London may have experienced a brewing revolution in recent times but its western neighbourhoods haven't seen anything like the explosion of microbreweries and bars that east, north and south have. The arrival of Brewdog in Shepherd’s Bush was kind of a big deal, and it remains one of the only places for miles around where you can sup on dozens of carefully crafted beers - from its owners, naturally, but also Denmark’s Mikkeller and very selected guests. For that reason it’s often packed and standing room only, with elbows required at the bar to hold your spot.
The design is Brewdog's signature shtick – the sign out front looks like cowboy builders haven’t finished the job off, while inside it’s all exposed brickwork, utilitarian seating, retro arcade games and punky posters. If that doesn’t exactly make you go weak at the knees, the beer selection should (especially if you tackle the double-figure ABV selection). The menu is displayed on a backlit bar, the beers listed like blockbuster movie screenings at a boutique cinema, with Brewdog staples joined by hard-to-find brews.
Its proximity to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire makes it a wise choice for pre-and-post gig refreshments, and decent burgers are on hand too. It might not look like they’ve finished off the exterior but, trust us, this is one slick operation.