thewharf

32 places to drink in Canary Wharf and east London

For fans of bitter, lagers and ales, there is a range of offerings available for workers to mark the worldwide event and sup to their heart’s content

Jon Massey

By Jon Massey

Written by Alex McIntyre for The Wharf

Many people in Canary Wharf and east London will need no encouragement to go out and enjoy a good pint after work.

But International Beer Day gives everyone that extra excuse to kick back on a terrace, natter over a drink in a local pub or even do something a little more outside the box, like a beer tasting or brewery tour.

Below are a selection of places to hail (or should that be inhale?) the ale in and around Canary Wharf.

East London breweries

Meantime, Greenwich

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Known for its London Lager and London Pale Ale, among others, the brewery has just launched its Pilot Series consisting of White Bear, African Queen and Maison Hop.

The Meantime Tasting Rooms provide punters with a chance to have a pint straight from the maturation tank.

And, for those wanting a more in depth experience, Meantime’s The Knowledge classes provide the chance to truly appreciate beer in all its forms.

The Kernel, Bermondsey

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These brewers focus on an ethos of providing beer deserving of attention and forces you to “confront what you are drinking”.

Included in its selection, available at places like Craft London, are Pales Ales, India Pale Ales and old school London Porters and Stouts, all bottled alive to give them time to grow.

Unfortunately, beer can no longer be drunk on the premises but the bottle shop is normally open 9am to 2pm. Just take a brown paper bag.


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Truman’s, Hackney Wick

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Re-established in 2010 after closing in 1989, Truman’s is a name that’s been around since 1666.

Now based at the Eyrie in Hackney Wick, the brewery is known for its widely stocked light and hoppy Pale Ale as well as it’s Skylark golden ale.

As well as an online shop, tours of the brewery are available.

Maregard, Hackney

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This small brewery is based in the bowels of The Cock Tavern in Mare Street, where its beer can be sampled.

The products include Blond, Pale and Amber ales and a Vanilla Milk Stout.

Beavertown, Hackney Wick

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The philosophy of this brewery is evident through the unusual artwork. Beavertown attempts to match that by creating stand-out drinks like its Gamma Ray tropical beer, 8 Ball Rye IPA and Smug Rocket Smocked Porter among others.

Each of its creations are available to taste at Beavertown’s Tap Room on the Lockwood Industrial Park.

40ft Brewery, Hackney

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Based in Hackney, the young guns launched in May 2015 in a disused car park in Dalston and recently put on the first Dalston Beer Day on Saturday, July 30.

It’s two products are Larger, a hoppy verion of the German style Kolsch, and its American style Pale Ale.

The tap room is open 5-10pm Fridays and Saturdays.

Crate, Hackney Wick

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Crate prides itself on its craft beer, with products including its Pale and Golden ales, lager, IPA, Stout and Cider.

Why not treat yourself and your friends to one of the Crate gift boxes that include one of each?

Or pop down to the Crate Bar and Pizzeria on Queens Yard to sample them fresh.

Fourpure, Bermondsey

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It claims to be the first UK-based craft brewery to start canning the core range, consisting of its Pils Lager, American Pale and Session IPA.

Its Tap Room is open Fridays 4pm to 8pm and Saturdays 8am to 8pm with tours available at 6.30pm Fridays and 1pm Saturdays.

Howling Hops, Hackney Wick

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This brewery claims to develop a range of bold, characterful, uncompromised and generously hopped beers with bags of flavour, including its Black, Chocolate Stout, IPA and Pale Ale.

The brewery and bar on Queens Yard is open to the public seven days a week from noon.

People’s Park Tavern (Laine’s), Hackney

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Operated by the Laine Brewing Company, this Hackney gem brews anything from Indian Pale Ale to Black Rye IPA and has also began creating some fruit-infused beers, using raspberries, peaches and cherries among others.

Its Victoria Park Road bar is open seven days a week from midday.

Pressure Drop, Hackney

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This small independent brewery run by three men has a core range of beers including Pale Fire, Bosko and Wu Gang Chops.

The team started in 2012 on a 50l pilot kit in a garden shed to come up with their solid core of recipes.

Tap East, Stratford

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This specialist beer bar and microbrewery at Westfield Stratford City has a regularly changing range of 16 Tap East and guest draught beers as well as 100 bottled from around the world.

It is known for its East End Mild, Jonny Park Bitter and Coffee In The Morning.

The bar and brewery on International Square is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sunday noon to 10pm.


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Anspach And Hobday, Bermondsey

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Founded by two London graduates in a quest to curate the best of beer, Anspach And Hobday invites drink lovers to its premises at Druid Street to try, among others, its Smoked Brown, Table Porter and Cream Ale.

The bar is open Friday 5pm to 9.30pm and, Saturday 10.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday 12.30pm to 5pm.

Zero Degrees, Blackheath

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This restaurant and microbrewery encourages customers to sit back with a pint while munching on a fresh pizza.

Included in its range is the award winning Pale Ale, Camra Best Beer Award at Bristol Beer Festival, and fruitier option the Mango Beer.

Redchurch Brewery, Cambridge Heath

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This popular brewery says it was “born in east London out of a passion for great beer”.

Its range includes aptly named Bethnal Pale Ale, Shoreditch Blonde and Great Eastern India Pale Ale.

Its tap room on Poyser Street is open Thursday and Friday 6pm to 12.30am and on Saturday from 12pm to 12.30am.

Pub, bars and stores

Big Easy

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Located at Crossrail Place and with a dedicated beer and whiskey bar that has two, yes two, happy hours including an offer on Big Easy Brew at £2.50 a pint every day from 7am to 10am for the more hardcore among you and the more usual 4pm to 6pm. That’s almost certainly the cheapest pint on the Wharf.

Included on its beer menu are Beavertown Neck Oil and Truman’s Pale Ale.

Slug And Lettuce

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An obvious choice given its convenient central location and the vast amount of space in its beer garden. There are usually hefty crowds to contend with, largely descending from the nearby One Canada Square, but it’s all worth it for a refreshing pint.

The Henry Addington

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One of the few traditional pubs in Canary Wharf. Based in Mackenzie Walk, a short distance from One Canada Square, it claims an eclectic mix of award-winning real ales.


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The Gun

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Lord Nelson’s old hangout, the pub at Coldharbour, now owned by Fuller’s, has a selection of ales on tap including London Pride and Seafarers, which can be enjoyed on its recently-launched terrace.

Wetherspoons, The Ledger Building

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This pub at West India Quay set in the historic Ledger Building has a selection including American Pale Ale from Shipyard Brewing Co (a recent addition to the Wetherspoons family).

28 West

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This Westferry Circus bar claims it has a “cracking selection” of world beers, with several on draught including Amstel, Adnams Moaic and Adnams Ease Up IPA.

CNTNR Bar Pine Cliffs Beach Club

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With the summer sun beating down, this outside venue is a wonderful and popular destination for a post-work beer and is even offering the chance to win a seven-night stay in the Algarve oh, and some Sagres.

Sports Bar And Grill

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Not one for the more crafty beers, although it does rotate a range of guest ales from time to time. It’s still a nice place to have a pint of lager or IPA after a hard day’s work.

Dr Kluger’s at The Breakfast Club

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This hidden gem down the corridor at the rear of The Breakfast Club is an intimate hideaway perfect for sampling some Camden Hells Draft or Belgian Witbeier Draft.

Smollensky’s

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This American bar and restaurant in Reuters Plaza bills itself as the perfect spot for after work drinks, with an “enticing mix” of chilled beer available, apparently.


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Rocket

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The ground floor bar and heated terrace is always bustling in the evenings after work, with a wide selection of beer including Meantime’s Pale Ale.

Iberica

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The Spanish restaurant and bar at Cabot Square has recently unveiled a new selection of beers brewed in Spain including the Mahou Cinco Estrella, Alhambra Especial and Mahou Negra.

All Bar One

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Also in Mackenzie Walk, this popular bar has a selection of oddly named and interesting speciality beers, including Siren Liquid Mistress ale, Hiver honey beer and Brewdog’s Nanny State.

The Parlour

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The Canada Square Park bar is usually rammed after work and is best known for its cocktails, but it has a number of bottled beers including Battersea IPA, Chelsea Blonde and Fat Yak Pale Ale.

Chai Ki Craft Beer Mondays

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The Crossrail Place restaurant is always a hit with beer fans with its Craft Beer Mondays hosting a range of Hop and Spice menus in August with seasonal beers from Beavertown and Sambrook’s.

Browns

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Wetherspoons' neighbour at West India Quay launched its refurbished premises just a couple of months ago with a new selection of beers on draught including St Stefanus Blonde Ale and Adnams Southwold Bitter.

Hopt, Shoreditch

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The recently-launched store at Boxpark describes itself as a “new drinks concept” that attempts to combine craft beers, boutique spirits and wines.

Its beer packs include Great With Grub, Hop Diggety and Smooth Hoperation.

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