Picture of Holborn Whippet, WC1A 2QH

Historical version 8 of Holborn Whippet, WC1A 2QH (view current version)

Pub in Holborn converted from a former restaurant, and run by the same people behind the Euston Tap.

On our first visit shortly after it opened in mid-2012, there was little indication of its pub-like nature aside from the A-board advertising the place, and a few trestle tables with drinkers.

Inside, the space is broken up by columns and is fitted out entirely with high tables and stools, with most tables large enough for around 4-5 people. The polished floors and lack of decoration mean the noise bounces around the space, and hence it's likely to be noisy when the after-work drinkers are in. On a Wednesday evening in mid-2012, a month after opening, it was fairly pleasant, not too crowded (and therefore not excessively noisy), with music playing not too loudly. On a Thursday evening in December 2012, no music was playing, but it was very busy, even at the very-post-work hour of 10pm (though this may have been partly due to the proximity of Christmas).

The bar is built around a large central pillar into the bricks of which are fitted gravity taps for cask ales, keg beers and ciders on three sides photo. These are all chalked up above the taps (repeated on each side), and are constantly changing. Standard prices for cask ales as of June 2012 seem to be £3.40 (with higher alcohol brews such as Thornbridge Jaipur a bit more pricy). Brewers such as Williams Bros and Dark Star are heavily represented, and Ewan tried a Williams Brothers Scottish Joker and Dark Star Sussex Extra Stout on cask, as well as a Black Isle Porter and a Kostritzer Schwarzbier on keg, all of which were well-kept and served. On a return visit, a pint of Bernard Dark lager (£3.60) was excellent and nicely presented in a branded glass photo.

There is an open kitchen downstairs (which customers will pass on the way to the toilets), now serving burgers and steak sandwiches, amongst other things (as updated on their Twitter account). There is a bit more space downstairs for eating and drinking, though as of a month after opening there's still not a great deal of furniture down there.

Accessibility: Toilets are in the basement. There's no normal-height seating inside, just high stools.

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Last visited by bob, April or May 2013.
OS X co-ord: 530428 OS Y co-ord: 181631 (Latitude: 51.518040 Longitude: -0.119980)
This is version 8 (as of 2013-05-21 12:28:43). View current version. List all versions.