Kmflett's Blog

Brewdog shuts Dalston and Old St bars

After the opening of its new entertainment venue in Waterloo last week Brewdog has announced the closure of six pubs.

James Watt, who one hopes is recovering from falling off his bike and breaking his collar bone last week, claims the closures are due to energy costs

https://news.sky.com/story/brewdog-to-close-six-pubs-due-to-spiralling-costs-and-no-prospect-of-help-from-clueless-government-12686261

There is no question that without Government intervention small independent bars will struggle with costs and both CAMRA and SIBA have already made the point. However Brewdog while hardly in the global big beer stakes is not a small indy either. The pubs involved are presumably loss making and Watt claims staff have been redeployed.

I’m only familiar with two of the venues Dalston and Old St but on that basis the energy cost claim although  clearly an issue is probably not the decisive one.  Location is the likely main issue.

Brewdog have closed two North-East London bars in recent times. The first was at Angel Islington or rather it wasn’t. It was on Essex Rd, whereas well frequented bars in the area are to be found  on the parallel Upper St. The second was on Homerton High St in Hackney. The location here looked better but the reality is that as with the Dalston bar Brewdog struggles with Hackney. There are numbers of other well known craft pubs in the area that serve better beer ranges at keener prices.

Brewdog Dalston was opened after a prolonged legal battle with residents and has a smallish ground floor bar and a substantial basement. Its about as near Stoke Newington as Brewdog might dare to go and opposite the indy craft bar, the Red Hand. At one point it focused on selling vegan food (now abandoned I think)to attract custom. Vegans there are a plenty in Dalston but not too many who want vegan chain bar food

Brewdog Old St is not really in Old St but at the back of a development that stretches some way back from the road. In short you might not find it unless you were looking for it. Its modern and spacious and originally opened as a Brewdog no/lo alcohol bar. That failed (no doubt Covid closures didn’t help) and the reality is that it’s a minute away from the well known craft beer pub the Old Fountain.

So, Brewdog. Onwards but not always upwards.