London’s Best Tap Rooms

Looking for places to enjoy craft beer in London? From tucked away breweries in Balham to huge Tottenham sites, these are the best tap rooms in town…

Beavertown Brewery, Tottenham Hale

This brewery began its life in East London’s De Beauvoir Town, which cockneys apparently nicknamed ‘Beavertown’. As the brand started to grow in popularity they relocated to a larger venue in Hackney Wick, before settling in their current site in Tottenham Hale. If you’re a football fan, you can also enjoy fresh Beavertown brews at the Spurs stadium down the road: the UK’s only football ground microbrewery. beavertownbrewery.co.uk

Canopy Beer Tap Room, Herne Hill

Getting to Herne Hill’s Canopy Beer Tap Room is a bit of a mission. But, ‘take on the scrap-yard obstacle challenge,’ they say, and you’ll be rewarded with freshly brewed beer and locally made snacks, to be enjoyed outside or inside. Keen to check it out? This November they’re celebrating their fourth birthday with food, music, mulled wine, and of course lots of beer. Note the impressive art on their cans, too. canopybeer.com

Belleville Brewing Co. & Taproom, Balham

This South West London brewery was set up in 2012 by ten dads, all with children at Belleville primary school. After a couple of false starts, they set up camp on Jaggard Way behind Wandsworth Common station, offering American style hand-crafted beers made using top quality hops, malts and seasonal ingredients. The outdoor tables are perfect for summer months, with cosy seating inside for cooler days, alongside board games and TVs showing rugby and football matches. Hungry? If you’re lucky, a food truck might swing by – follow them on social media for updates. bellevillebrewing.co.uk

Small Beer Brew Co., Bermondsey

During the 1700s, small beer was a staple of British daily life. Traditionally brewed between 0.5-2.8% ABV, it was enjoyed in households, work places and even schools as an alternative to water in a world where drinking water could be fatal. With the provision of clean water in the 19th century, however, the requirement for it passed – until recently, when interest surrounding low alcohol beverages began to resurface. Tapping into modern needs is The Small Beer Brew Co, the world’s first brewery dedicated to small beer. You’ll find it nestled between Old Kent Road and South Bermondsey station, with a range of top quality, flavoursome lagers up for grabs. While beer is the focus, the space is also used to host a wide range of events, from live music to comedy to fitness classes. theoriginalsmallbeer.com

By The Horns Brewing Co., Earlsfield

Back in 2011, Alex Bull and Chris Mills decided to take a risk and leave their corporate jobs to follow their passion: beer. They had no experience in commercial brewery, hence the name (grabbing the bull by the horns) – but the gamble paid off. The recently renovated taproom is located in the South West London brewery, with 14 taps to choose from alongside their entire can range. On Tuesdays to Sundays The Dough Shack serve pizzas, and on Saturdays during Premier League Season there’s a bottomless brunch offering, which includes one pizza and free-flowing beers for 90 minutes. bythehorns.co.uk

Cloudwater, Bermondsey

A love for the changing seasons is at the heart of this Manchester brewery, co-founded by modern beer enthusiasts Paul Jones and James Campbell. Since its beginnings in 2014 Cloudwater brewers have trialled a number of different fermentation processes, from the classical to the creative. The overall focus is limited edition seasonal beer, so expect plenty of hops, collaborations and low alcohol ranges. While the brewery is based in Manchester, they also run a London tap room from Bermondsey’s Enid Street. Open Wednesday to Sunday, this offers up a seasonal selection of brews with fun names – at the moment there’s one on the menu called ‘Glazed Doughnuts at the Light House’, and another called ‘Hoppy Little Lager’. cloudwaterbrew.co

Camden Town Brewery Bar

Though much of their beer is now brewed at a new site in Enfield, you can still enjoy a pint or two at the famous home of Hells larger, found under the railway arches on Camden’s Wilkins Street Mews. Settle down with a beer and tuck into a delicacy from one of the many street food stalls, or go all out and book a tour of the brewery, an opportunity to try the freshest beer straight from the tank. camdentownbrewery.com

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