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The Shakespeare's Head (Wetherspoon)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
WharfeBank - Treacle Toffee StoutExcellent1
Southwark - Potters' Fields PorterExcellent1
Batemans - Good George Pacific PearlExcellent1
Tring - Squadron ScrambleGood1
Adnams - Devils Backbone American AmberGood1
Wadworth - Smuttynose Murrikan MildGood1
Adnams - Green Hop AmberGood1
Banks's - Feral Australian IPAGood1
Phoenix - Double GoldGood1
Mauldons - Silver AdderAcceptable1
Lymestone - Pudding Stone (superseded by 4.4%)Acceptable1
Moorhouse's - APA SpecialAcceptable1
Marston's - Ishii Brewing Minagof Pale AleAcceptable1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Suffolk County Best BitterNot Tried0
Inveralmond - Lia FailNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Knight of the GarterNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Peaky Blinder Black IPA (was 4.6%)Not Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Greene King - George and the FlagonNot Tried0
Caledonian - Brewer's PassionNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - Orchid MildNot Tried0
Marston's - Single Hop: Pacific GemNot Tried0
Sambrook's - JunctionNot Tried0
Daleside - Spring TideNot Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - RunnerNot Tried0
Orkney (Sinclair) - 1878 Strong AleNot Tried0
Redemption - KazbekNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked LadiesNot Tried0
Redemption - Urban DuskNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - Foundation BitterNot Tried0
Sambrook's - ScrumdownNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Watneys Pale AleNot Tried0
Brains - SANot Tried0
Picture 1. The Shakespeare's Head, Holborn, Central London

Visits Details

18 Nov 2021 (ChrisE)
Another new Spoons for me. Two visits today, once in the morning for breakfast and later in the day for beer. Very busy on my drinking visit which was reassuring considering various reports on how central London pubs are suffering at the moment.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Southwark - Potters' Fields Porter4.00Excellent
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner4.00Not Tried
Redemption - Kazbek4.00Not Tried
01 May 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mauldons - Silver Adder4.20AcceptableOK but needed shots of lemonade to enliven it
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Brains - SA4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Suffolk County Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Inveralmond - Lia Fail4.70Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter3.80Not Tried
Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Peaky Blinder Black IPA (was 4.6%)4.40Not Tried
Greene King - George and the Flagon4.50Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Orchid Mild3.60Not Tried
04 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Phoenix - Double Gold5.00Good
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter4.20Not Tried
Sambrook's - Scrumdown4.00Not Tried
Sambrook's - Watneys Pale Ale4.20Not TriedI wonder who is mislead by the lack of brewing provenance
10 Nov 2015 (Stephen Harris)
In here to recover from the shock of the cost of a pint in another pub nearby. Very busy – no chance of a seat.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Green Hop Amber4.80GoodDelightfully rough and rustic pint for such a big brewery. Spicy English hop flavours.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Redemption - Urban Dusk4.60Not Tried
08 Apr 2013 (Stephen Harris)
The spring ‘Spoon’s beer festival has been largely passing me by this year, but I popped in here for a couple of halves to show willing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Batemans - Good George Pacific Pearl5.50ExcellentA black IPA. The smooth, rich, dark malt tastes are very good. These are overlaid with fruity Pacific hop flavours that are just a little too understated.
Adnams - Devils Backbone American Amber4.80GoodAmber/red in colour. Plenty of citrus hop and a little bit of roasted barley taste. Needs a little more body in my view although, oddly, it tasted a bit more rounded as the glass went down.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Caledonian - Brewer's Passion4.60Not Tried
Marston's - Single Hop: Pacific Gem4.00Not Tried
Daleside - Spring Tide4.70Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - 1878 Strong Ale5.50Not Tried
01 Dec 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with diners on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Lymestone - Pudding Stone (superseded by 4.4%)4.80AcceptablePale strong bitter with little hop character and a dry, yeasty, malty character. The finish is tangy and yeasty. My score 13/20.
06 Nov 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy but managed to get a perch along the side wall.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tring - Squadron Scramble4.00GoodMalty amber bitter with biscuity malty dominating over traditional English hop flavours. My score 15/20.
31 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy on a Wednesday evening but managed to get a table.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Feral Australian IPA5.50GoodStrong amber bitter with a good balance of sweet maltiness and fruity hop. My score 15/20.
Marston's - Ishii Brewing Minagof Pale Ale4.30AcceptableAmber bitter with a traditional flavour of hop bitterness but little maltiness or fruit. Dryish finish. My score 14/20.
22 Mar 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Filled up quickly from 5pm for the Thursday Curry Club.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wadworth - Smuttynose Murrikan Mild4.20GoodA good interpretation of a light mild, with sweet cereally notes and a hint of weetabix. Very low hop rate with a dryish finish. My score 15/20.
Moorhouse's - APA Special4.80AcceptableNot terribly impressed with this, promised more than it delivered. A rather harsh earthy hop taste dominates with little or no malt backup. Very dry, earthy finish. My score 13/20.
06 Oct 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with after work drinkers and tourists.
BeerABVScoreNotes
WharfeBank - Treacle Toffee Stout4.40ExcellentNear black with huge toffee malt initial flavour with the treacle coming through towards the finish. Good depth of flavour but slightly dies in the finish. My score 17/20.

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About The Shakespeare's Head

The pub sign. The Shakespeare's Head, Holborn, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent5
Good10
Acceptable8
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Holborn, Central London, WC2B 6BG.

Long pub on corner of Kingsway and Holborn. Bar down the left hand side as you enter with lots of etched glass screens breaking up the feel of a large drinking hall. Rear section is particularly pleasant and less busy. 12 handpumps in 2 banks, each of 6.

We have visited this pub 20 times, seen 50 different beers and tried 24 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2B 6BG