For three months, the Guinness pop-up, described as an “immersive” space, has been open at what is still (probably) the city’s most popular dining destination, The Ned. They have partnered with Guinness to transform their Long Bar into the Guinness Bar, where they will serve what they hope is premium Guinness, complemented by Guinness food and cocktails (which contain a small amount of Guinness).
Where is it?
For simplicity, we’ll assume you know how to get to The Ned. That being said, if you get lost at Bank station, please note that you need to take Exit 3 via the Central Line platform. As we always seem to take the wrong exit but eventually find our way, we’re just passing on this hopefully useful information.
When you’re at The Ned, you’ll find that the Guinness Bar is located one level below ground. So, you can walk up the large staircase on the west side of the building and once you’ve gone down, you’ll find the bar right in front of you. There are some signage on the way, but confusingly, there are none at the entrance to the bar. However, if you get lost, there are plenty of staff to show you the way.
How immersive is it?
Immersive might be a bit of a stretch. The pub has certainly had a makeover, including some very expensive-looking signage on top of the bar, which makes it look like it’s been around for much longer than the current three-month plan.
While there are classic/retro Guinness posters hanging throughout the bar (all of them are “Guinness is good for you” posters), this is really the extent of the redesign. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, as it’s a beautiful bar and the retro posters do look right at home. Think of it as a cosy old-fashioned lounge bar, just with a bit of a Guinness makeover.
It’s worth noting that while the upstairs bar and restaurant are as busy and bustling as ever, the Guinness bar is a slightly quieter haven. It’s walk-ins only, so if you do want to have a drink at The Ned but want to find somewhere a little more laid-back, it’s worth checking out. One thing to note though – we did go on a Tuesday. Saturdays can be very, very different and a lot busier.
Is it safe to say that these pints were good?
Given that this is an official and fairly well-known Guinness pub, it’s fair to expect that the beer here is good. A decent beer, arguably the latest to be popularised in London by The Devonshire, is the least you can expect here. They say they have the shortest Guinness lines in the city (from cask to tap) and a lot of attention is paid to pouring a perfect beer. Yes, it was a very good Guinness indeed, at least on par with what The Devonshire has to offer. We don’t claim to be the absolute authority on stout, but in our opinion, this is the best and if you’re looking for such a beer in the city, you need to come here and at least try this pub.
The only thing that was a bit odd for us was that there was no 0% Guinness on offer, not even in cans. That felt like a bit of a missed opportunity.
But it’s not all about the pints, is it?
During the pop-up, there’s a special menu, with all food and drinks containing varying amounts of Guinness. Of course, you’ll find the most famous Guinness cocktail, the Black Velvet (although here it’s the Royal Velvet, with English sparkling wine, Guinness and blackcurrant).
Conclusion
If you like a pint of stout and you happen to be in or around town, this is a good choice, especially mid-week when it’s easier to find a table. Importantly, the Guinness is great and the snacks are pretty good.
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