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London Bar Guide

Belgian beer can be found all over London...but you have to know where to look. In common with many aspects of Belgian culture, it doesn't really advertise its presence, so here is an up-to-date guide to pubs, bars and restaurants in and around London where you can drink Belgian beer.
A list of off licences stocking Belgian beer can be found at the end of the main list.
If you know of anywhere in the UK which stocks a range of Belgian beer please
email me with details - or, better still, let everyone know by posting a note on the messageboard.

Abbaye, 242 The Glades, Bromley   
Grimbergen and a good selection of fruit and blond beers are available at this Abbaye, along with Belgian cuisine.

Auberge, 1 Sandell Street, London SE1   
Candles on the tables and old church seats give this place, located in a lane right outside Waterloo station, an intimate atmosphere. Auberge serves an entry-level range of Belgian beers: Stella, Hoegaarden & Leffe Blond on tap. Bottles include Duvel, Chimay, Rochefort, Kwak & various fruit beers. The food is good, but the service can be somewhat charmless. Other Auberges can be found in the Whitgift Centre, Croydon, the Peacock Centre, Woking and Uxbridge.

Belgo Centraal, 50 Earlham Street, London WC2 (020 7813 2233)   
This massive place in Covent Garden, situated at the convergence of Shelton St & Earlham St, was reputedly the largest restaurant in London when it opened a few years back. Very modern, all glass and steel but  with an incongruous monastic motif. If it is busy, you can drink at the small bar at the entrance while waiting to be called. When the table is ready, you step onto a sort of industrial gantry and are transported to the lower level, where you then have the pleasure of walking past the assembly line of mussel-pots to the large beer hall. The menu is based on mussels in various sauces though there are other options such as sausage, and all are naturally served with frites and mayonnaise. Belgo Centraal is something of an all-round sensory experience, though some may find it all a bit on the hectic side.

Belgo Noord, 72 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 (020 7267 0718)   
Less frantic than the Covent Garden branch, the original Belgo is located opposite The Roundhouse near Chalk Farm tube station, just far enough away from the market to avoid the claustrophobic crowds. There is an elegant curved bar at one end of the restaurant which is divided down the middle by a partition wall. Belgo Noord is decked out in a modern style with plenty of natural light streaming in and a nice conversation-piece in the form of a long list of odd words around the wall. The beerlist and menu are the same as the other Belgos.

Click here to go to the Belgo/Bierodrome website.

The Bierodrome, 44-48 Clapham High Street, London SW4 (020 7720 1118)   
The South London Bierodrome is similar in design to the North London original. The dining and drinking sections are quite distinct, being separated by the central bar area. Like the other Belgo establishments, the clientèle mainly comprises people on a big night out.
The Bierodrome is located between Clapham North and Clapham Common Northern Line stations.

Belgo, 67 Kingsway, London WC2 (020 7242 7469)   
Former Bierodrome rebranded as Belgo. Similar to the above...

Brouge, 5 Hill Street, Richmond-upon-Thames (020 8332 0055)   
Hot on the heels of the Belgium-themed Brouge restaurant at Fulwell's Old Goat, comes this atmospheric cellar bistro a few miles down the road in Richmond. Moules, sausage and stoemp feature prominently on an excellent menu, although it stretches well beyond these Belgian staples. While the accent is on dining, the bar area at the front caters for those who've just come for a drink. Up to 50 Belgian beers are available, the list peaking with La Chouffe, Maredsous and various Trappists. www.brouge.co.uk

The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Rd, London W2 (Dining Rooms 020 7221 2021)   
and unusual West London local. The Cow sells over a dozen Belgian beers including De Koninck and Hoegaarden on draught, the latter thankfully bereft of its usual fancy pump. The bar food is based on shellfish, principally oysters, and a friendly atmosphere pervades the establishment. The clientèle is a mix of locals and people who have sought out The Cow specially, and the décor is simple - traditional with a few retro Guinness ads adorning the walls.
There is a highly-regarded restaurant, 'The Cow Dining Rooms', upstairs.

De Hems, 11 Macclesfield Street, London W1   
Dutch 'café bar' just off Shaftesbury Avenue serving a good range of Belgian beer. As well as the familiar ones (Chimay, Duvel etc.) they also have some less usual ones (Palm, Karmeliet). All these can be enjoyed with chips and mayonnaise.

The Dog and Bell, 116 Prince Street, London SE8   
Small local nestling amongst the Thamesside housing estates, The Dog and Bell offers one of the finest Belgian ranges in the capital. Hommelbier, Bieken, Troubadour, Dikke Matilda, Oud Beersel, Hannsens Kriek and many others. It's easily accessed from London Bridge, being only a five minute walk from Deptford station.

The Dovetail, 9 Jerusalem Passage, London EC1 (020 7490 7321)   
This is not ideally placed for passing trade, located as it is in a tiny lane in the labyrinthine depths of Clerkenwell, but it is a jewel.
There are 100+ beers available here. The menu is eclectic with a Belgian thread running through, and the clientèle is mainly composed of local office workers. On tap they serve Stella, Jupiler, Belle-Vue Kriek & Gueuze, Leffe Blonde & Brune, De Koninck plus a guest ale. Anyone even slightly interested in Belgian beer should find it well worth seeking out.
For special occasions, you can buy beer by the barrel, and they can also organise beer & cheese tasting evenings.

The Dove Freehouse, 24-26 Broadway Market, London E8 (020 7275 7617)   
This place in Hackney combines the same range of Belgian beer as the Dovetail with a real ale and lager range found in more conventional pubs. Cosy interior with a great atmosphere.
Click here here to go to the Doves website.

Jan's, 18 Northwold Road, London N16   
Comfortable Belgian-style pub in a less lively part of Stoke Newington, with a good range of Belgian beers including some less common ones such as Petrus Oud Bruin.

Lowlander Beer Café, 36 Drury Lane, London WC2 (020 7379 7446)   
Dutch-style Covent Garden café offering a large range of continental beers on tap and more in bottles. Belgian brews available include four of the Trappists, Straffe Hendrik, Cantillon and others. Moreover, there are interesting Dutch beers aplenty, along with a sizeable winelist. Good food.

The Old Goat, 241 Hampton Road, Fulwell, Middlesex   
Tastefully renovated pub on crossroads a 5 min walk from Fulwell station. The Old Goat boasts a Belgian style restaurant called Brouge and 20+ Belgian beers from the populist end of the spectrum. Does its bit for the cause by featuring a drink-all-the-Belgian-beers loyalty card scheme.

The Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, London E8   
Spacious one room pub very close to Hackney Downs station and a short walk from Hackney Central on the North London Line. The Belgian list of a dozen or so beers is maybe on the small side but is well selected.

The Porterhouse, 21-22 Maiden Lane, London WC2  
Large Irish pub located between Covent Garden & The Strand. The huge range of drinks available includes 20-30 Belgian beers. The place is split up into multiple levels and alcoves, so if you've arranged to meet friends here you may need to spend a bit of time hunting them down. The Porterhouse has gone for an industrial look - you won't find any pastoral Irish fakery here - and cabinets on the walls display a multitude of bottled beers.

Quinn's, 65 Kentish Town Road, London NW5   
Corner pub on the border of Kentish Town & Camden with a huge beer range. This includes over 20 Belgian ales with Hoegaarden, Leffe Blond, Belle-Vue Kriek & Gueuze all on tap. There is something of a Leffe presence here with mirrors & even a Leffe flag on display. An excellent place for those seeking to consume their Belgian beers in a more conventional environment. Also has TV, making this one of the only places in which you can enjoy a Belgian beer while watching the game.

The Rake, 14 Winchester Walk, London SE1 
Excellent but tiny bar adjacent to Borough Market run by the Utobeer people. The Rake sells a variety of beers from around the world including a quality Belgian representation. There is also a small area with outdoor seating. Popular with commuters (handy for London Bridge station).

The White Horse, 1 Parsons Green, London SW6   
Well-known and busy pub in leafy Fulham, serving a broad range of Belgian beer and a good range of real ale too, not to mention plenty of bottled beers from elsewhere. Click here to go to The White Horse website.

Off Licences
Army and Navy, 101 Victoria Street, London SW1
Stocks Kwak; Brugs Witbier; Chimay red, blue and white; Leffe brune & Leffe triple; Belle Vue Gueuze; Westmalle Tripel; Delirium Tremens; La Guillotine; Judas gift pack including glass; Orval gift pack including glass, some nice Belgian beer glasses and Lucifer. Also some nice French beers including (La Choulette blonde, ambree and peche).

Kris Wines, 394 York Way, London N7   
About 30 Belgian beers available in this offie near the junction with Camden Road.

Nelson Wines, 168 Merton High Street, London SW19   
Small off licence selling an interesting range of 20-30 Belgian beers including many in 75cl bottles.

Quaffs, Spitalfields Fine Food Market, Crispin Place, London E1   
Specialist beer retailer with main emphasis on Belgian beers, though they do also stock Dutch, German, Austrian, Czech, Italian plus some from US micros.
Open Thur, Fri 11-5pm & Sun 10-5pm. www.quaffs.co.uk

Real Ale Shop, 371 Richmond Road, Twickenham  
Simply laid out beer shop dealing exclusively in bottle conditioned ales. Various Belgian brews available including offerings from 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon, Dupont and Ellezelloise. www.realale.com

Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London W1
The world-famous department store offers a very good range of Belgian beer - not too pricey, either.

Theatre of Wine, 75 Trafalgar Road, London SE10   
Stocks Chimay Red and Blue, Orval, Leffe Vielle Cuvée, Hoegaarden, Forbidden Fruit, various lambics, Malheur and lots of others. www.theatreofwine.com

Utobeer, Borough Market, Southwark Street, London SE1   
Stall at "London's Larder". Open Friday afternoon and 9-4 on Saturdays, offering a broad selection of Belgian beers along with British and German ones. www.utobeer.co.uk. Also www.boroughmarket.org.uk.

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