Thames Side Brewery Taproom, Staines Town, Staines Upon Thames

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Thames Side Brewery Taproom

I'd been to the two previous Thames Side Brewery Taprooms but this one had evaded me until yesterday. It is a standalone building on a roundabout next to the Two Rivers and Elmsleigh shopping centres where local youths like to race their cars around in the evening.

From the outside, it looks like a doctors or dental surgery. Inside feels more like a warehouse. There are some similarities with the Last Hop, where the brewery had previously been located before some kind of split of the brewers. The brewing equipment can be seen on the right hand side, with the bar on the left near the entrance. The space opens out to the rear, where the vast majority of the seating can be found, along with a stage where a singer/keyboard player was performing on our Sunday afternoon visit. Indeed, there are many guitars and other musical items lining the walls, which reflect the taproom's focus on live music. Quiz nights are also held.

I believe the bar had 8 handpulls. 5 were clipped with Thames Side beers. Egyptian Goose & Heron Ale are regular beers. Also on were Swan Song, Mallard Mild & Black Magic Woman. There were also a couple of guests - Tring Liberator & New Bristol The Joy of Sesh. Ciders are well represented. In fact, I hear that it has won the local CAMRA branch's cider pub of the year award. Those available yesterday were Thames Sider White Lion, Broadoak Pheasant Plucker & Pineapple and Grapefruit Cider, Wiscombe Suicider & Thirsty Farmer Still Dry Nottinghamshire Cider & Blackcurrant Cider. Craft beers were Windsor & Eton Storm & Beavertown Neck Oil.

Food is served. A large group had been having Sunday lunch. We were offered a roast potato each by the bar staff, which was a nice touch. Thursday is curry night. Both children and dogs are allowed in.

CAMRA 50p vouchers are also accepted and the Mallard Mild was on offer at £4 a pint. So, you could have quite a cheap session in here. I thought that this place was better than the Last Hop and also a nicer drinking environment than the original brewery on the riverside. It easily deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide.

On 14^th September 2026 - rating: 8
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