St. Barts, Smithfield, EC1

Visited 05/10/26. Visited previously as Balfour St Barts on 24/10/18. No cask. Single handpump dispensing London Pride had the clip turned round. Keg offering of Asahi, Peroni, Lucky Saint, Jubel peach lager, Neck Oil, Hawkstone IPA & lager, Cornish Orchards cider, Pravha and Guinness. Corner venue opposite Smithfield meat market, recently added to the Fuller's stable it appears from Oct/Nov 26 edition of London Drinker. Fundamentally disappointing visit on the beer front - the single handpump not dispensing. Larger carcasses processed opposite than this dead duck. Bar counter, in a bare boarded venue, along the right-hand wall with some tables laid for diners on a raised area to the immediate right of the corner entrance. Floor space in front of the bar counter has several tall tables with tall stools and there is a banquette around the left-hand corner in the front part of the venue serving regular tables. The rear part of the ground floor also has several regular tables. There is a wraparound mezzanine level hosting regular tables and chairs accessed by a flight of stairs to the immediate left of the entrance. No screens and a heavy house music soundtrack being played on my visit to an otherwise quiet venue. Not one I am likely to revisit unless Fullers do something drastic with this one - they have a much better venue next door in the Butcher's Hook & Cleaver so don't get this addition to the stable.

Official site of St. Barts - www.stbartspub.co.uk

Official site of St. Barts - www.stbartspub.co.uk

Balfour at St Barts is a large bar that had dance music playing during a recent midweek afternoon visit. The raised area with seating up the right-hand wall looked like it could easily be turned into a stage which I assume is used when the doors are closed every weekend for private events. There are high tables in the centre of the room and to the left are some standard tables and chairs. The left-hand side was roped off for a private event and there was nobody on the mezzanine that runs up the left and above the serving counter across the rear. Premium keg was available alongside mainstream craft keg, and the lone hand pump was badged with Doom Bar, but this was off. This place is aimed at the younger people of London, so I’ll not be returning.