4 of the best London breweries with bars
These London breweries and distilleries have been kind enough to open on-site bars, so you can learn all about your favourite beverage before drinking it. Cheers
by Lydia Winter
You probably know Fleet Street for papers, but one man's on a mission to change that. Jonathan Clark's underground premises at 22-24 Bride Lane have taken many incarnations under his ownership, and the latest – the City of London Distillery – is a fully-operational gin distillery and clandestine drinking den.
Hackney Wick's Crate is one the best of the area's recent startup breweries. In typical East London style, its bar and pizzeria is made up almost entirely of reclaimed materials, and the location – right on the canal – makes it ideal for those keen to learn a bit more about brewing, and a great spot for a pint.
Have you ever toured a distillery? There's great fun to be had, but it's thirsty work. That's why we're glad East London Liquor Company's beautiful distillery in Bow has a bar to match, where you'll not only find the full range of ELLC's own range (which includes rum, gin, vodka and, shortly, whisky), but also some gems from small-batch distillers from Europe and beyond. The bar is overseen by Mikey Pendergast, who loves nothing more than tinkering with weird and wonderful spirits and infusions, and the decor reflects the bold, brassy (literally) look of the distillery itself. Not a spirits fan? If not, it begs the question why you'd want to visit a distillery, but you're catered for in the form of a cracking list of beers. Everybody's happy.
You might have spotted Sambrook's flagship beer, Wandle (named after a tributary of the Thames), in various London pubs, but that's just one of the excellent beers from this Batterea brewery. They do everything from barley wine to a dark chocolate porter – which is delicious, by the way – and they hold exclusive monthly events in their bar, which is also available to hire for private events. Cheers to that.
