Holborn Whippet

We ordered a pizza, and while it was decent, this place doesn’t actually have plates. When we asked for them, the bar maid had an attitude, but the person who brought up the pie managed to find some smaller trays we might use for the purpose. It was alright for a quick pop in, but I wouldn’t go back anytime soon.

The beer there is really good, and they have a great collection of craft beers. They have room for you to seat which is nice on a friday night, the décor is nice and the staff too. The only negative point is maybe that the last round is at around 10:45 and they stop serving at 11, leaving you lost in the middle of Holborn. So great for an afterwork or if you plan to go elsewhere afterwards.

Really amazing craft beer selection. This is Mecca for beer, if you forgive the awkward analogy. I like that the bartender offers samples of everything. It’s cool that you order from the bar, and you food comes right away. Our food was very good, especially the bratwurst and the fries. In summary, great food, excellent beer selection, friendly staff.

I work about 200 metres away from this place and had often wandered past sicilian avenue admiring the various revellers drinking outside in the sunshine, without realising the name and vibe of this place.
The staff are quick to serve and friendly, and as long as you get there early you’re guaranteed to grab a seat. My friend and I hadn’t planned to eat there so it took a lot of willpower to abstain from the seductive aromas of their pizza… I will definitely go back just so I can try some :)
Also, anywhere that serves house white wine for £3.50 a glass is a winner!

Simple décor, with reasonably prized drinks– I had just eaten, and I resisted the food, but it looked fantastic and very tempting.
The staff were lovely and friendly, there was a nice crowd, and it was lovely to sit outside. Drinks were reasonably cheap, and I don’t think I’ve ever been served in a pub in London so quickly.
I hope to go back soon and try the food!

My favorite watering hole in London. It can get crowded and lively and difficult to find seating at times. The beer selection is very good, though limited– in a good way. They tend to switch up the selection of draughts, which is really nice, until they rotate out your favorite pour. The food offerings are likewise limited, but conversely pedestrian. The bartenders are great, but keep in mind that when it’s packed it can take awhile to get a drink. However, if you come regularly and treat your bartenders well, they do remember you and try to slake your thirst a bit more quickly.

The few times I’ve been in here the staff and atmosphere has always been very welcoming and lively. It’s a great location and a good selection of drinks. The only real gripe is the lack of seating.

Quick review:
I think the success of the Holborn Whippet is somewhat dependent on the time that you go. Afterwork crowd? IT’S SO MUCH FUN! WE’RE SARDINES! DRINKING CRAFT BEER! IT’S PACKED AND IT’S BOOZY AND… DID SOMEONE SAY PIZZA?
Go on a weekend night and it’s…kindof weird. Like a few couples, and packs of all-​dudes talking about the merits of The Simpsons versus Family Guy (ok, ok, this is actually a totally legit conversation, but still… it felt like I was back in my undergrad common room a little).
That said: it’s central, it’s easy for all friends from all directions to get to, and *great beer selection*. Double points for the (rotating!) craft beer selection. Also, gotta say: got a 5 GBP negroni and it was strong and chock-​a-​block of citrus rind and I was a happy gal.
Unilocal note: the bathrooms skeeve me out, and not just after I’ve had one too many. They’re in the basement and the women’s opens up into the… boiler room? Maybe I’ve watched too many episodes of NCIS, but…*shudders, man*

Do you like beer? yes? well, me too. I actually LOVE beer, and as far as i’m concerned this is one of the best place in London to have one.
Just behind Holborn tube station, the atmoshpere of a typical english pub, pleasant and cosy, with nice wooden furniture.
The sign says «beer from the brick» and the beer acutally comes out from a brick wall XD
Great selection of brew blends, rather cheap to be in central London and all unique, i didn’t tried them all, but i can suggest the house cider! (a.m.a.z.i.n.g.)
The food is pretty enjoyable, i’m not a meat lover, so i didn’t try the burgers but my friend who had, looked pretty happy about it XD

I like pubs. I love this one. Right off the Holborn tube stop and nearby the Russell Square stop. Beautiful selection of beer, like gorgeous really. Good food, not your traditional pub feel much more open to company.
Great crowd any time of day.

Awesomeness on tap awaits. Despite being able to get them just across the river, I had a couple of Kernel beers, Table and IPA, I believe, on separate visits. Yum, of course, paired with a salty plate of «fries» which is a steal at £3, and I am in beer heaven. I also had a nice best bitter but can’t remember the name of the brewery. I was too distracted by people watching out into Sicilian Ave.
I remember back when this place was just getting itself together and there was a pizza oven down in the basement that wasn’t working yet. Well now it’s up and running and the last time I was there they even obliged my lactose intolerance and left cheese off half a pie I was sharing with a friend. When places do that, it really endears them. So hurrah for the Whippet!

Fantastic selection of beers! Always something new to try.
As others have noted, the location indicated on the Unilocal map is off by a few blocks. Correct location is the corner of Bloomsbury Way and Kingsway, across from the southeast corner of Bloomsbury Square Garden.
Cheers

DIRECTION: The place indicated on the Unilocal map is wrong. Google map it to find the correct location. It is still close by.
BEER: Great selection of craft beers! Decent prices for London too! 3−4£ for a pint.
LOCATION: So nice in the summer! Outside area to sit and hang out. Got crowded in the evening tho.

I love this place!!! A great beer bar in central London?! Genius! It benefits from being tucked down a smaller alley so foot traffic won’t find it unless they’re looking for it. The beer selection is great and the staff is helpful and offers great suggestions.
I love the way the beer list is laid out with the taps in the brick wall and a chalkboard. Simple but effective!
The crowds spill out onto the street outside after work hours. It’s hard to get a table, but possible. The loos are clean and the décor is pleasant and welcoming. I’m thrilled with this place as a beer bar. I’m curious what their food tastes like — might have to revise at some point based on that. Definitely recommend!

Quality little establishment in central london. They serve a bunch of random beers from behind a brick wall. Working out what you would like is tricky at times and it gets very busy in the post work sunshine.
It is well worth having a beer here though.

London, thank you — you’ve finally woken up! After years of debating with friends, foes and strangers in the UK on the quality of American beer, our beautiful capital has finally seen the light! The rest of the UK might still be wavering behind, but London has set the standard for the future of craft beer in the UK. Thank god! I was starting to worry that if I had to hear one more Brit lecture me on the vulgarity of Budweiser whilst clutching a tepid Carling, I’d gouge my eyes out.
But finally, America’s «craft» revolution has hit the capital and its growing like a pack of rampant rabbits. Pubs that used to feature mediocre lager taps as permanent fixtures are suddenly stocking rich IPAs, smoked Stouts and smooth wheat beers — both foreign and locally produced. A I can say is that it’s about time. And i’m not talking about warm, old man ales here — i know these have been around for ages — i’m talking about cold, crisp, flavorsome and slightly effervescent brews that straddle the line between ale and lager. This is what real American beer is like — so please leave your Budweiser digs at home.
The Holborn Whippet gets 5 stars from me due to the diversity and quality of craft brews sold. They’ve blended the best of British and American brewing concepts, offering patrons something truly unique in a part of London (central) that thrives off of monotonous chains and lackluster drinking establishments. The small chalkboard surrounding the taps dictates the ever-​changing lineup of drinks on offer each day. One can’t expect to have the same thing twice in here, let alone recognize half of the brands and brews on offer, and I find this diversity downright fantastic. Every visit is an education and an experience for me. Their staff are well-​versed in their product and are always on hand to offer advice and samples. Everything from a light, flowery IPA to a tongue-​scrapingly hoppy one can be tasted here. Sample that next to a rich, luscious porter or a local white beer and you’ll get my drift. At The Whippet its all about diversity, quality and locality.
And if you’re hungry, the food is worth noting as well. They serve up classic pub fare with a gastro twist, i.e. finger sandwiches, posh burgers and the most bangin’ seasoned french fries that I’ve ever had (honestly!). If you’re on a health kick, I can also vouch for the Greek salad — it’s absolutely awesome.
In sum, I can’t recommend The Whippet enough. If this is an example of what future London establishments are going to be like, one thing that I can guarantee is that I won’t be going anywhere for a while.

This place is definitely a good option for a pint with a few friends. In fairer weather there is plenty of seating outside as well as tables located near the bar. The thing that attracted me most to this place was the selection of craft beer and local ciders. I was thrilled to try some local drinks to really get into the spirit of London. The staff were also very chill and it seemed like they liked working there. Overall, a nice place to chat with friends!

Nice English pub by soho on oxford st. Good after work crowd and pleasant atmosphere.

The Holborn Whippet offers a good mix of craft beer, seating and food, but it’s not quite perfect.
The beer is what the Whippet sells itself on, and it’s reasonable: 14 ales on tap, with the use of small blackboards to describe them suggesting regular changes. Clearly enough to put the Whippet ahead of an average chain (e.g. Youngs, Greene King, Sam Smiths etc) pub, but not able to challenge the likes of the Draft Houses, the Powder Keg Diplomacy or the 300 – 400 beer-​strong pubs from the Craft Beer Company. Plus the choice of beers there when I was there was I thought a little suspect. A good framboise and a strong stout, but a couple from the London Fields brewery whose beers I think don’t compare to most other London craft breweries (e.g. Redchurch, Camden Beer, Meantime, Sambrook etc). The Whippet sells wine too, but only around 5 reds and 3 – 4 whites.
It does however score high with its interior: plenty of seating and a pleasing indie/​funk (Strokes, Daft Punk) soundtrack playing in the background. The Euston Tap this is not.
Service is good too, with staff who know the beers they’re selling and also willing to let you try the beers there before buying. It also sells food, which I haven’t tried but it looked promising.
Overall: definitely worth a visit as a part of exploring London’s growing craft beer scene.
Update, in response to Zander J’s review: It’s true that the Whippet has more beers on tap than the Powder Keg Diplomacy and — by 1 – 2 beers — the Draft Houses. My statement was referring to the bottled beers that the Powder Keg and Draft Houses have and which the Whippet does not. If you prefer your beers on tap, you may thus prefer the Whippet. Personally I’m after variety, both on tap and bottled, and so prefer the wares of the Powder Keg Diplomacy and Draft Houses.

perfect venue for a craft brew happy hour. knowledgeable bartenders and decent list variety of beer. get there early to secure a spot as it does get crowded on a sunny day.
and if you’re not feeling up to beer, they do have wine and mixed drinks… but why do that with the great selection of brews?