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St. Barts, Smithfield, EC1
EC1
EC1A 9DY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about St. Barts
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.
On 10th October 2026
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2067 recommendations about 2020 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Balfour at St. Barts
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.
On 7th May 2026
- rating: 3
[User has posted 6829 recommendations about 6790 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about St. Barts Brewery
Curiosity nearly killed this cat,I just had to investigate given the name,but it's a misnomer and no brewing takes place here.It's vast inside and you have to ascend some sharp stone steps even to get through the front door.So large infact that a mezzanine gallery has been built and this too was packed.There is a high section by the front door ,and even two small sofas on the way to the subterranean loos,if you can't quite make it that far.
The very high ceiling and an ear splitting Drum and Base soundtrack with the Base turned up to 11 felt like some kind of FSB torture technique as my innards shook.
The bar just offered 1 real ale,the dreaded Doom Bar so I selected from the 16 kegs although several had run out,some were mainstream multinational crap with Beavertown Gamma Ray seemingly the best option,served in a dimple half by a friendly barmaid.
It's a young person's hangout with shouty men who know nothing about beer and desperate nurses from Barts.Unedifying and no reason to revisit.
On 2nd March 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3261 recommendations about 3261 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about St. Barts Brewery
Upmarket corner pub / restaurant, owned by the people behind the Hush Heath vineyards in Kent. Features a ceiling tall enough to fit in a decent-size mezzanine, and semi-modern furniture and decor throughout. Still no sign of any brewing, with the only tanks being for Meantime beer. Just Doom Bar (£4.75) on handpump, with two hooped founts of mildly interesting craft beers.
On 9th December 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9258 recommendations about 9258 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about St. Barts Brewery
Since the last reviews this has become St Barts Brewery, one of a handful of bars / eateries on Long Lane, behind Smithfield Market and easy walking distance from Barbican Tube. Steve's review of 2012 still rings true decor-wise - the new incumbents have gone for a 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' approach. Predictably busy on a weeknight considering the postcode, this had no real ale available, despite a solitary handpump being spotted (with a reversed clip). A half of a keg thing called Goose Midway IPA set me back £2.90 for a half. No sign of brewing going on, nor brewing paraphernalia. Tick it if you wish, but if it's on your list, don't enter with any expectations.
On 15th November 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1116 recommendations about 1116 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Distillers
This is a very smart pub with balcony and big chandeliers.No real ale but Affligem is a beer I like so that was me sorted
On 13th October 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Distillers
Formerly a Jamies bar, this current incarnation was launched a while back by the team behind The Distillers in Hammersmith and The Bedford in Balham.
It promotes itself as a modern British pub, but in reality it’s more of a gastro restaurant and wine bar hiding inside a pub skin.
Downstairs its one large open plan space whose décor is more flock curtains and chandeliers than traditional pub, mainly laid to tables around the two windowed walls and in the open space. There is an area up by the long bar, but this is not the type of establishment that you would envisage large groups going in for vertical drinking. And then a large stair case on the left leads to an upstairs mezzanine floor type section which has some pleasant, out the way booths along the walls, and an additional separate function room for hire with its own small bar.
It mainly focuses on wine and continental Lagers from what I could see, although there is two handpumps on the bar which had been dispensing Caledonian 2.8 and Adnams Regatta but both were off for my Saturday lunchtime visit, which was extremely ironic as I was only there for a GroupOn beer tasting event being hosted on the premises.
I’m sure this place provides a viable alternative for the workday crowd to the more traditional pubs available nearby, and has the advantage of being open on a Saturday when other establishments around Smithfield and the Barbican are not, but I can’t see myself returning here again.
On 12th April 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2375 recommendations about 2216 pubs]