51-55 Bethnal Green Road,
London,
E1 6LA
(020) 7749 9670
The ViewLondon Review
A bar that really cares about the beers it serves and one that supports independent breweries, Mason and Taylor is worth making the effort to visit.
The Venue
Anyone that knew Mason and Taylor in its former incarnation as Green and Red will immediately see the huge transformation that has taken place. Gone are the garish colours and Mexican flourishes; in comes real British flair. Lots of woods, a neutral but masculine colourscheme, rows of wooden tables and chairs and a large bar displaying lots of draught pumps and bottles of unusual beer make up the ground floor area, and the downstairs basement club has been replaced by a clean bar area. Instead of vibrant logos, the Mason and Taylor name has been painted in simple white directly onto the glass and the feeling of this venue is now more understated but infinitely more distinguished - definitely what the area needs.
The Atmosphere
Being located in one of the busiest bar strips in London, Mason and Taylor has already picked up a following and the word is starting to spread. Although they put the focus clearly on their beer selection, the mix of drinkers is eclectic with young trendy hipsters mixing with beer connoisseurs and diners to produce a vibrant, upbeat atmosphere ideally suited to the party strip but without the hassled underlying ambience that so often accompanies such a mix. The bar is well staffed to deal with busy periods and they do so with a welcome spot of banter.
The Food
Although they excel in their beer selection Mason and Taylor hasn’t forgotten their food offering with a choice of well priced British classics, divided simply into Plates, Sides and Desserts on a menu with FOOD emblazoned across the top. Highly recommended is the wild boar sausage with beetroot mash for the ridiculously low price of £5. The sausage is rich, perfectly cooked and nicely seasoned. And the rather strange beetroot mash is a little difficult to get used to but you’ll quickly want to lick your plate clean as the beetroot aftertaste comes through in the creamy mashed potato. Delicious. Alternatively, try the cured loin of venison, Cumberland sauce and redcurrants. Incredibly for venison – and a great cut of meat at that – it’s priced at just £5.50 and the balance of the rich sauce and tart fruitiness of the redcurrants complements the heavy flavours of the delicately cooked venison perfectly. Just be warned the portions are small as the plates are designed for sharing. Finish off the meal with a cranberry Eton Mess (£4) which will make you wonder why all versions of this dish aren’t served with cranberries, the tart fruit cutting through the rich cream and sweet meringue in fine style.
The Drink
Mason and Taylor aims to have 12 beers and ales on draught at all times and this is bolstered by a frankly overwhelming choice of bottled beer that covers pale, amber, brown, red, black, fruit and a charmingly named section of oddities. If you want to sample the beers on taps then the knowledgeable staff are happy to offer tasters or you can pay to do flights of three or six third-pint glasses. It’s very refreshing that all of their beers are from independent brewers with nothing brewed under licence and a focus on London micro-breweries such as Camden Town Brewery and the Kernel Brewery. Instead of Fosters and Stella expect to see the likes of Hophead, Camden Hells Lager, Bitburger Premium Pils, Steenbrugge Wit, Camden Pale Ale, Brooklyn Lager, De Koninck and Left Hand Milk Stout. As the selection is a quality one, prices start at around £3.20 per pint but can cost anything up to £5 for an imported rarity.
The Last Word
Mason and Taylor hits the nail on the head with its clever, well priced food menu and excellent choice of carefully sourced beer. A great addition to the area and one that celebrates the best of British.
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