Butcher's Hook & Cleaver, Smithfield

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FancyaPint?'s review...

The name is an obvious cash-in on the Smithfield meat-market tradition but this spacious and quite ornate beer hall is actually part converted bank, part shop next door. It's all there on paper: a long, elegant bar, comfortable seating, high-ceilings and an almost majestic spiral staircase leading to the comfortable mezzanine. Fullers' beers speak for themselves with the entire range on offer and all well kept. And yes you know whose is whose as you get them - the Pride comes in the traditional pint glasses with London Pride written on them while it's ESB marked goblets for the other favourite. There's the usual lagers, a decent wine list and good food available until nine. But somehow it's slightly soulless and flat - The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy verdict on planet earth seems appropriate: mostly harmless.

Review: 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by dino 19 May 2010 Helpful? yes/no

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PubStub
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30 Oct 2008

The write-up for this pub is spot on. It's a great setting with my favourite beers on tap, but has the depressingly characterless feel of a chain pub (which is what it is, albeit a Fullers chain). Personally I can overlook this once in a while, in the name of a goblet of ESB. Definitely worth stopping off for one if you're on a smithfields pub crawl