Kernel Tap, Spa Rd. Opened August 2024
Beer Guide London has published the annual analysis for ‘craft’ beer breweries and pubs in London for 2024. It makes for interesting reading: https://www.beerguideldn.com/news.php#N539
Thanks must go to the indefatigable @musinganorak for checking things out and keeping the guide updated.
As he reports there is a small reduction in breweries to 101 while the number of bar, taps etc closures and openings more or less balances out.
The broader hospitality trade remains under pressure from energy costs and the general cost of living, as well as issues on business rates. I am much less impressed by those who complain about increases in the living wage. Where do they think the people they want to drink in their bars get their money from?
We live in a market capitalist society so like it or not the size of London means its the best guide to what is happening around beer and pubs in the UK.
Some personal thoughts. While still based officially in Tottenham I’m not in London that much for various personal reasons. However 5 years on from the pandemic (plus I am 68) the thought of travelling around London to drink appeals a little less. One of the things about the craft beer ‘revolution’ was that new places selling good beer opened in lots of places where previously there had been none. Local beer for local people you might say.
In that respect I was sorry to see in 2024 the closure of Ora near Spurs, and Wild Card on Blackhorse Lane. On the pub side I’m still not sure why the Hackney Tap (which was right by Hackney Central station) closed. Competition from the always excellent and nearby Cock and Pembury might be a factor but in market capitalism (see above) competition is meant to promote business not reduce it. On the plus side good to see the Antwerp Arms in Tottenham listed, now run by Redemption Brewery, in the Guide
Anyway there are reasons to be cheerful for craft beer in 2025 in London based on the fact that 2024 was not nearly as bad as might have been thought.
Leave a Reply