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The Wenlock Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Aylesbury (ABC) - Channel SurfingExcellent1
Botanist - Q GoldExcellent1
Botanist - Sixty FiveExcellent1
Botanist - NemophilaExcellent1
Mighty Oak - JuggernautExcellent1
Andwell - May's MildExcellent1
Botanist - King GeorgeGood1
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Swift & SwallowGood1
Moncada - Notting Hill Summer (superseded by 3.2% version)Good1
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk StoutGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft TopGood1
Moncada - Notting Hill Bitter (new strength)Good1
Vale - Diamond ReignGood1
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)Good1
Botanist - Kew GoldGood1
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Seek & SaveGood1
Botanist - OK BitterAcceptable1
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Basking SharkAcceptable1
Botanist - Humulus LupulusAcceptable1
Aylesbury (ABC) - Not Euro FizzAcceptable1
Cottage - Diamond SovereignAcceptable1
London Brewing Co. - Raspberry WheatPoor1
Adnams - Diamond AleNot Tried0
Milestone - SupporterNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Diamond LizNot Tried0
Humpty Dumpty - Jubilee MildNot Tried0
Aylesbury (ABC) - Magnetic NorthNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow HammerNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - Blackwater MildNot Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Branscombe (was Branscombe Vale) - BranocNot Tried0
Dark Star - Victorian Ruby MildNot Tried0
Botanist - Night PorterNot Tried0
Cheddar - Totty PotNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Kohinoor Jubilee Commonwealth Indies Pale AleNot Tried0
Cottage - Austin A40 SomersetNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Visits Details

14 Jul 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quite busy late on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Basking Shark3.70AcceptableGolden ale with little hop character and an appley flavour. Little malt character either and a dryish finish. My score 13/20.
Aylesbury (ABC) - Not Euro Fizz4.50AcceptableBittersweet pale ale with low hop and malt character. Slightly fruity finish. My score 14/20.
11 Jul 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close (as you do). 8 or 10 customers quaffing. 2 large 4(ish) feet high boxes in evidence. These contain 2 new sets of Angram 5 handpump bar units. These will replace the existing 5 unit and 4 singletons in due course presumably with some associated bartop renovation. Changes are afoot!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Aylesbury (ABC) - Channel Surfing5.00ExcellentFull flavoured stout. The clip calls it "High Definition Stout"!
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20GoodFirst sweetish brew for a while so took time for the old tastebuds to acclimatise
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow Hammer4.20Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Blackwater Mild3.70Not Tried
Aylesbury (ABC) - Not Euro Fizz4.50Not Tried
30 Jun 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
A few in on a Saturday lunchtime with a slow increase in punters.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Juggernaut4.60ExcellentStrong amber bitter with a full on fruity hop flavour with citrus and tropical fruits in the mix. Lingering fruity finish. My score 16/20.
Andwell - May's Mild3.20ExcellentReddish brown mild named after a brewery, not a month. Low hop rate and toasted malt character to give a fairly dry finish. My score 16/20.
London Brewing Co. - Raspberry Wheat3.80PoorPale pinkish cloudy wheat beer that was really quite sour. The combination of tart raspberries and the sour wheat beer flavour did not work for me. My score 11/20.
26 Jun 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Meet the brewer night with Moncada this evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Swift & Swallow3.90GoodWel balanced pale brew with biscuity malt and some hop bitterness. My score 15/20.
Moncada - Notting Hill Summer (superseded by 3.2% version)3.60GoodGolden ale, quite malty with background hoppiness. My score 15/20.
Moncada - Notting Hill Bitter (new strength)3.70GoodReduced in strength from 4.3% to 3.7% as the brewer perfects his recipes. An amber bitter with a good balance of hop and malt with a dryish finish. My score 15/20.
12 Jun 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
As busy as it ever has been this evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Vale - Diamond Reign4.40GoodPale bitter with a good balance of hop and malt. Fairly bitter finish. My score 15/20.
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Seek & Save3.50GoodTraditional malty amber bitter, biscuity malt and little hoppiness evident. My score 15/20.
Cottage - Diamond Sovereign4.60AcceptableLight brown/amber with a hint of hop bitterenss but little malt character. Rather hazy. My score 12/20 with B for quality.
11 Jun 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
2240 hours visit. Probably 6 or 8 customers in for a quiet Monday night.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50GoodSeems a resurgence of Milk Stouts at the moment. Had none for years and some on Friday last and tonight!
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Aylesbury (ABC) - Magnetic North3.80Not Tried
Cottage - Diamond Sovereign4.60Not Tried
Vale - Diamond Reign4.40Not Tried
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Truman's Seek & Save3.50Not Tried
03 Jun 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
2300 hours visit in more persistent rain. About a dozen customers supping. Slowly changes being made here - clean ups and a barrier door across the back of bar walkway.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Botanist - Q Gold4.50ExcellentOnce first pint went down others followed
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Kohinoor Jubilee Commonwealth Indies Pale Ale4.50Not Tried
Cottage - Austin A40 Somerset4.00Not TriedMy Dad had one of these cars MXH810
Adnams - Diamond Ale4.10Not Tried
Milestone - Supporter5.20Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Diamond Liz4.50Not Tried
Humpty Dumpty - Jubilee Mild4.50Not Tried
31 May 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quick visit to get a beer I missed at the meet the brewer. Very quiet early on a Thursday evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Botanist - Sixty Five3.40ExcellentA dark ruby mild in the Southern style, sweet and fairly malty with a dryish finish. My score 16/20.
29 May 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
The first meet the brewer event under the new management, Botanist this evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Botanist - OK Bitter4.20AcceptableLived up to its name, no fireworks here just a slightly bitter and hoppy amber beer. My score 14/20.
Botanist - Humulus Lupulus3.80AcceptablePale with a bitter hop character but not much balance giving a very dry, bitter finish. My score 14/20.
29 May 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Great to see this pub improving rather than disappearing. A chance tonight to try the Botanist brews and chat with the brewers, although I missed their presentation. Martin the Mildman was just leaving as I arrived, so expect some more-considered tasting notes from him sometime soon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Botanist - Nemophila4.70ExcellentA deep red/brown, smooth stout with a chocolate malt taste and some roastiness.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft Top3.50GoodA dark mild.
Botanist - Kew Gold4.50GoodA golden-coloured beer in a lager style.
Botanist - King George4.70GoodCopper-coloured, with a strong peat-smoke aroma and taste. It grew on me and I enjoyed my half, but it could do with a bit more subtlety – a point acknowledged by brewer Johannes, who said he is not yet completely satisfied with the beer’s balance.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Branscombe (was Branscombe Vale) - Branoc3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Victorian Ruby Mild6.00Not Tried
Botanist - Night Porter5.00Not Tried
Botanist - OK Bitter4.20Not Tried
Cheddar - Totty Pot4.50Not Tried

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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