Billy Franks Craft Beer & Snack Shack

Location: 104 Druid Street

Saturday opening hours: 1200-2300

Other days: Sunday 1200-1800, Friday 1700-2300

Official site: https://billyfranks.co.uk/pages/craft-beer-snack-shack

Last updated: 24/01/2022

In the early days of the unpleasantness, when a lot of the bars on the Mile couldn't operate properly as bars, many went for the compromise of offering a take-out service. Which made it a bit of a shame that since the demise of The Bottle Shop and the relocation of All Good Beer, there wasn't really a dedicated craft beer bottle shop here that people could visit. Presumably, that's why there is now.

Billy Franks is an odd one - they're not a brewery, they make beer snacks (so perhaps not that odd really). They've had premises here on Druid Street for a while now, and they've been selling their jerkies in Maltby Street Market as well as various bars across London. What they've done now is convert their premises into a shopfront where they can sell their snacks, and - in an inspired touch - the beer to go with them. (Plus, to The BBG's delight, some hot sauces to accompany those snacks, including her all-time favourite Dalston Chillies.)

There's a decent selection of craft beers on display in their fridges, featuring all the usual suspects along with a couple of ones even we hadn't heard of before. Since their original mid-pandemic opening, they've added a couple of taps and basically made the place a full-on bar. The staff are friendly towards anyone who pops their head through the door, and are happy to chat about favourite beers and give recommendations. There are a few tables inside and several tables outside if you want to try out your cans once you've bought them, the latter being a popular option with the party that seemed to be following us around during our January 2022 visit. If that sounds like madness given the winter temperatures outdoors, then you haven't seen the magnificent Billy Franks coats which you can borrow at the counter if you're sitting out. And you should.

(And yes, they still make jerky. The vegan version is surprisingly impressive.)

Now walk 81m to Hiver ----->

<----- or go back 79m to The Barrel Project

or return to the home page

Comments

[Colin]

Was closed today at 15:30

[Perhotelan]

What are some of the unique craft beers that are available in Billy Franks' fridges?