Craft beer in Camden: the brewery, the taprooms and the arches

Short version: go to the Camden Town Beer Hall in Kentish Town for Camden Hells and a big table, then try Werewolf under the railway arches off Camden Road for the independent alternative. Neither pours cask, so if that is your thing, plan accordingly.

The Camden Town Brewery story in two minutes

Jasper Cuppaidge began brewing in the basement of his Hampstead pub, The Horseshoe, to sell on the bar upstairs. He then moved to Victorian railway arches by Kentish Town West station, and the brewery was up and running in 2010 (AB InBev).

That autumn came Camden Hells, a crisp, clean lager inspired by German Helles and Pilsner styles. It became the beer the whole operation is known for. Des de Moor’s profile of the early brewery noted that most of what it made was lager, and that over 80% of output went into keg. That is an old figure, but it tells you what kind of brewery this always was: keg lager first.

In December 2015 Camden Town was acquired by AB InBev, for a reported £85m. Good Beer Hunting called it the first high-profile UK craft acquisition. Afterwards, brewing director Alex Troncoso left to set up Lost and Grounded in Bristol, and AB InBev built a new brewery in Enfield. The arches in Kentish Town are now described by CAMRA as a smaller brewery.

Whether that bothers you is your call. Time Out’s line is that Camden Town Brewery might be playing with the big lads now, but the taproom is still a great place to visit. Fair enough.

One naming point before you set off: the brewery is in Kentish Town, NW5, not Camden Town proper. Visit London lists it under Kentish Town and Gospel Oak. It is a short hop from Camden Town, but it is a hop.

Camden Town Beer Hall

Where: 55 to 59 Wilkin Street Mews, NW5 3NN, by Kentish Town West station. It is in Arch 61, a few arches down from the original Brewery Bar.

What to expect: architects Gundry + Ducker converted two railway arches into a 315 sq m Beer Hall, completed in February 2022. CAMRA describes a large drinking space in two linked areas, with large tables the norm. That makes it a decent bet for a group, less so for a quiet two-person chat.

What to drink: Camden Hells, obviously. Time Out says the taproom pours the full range, from Hells to Gentleman’s Wit. There is no cask beer here.

Hours: listings give 12:00 to 22:00 Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 12:00 to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. Visit London says food is served on selected days, finishing at 20:00 or 21:00, so eat before the kitchen shuts rather than hoping. A recent Tripadvisor reviewer recommended a pint and a pizza.

Tours: they run and are booked through the brewery’s website. Visit London lists tickets from £25 per person for a guided tour, a flight of five beers and a free pint, running Sunday to Friday and not Saturday. Check the current price when you book.

More on the venue from CAMRA and Visit London.

Werewolf Brewery Taproom

Where: Arch 87, Randolph Street, NW1 0SR, under the railway arches at the Camden Road end of Camden Town.

What it is: an independent brewery taproom pouring four of its own beers plus canned beer, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, according to CAMRA. Like the Beer Hall, there is no cask ale.

Why go: it is the small independent to the Beer Hall’s big-company backing. The Camden New Journal identifies owner Rich White as running the independent brewery in Randolph Street, and reported in March 2026 that he offered shifts to sacked BrewDog bar staff. It is a good story and a good reason to drink local.

Opening hours: a taproom of this size keeps short hours, mostly late afternoon and evening, with weekends the best bet. Check the brewery’s own channels before you walk over, because listings disagree.

Two more worth knowing

3 Locks Brewery, Camden Market. Established in 2022, in Camden Market, about five minutes from Camden Town station, with a view of the canal and locks according to DesignMyNight. Camden Market has promoted an Oktoberfest event here. Fine for a pint with the water outside, but check hours before you plan around it.

Euston Tap, 190 Euston Road, NW1 2EF. Not a Camden Town pub, but handy if you are arriving by train. It is a craft beer house in the Grade II listed West and East Lodges outside Euston station, run by the team behind the Sheffield Tap, and has been there since 2010. CAMRA lists up to seven changing cask beers and cider, heated covered outdoor seating and sports TV. One reviewer paid £4.80 for a pint of Kentish stout, so expect a normal London price. Details on CAMRA.

The closure to know about

If an old list sends you to BrewDog on Camden Road, do not bother. The Camden Road Arms was closed with immediate effect on 1 March 2026 and is listed by CAMRA as closed long term. The Camden New Journal says BrewDog’s original Camden bar, which opened in 2008, had already gone in summer 2025. Craft beer in this corner has had a rough couple of years, which makes the arches taprooms worth supporting.

A sensible route

• Start at Werewolf on Randolph Street for something independent.
• Walk or hop over to the Camden Town Beer Hall on Wilkin Street Mews for a Hells and a pizza before the kitchen closes.
• Go home from Kentish Town West, right outside.