Visiting London for one night

Discussion in 'United Kingdom & Ireland' started by JVHBass, Jan 13, 2014.

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  1. JVHBass

    JVHBass Aspirant (222) May 13, 2012 Virginia
    Trader

    Hello UK'ers,

    I'll be visiting London in a week from the US and am looking for a few recommendations. I've browsed through the London Beer Guide on here and researched alot of the suggestions, but frankly it just overloaded me with ideas. Now I need help with narrowing it down or some definitive suggestions.

    We'll be arriving to London early in the morning and dropping off our bags at our hotel. The only definite thing on the plan so far is going to see the West Ham game at 3 o'clock pm (15:00, I need to get used to that). After the research I've done I'd really like to try the Kernel's Table beer and Biere de Table. I don't think we'll have time to visit the brewery before the game (if so, can you drink on premise there?). Does anyone know of any pubs that consistently have those on tap/bottle. I'd also be interested in a recommendation for a pub with decent food, but isn't too expensive as we are on a budget. Thanks for all the help!

    Also, we'll be in Cardiff for the following two weeks if anyone has any recommendations for there. I've already visited the City Arms and Zero Degrees last time I was there.
     
  2. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    The Kernel brewery is only open to the public on Saturdays.

    I think recommendations might depend on where you hotel is. You can check out Beer Guide London which is organized by region. (Disclaimer: I helped with the site)
     
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  3. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Tiny Rebel have opened their Tap House opposite the City Arms, which is definitely worth a visit. Amazing burgers and usually around 15 beers on tap - cask and keg.
    The Pen and Wig is good for an evening's relaxed beer drinking, with probably like 6-8 cask lines with locals and some other English ales.
    On a saturday between 12 and 6 it's also worth going to check out the Artisan/Pipes brewery in Pontcanna, good German style bottles and you can talk to the brewer etc.
    For other bottles visit Discount Supermarket on Whitchurch Road and the Bottle Shop on Pen-y-Lan street (just off Albany Road).
     
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  4. Aye

    Aye Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 England

    Maybe it's because I'm used to expecting a mouthful of hops when partaking of a Kernel beer but the Table Beer isn't something I'll ever bother with again. I'm not expecting a great deal from the biere de table either which is sat in the fridge, daring me to be disappointed.
    Partizan brewery is located on the old Kernel brewery premises and only a few minutes from the new Kernel brewery. You might want to check it out seeing as you're in the neighbourhood, time permitting.
     
  5. BlackHaddock

    BlackHaddock Grand Pooh-Bah (3,638) Aug 4, 2006 England
    Pooh-Bah

    The beer scene in London appears to be changing daily with new breweries and bars springing up all the time: which is why I haven't recommended anywhere.

    I don't hit London as often as I used too, plus I prefer the old traditional style pubs to the new wave of bars that seem in vogue currently: I'm an odd, old sort of fish!

    <*))))))><
     
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  6. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    I was disappointed by it, although for clarity a disappointing Kernel beer pretty much means it wasn't amazing.
     
  7. JVHBass

    JVHBass Aspirant (222) May 13, 2012 Virginia
    Trader

    Great! thank you everyone for the suggestions. We're staying near Paddington if that makes any difference. We'd be able to visit the Kernel saturday morning, can you drink on premise or only buy the bottles to go?

    By the way, that London guide is quite helpful. Thanks FrankenBier
     
  8. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    Yes, you can drink at Kernel as well as buy bottles to go.

    Glad you found the Guide useful -- I didn't have much to do with the content, just the software.
     
  9. Mark

    Mark Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2001 California

    BH, I'm with you mate! Give me a traditional pub any time. I like the Craft Beer Pub in London but I'll take a place like the Lamb or Ye olde Mitre any time.
     
  10. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    If you mean the Lamb in Chiswick, they were recent sold to M&B and have (reportedly) stopped brewing (along with the Botanist in Kew).

    Agree with you on Ye Olde Mitre (was worried when it was bought by Fullers) -- love that place but I'm afraid one day I will be drunk enough to ask the landlord to say "'I've given her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more."
     
  11. Mark

    Mark Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2001 California

    I too love the Mitre, Scotty keeps it pure despite the now tie to Fullers. The Lamb I'm talking about is the Young's pub near Russell Square. I love the place as much as any one can. Can never spend enough time there.
     
  12. Ruds

    Ruds Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 England

    You will have plenty of time to visit the Kernel before the match, unless you have other plans.

    Kernel opens its doors at 9am.

    You can take the Jubilee line from nearby Bermondsey tube, changing at West Ham for Upton Park and be at the ground in little over 30 minutes from leaving the Kernel.

    The brewery itself is your best bet for the table beer or bier de table.

    A number of pubs carry one kernel tap but never a regular, just whatevers been recently released.

    Oddbins, London Bridge (an off licence) normally stocks bottles of it.
     
  13. Ruds

    Ruds Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 England

    Partizan uses Kernels old brewing kit, it's located the best part of a mile from Kernels original premises.
     
  14. Slam_Dunkels

    Slam_Dunkels Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2013 England

    If you are in Cardiff for two weeks I would recommend getting out of the City Centre and also a visit to Bristol could be fun, great normal pubs plus a Brewdog.
    Let me know if you would like more info regarding the wider Cardiff area.
     
  15. MickRatcliffe

    MickRatcliffe Aspirant (262) Jun 16, 2009 England

    Hi,
    West Brom fan here from The Midlands. We recently played at West Ham. I thought that you might like to know what we did around the match. I actually went to Kernel a few weeks before. As said by others it's easy to West Ham from there. I was very impressed (by Kernel that is, not by West Ham's football) so I'm planning to go again when we are at Crystal Palace in a few weeks. Due to opening ours you'll need to go before the match. I also want a look at Partizan plus possibly another one which I didn't do last time.
    After the game we caught a bus (go past Upton Park tube station, turn first left at the junction) to Stratford station (about 15 mins. ride, you can use your day travelcard on buses and tubes.) Here in The Westfield Center is Tap East (at the end by Stratford International.) Excellent craft and real ales, brewing some themselves. Retraced our steps to Stratford station to take the Overground (still ok with the day ticket) to Hackney Wick and the Crate Brewery. It was closed! probably due to it being around Christmas. Back on the Overground to Hackney Central and the **** Tavern on Mare Street. Excellent pub, home of Howling Hops brewery. Very traditional. Then it's an easy ride on the Overground to Highbury and Islington to the tube back to Euston for the Euston Tap. I'm sure locals have many other ideas but as a visitor this was a great crawl based around the football at West Ham.
    Hope it gives you some ideas.
    Cheers,
    Mick Ratcliffe.
     
  16. Slam_Dunkels

    Slam_Dunkels Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2013 England

    Brew by numbers is close by, I would say skip Partizan as a place to go and have a drink if limited for time, it's small, there is no seating and they only serve bottles, maybe worth it to pick up for take away.
     
  17. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    At least no West Ham players made neo-**** celebrations on any of their goals.
     
  18. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Sort of amazed that a post partially discussing football hasn't been zapped by the administrators yet. Might test the waters with the odd NFL, NHL, Winter Olympics comment and see what happens.
     
  19. wesbray

    wesbray Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Canada (AB)

    Ouch. Not sure how he can even attempt to claim it was anything other than that though.
     
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