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The Wenlock Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Adnams - Old AleExcellent1
Hackney - American Pale AleExcellent1
AllGates - One Hop CitraExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Franklins - Citra IPAExcellent2
Flipside - Farthing MildExcellent1
Five Points - First Brews No. 2 - PorterExcellent2
Long Man - Best BitterGood1
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)Good1
Pitfield's - 30 Not Out!Good1
Mighty Oak - Heart's DesireGood1
West Berkshire - Good Old BoyGood1
Slater's - Reserve - Milk StoutGood1
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldGood1
Aylesbury (ABC) - Smart Big FishAcceptable1
Rebellion - Fat CatAcceptable1
Weetwood - Oast House GoldNot Tried0
Sunny Republic - Huna RedNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Umbel MagnaNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's HealerNot Tried0
Sunny Republic - Hop DogNot Tried0
Slater's - Retro RedNot Tried0
AllGates - AdmiralNot Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Milton - Minotaur MildNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - AmarilloNot Tried0
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the MooseNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - Blackwater MildNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - ConquerorNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Windsor KnotNot Tried0
Hackney - Best BitterNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - Brewers GoldNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Visits Details

09 Jun 2014 (Archie14)
This is a proper old fashioned back street boozer, friendly staff, kept really busy as the pub was really busy most of which were locals who also were friendly. Great ale selection and good hot and cold snacks on offer too, large crowed enjoying a game of darts while Black Sabbath playing in the background made for a nice visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentGreat condition, delicious :)
Flipside - Farthing Mild3.60ExcellentNice mid to dark mild with a nice smooth chocolate finish
West Berkshire - Good Old Boy4.00GoodRuby ale with hints vanilla
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Weetwood - Oast House Gold5.00Not Tried
Sunny Republic - Huna Red4.20Not Tried
West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's Healer5.00Not Tried
Sunny Republic - Hop Dog5.50Not Tried
18 Mar 2014 (Baymart)
Classic old style pub, would revisit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Good
06 Jan 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 2200 hours and total darkness reigns here despite the Opening hours sign in the door saying Monday 4-11. Poor show which will deter any future visit as it is a trek to get here and so much choice in alternatives. Or has the place gone under?
BeerABVScoreNotes
11 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
I went to one grand Wenlock Arms re-opening party around 15 or more years ago. So I did not feel too bad about missing the latest one whilst on holiday. It is different but the same. Clean. No piano (oops, I've been corrected - apparently it has just moved to a different position). You can no longer see the cellar through the hole in the floor. Unsurprisingly, the old gents toilets are sealed off and they have started afresh downstairs. But it’s work-in-progress.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - First Brews No. 2 - Porter4.20ExcellentGreat, tangy, fresh, fruity, black porter.
Franklins - Citra IPA5.50GoodGolden in colour. Full of citrusy, sharp, Citra hops. Needs a bit more umph for its strength.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Blackwater Mild3.70Not Tried
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror5.00Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot4.00Not Tried
Long Man - Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Hackney - Best Bitter4.40Not Tried
10 Jun 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Well it has been opened a week now. Visit and make your own mind up. Upper floors shrouded in scaffolding. Very enthusiastic bar staff. For me the jury is out but "progress" was inevitable. Constructively I suggest addition of some soft furnishings or the like to dampen the echoing and provision of padding above the left hand ground floor Gents urinal as I bumped my head on the alcove ceiling as stood upright after doing the business. 10% CAMRA discount proferred and gladly accepted. Intended short stay lasted until close. Some things never change - the good old beer flies hovered.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hackney - American Pale Ale4.50ExcellentPerhaps just a tad cloying
Franklins - Citra IPA5.50ExcellentSubtle flavours - I enjoyed this beer a lot so had another
Five Points - First Brews No. 2 - Porter4.20ExcellentWow for burnt bitterness
Long Man - Best Bitter4.00GoodInitial euphoria lead to disappointment
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Blackwater Mild3.70Not Tried
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror5.00Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot4.00Not Tried
27 May 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
The Twittersphere advises this pub will re-open on Monday 3rd June 2013. We must wait to see how changed it is or not! The handpumps have been delivered and fitted and an array of keg taps for "craft products" is in evidence.
BeerABVScoreNotes
04 Apr 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Abortive trip as closed for major refurbishment. Subsequent investigations imply late April or May re-opening. Going to have the blocked off corner doors re-opened and general refurbishment. One just hopes the place will not become in keeping with the general gentrification of the area. For me its charm has always been primarily as a run down but characterful timewarp street corner boozer with good real ale and music.
BeerABVScoreNotes
19 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Not crowded, and I even got a seat after standing at the bar for a little while.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Heart's Desire3.60GoodA golden ale.
Slater's - Reserve - Milk Stout5.90GoodA near black beer. A bit of lactose sweetness, bit of acidity.
Rebellion - Fat Cat4.20AcceptableA red/brown beer with a sweetish malt taste.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Milton - Minotaur Mild3.30Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Amarillo5.00Not Tried
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
13 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close. Half a dozen in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)4.20GoodGood but not spectacular
Pitfield's - 30 Not Out!3.00GoodLow abv Pale Ale celebrating Pitfield's survival over 30 years at various sites
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Umbel Magna5.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Slater's - Retro Red5.70Not Tried
AllGates - Admiral4.30Not Tried
29 Jan 2013 (Martin the Mildman)
Good crowd in this Tuesday evening, almost like old times again with cellar runs too.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Old Ale4.10ExcellentExcellent brown old style mild ale with lots of sweetish malt flavours and a little fruity hop for balance. My score 16/20.
AllGates - One Hop Citra4.20ExcellentPale with full on pungent citrus hop flavour which lingers in the finish. My score 16/20.
Aylesbury (ABC) - Smart Big Fish4.30AcceptableRed ale with crystal malt giving a rather cloying bittersweet flavour with little balance. My score 14/20.

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About The Wenlock Arms

The pub sign. The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional9
Excellent183
Good267
Acceptable225
Poor25

Website.

The pub is found in Hoxton, Central London, N1 7TA.

Re-opened Monday 3rd June 2013 after a period of closure for major refurbishment. The corner double door entrance is now open with floor tiles entrance "mat" renovated - these doors carry published opening times, previously always very "flexible". Is now a Ground Floor and Basement operation only as the upper floors are being converted to residential use. 2 very fine large Wenlock Brewery mirrors adorn the walls. 10 handpumps on the front of original horseshoe bar counter in two side-by-side banks of 5. The 2 lighted statues from top of bar overhead have migrated to either end of the mantelpiece over the open fire. A row of 10 keg taps have been introduced. Gents toilet with 2 urinals at Ground Floor level in left hand corner. New stairs customer access to basement for 2 Ladies toilets and a Gents sit-down. The backless piano has been retained but moved from the right hand corner to the left hand corner. Mini boxes of cider for sale at the back of the right hand leg of the bar counter. The pub is now operated by Moontide which offers a 10% discount on real ales for card carrying CAMRA members. HISTORICAL INFORMATION : For a long time THE real ale house in North London. For years run by guvnors Wills and Steve. A battle royale was on in 2012 to save the pub from the developers into whose hands it had fallen. The local council provided some protection but the battle continued. As at November 2012 yet another revised planning application was made to convert the floors above the pub into accommodation leaving the pub to run as a ground floor and basement operation only. Watch this space! Closed for major refurbishment of the ground floor after business on Sunday 3rd March 2013 with opening planned for, perhaps, late April or May 2013. Planning application to convert upper floors to flats was approved by the local Council sometime in early 2013 meaning loss of the first floor facilities - principally the function room. 2017 North London CAMRA branch Pub of the Year.

We have visited this pub 219 times, seen 757 different beers and tried 655 of them.

Map location

Postcode: N1 7TA