call in the area once indoor drinking is permitted again.
On 20th April 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]