Regular readers of this drivel will know about my fondness for Belgian beer and, equally importantly, the attention the Belgians pay to the environment in which they drink their beer.
Well… a few weeks ago, I saw a flyer for a place in Croydon called “Beer Circus”. Being at a beer festival at the time, I presumed it’d be the sort of pub with lots of guest ales, but researching further, I learned that it’s a labour of love… a tribute to Bier Circus, a legendary pub in Brussels.
I finally went last Friday.
Wow.
They have the finest collection of Belgian beers (not to mention a small but worthy selection of English ales and ciders) I’ve ever seen outside of Belgium. The food is just the sort of thing you’d find in a cosy Belgian pub… cubes of cheese and sausage instead of crisps and peanuts; beef stew instead of scampi and chips. The decor is spot on… simple ‘Van Gogh’ chairs, wooden tables, half-height painted wooden panelling on the walls. And the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. What more could you want? Well, I’d rather it wasn’t a 15-minute walk towards south Croydon, but there has to be some give and take, I suppose…