Forest Road Taproom: Pool & Snooker in Hackney, London

Free entryWalk-in2 tablesBeer gardenGroups

355 Westgate Street · E8 3RL · We-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-02:00; Su 17:00-23:00

Forest Road Brewing Co. Taproom is an independent craft beer taproom in a Hackney railway arch, with a south-facing beer garden and a function room (the Greenhouse) holding two pool tables. It suits a relaxed evening of beer and a casual frame of pool, or a group night out. The single most useful thing to know: walk-ins are welcome and the pool tables sit in the Greenhouse room, which doubles as a private hire space, so it's busiest and most reliably open Friday to Sunday.

Note this is a beer-led venue, not a dedicated pool hall. You come for the drinks and play a frame while you're there. The kitchen does Asian-inspired tacos (Ta-ko). Hours are limited early in the week, with Monday and Tuesday private hire only, so aim for Wednesday onward if you want a casual drop-in.

The pool setup

There are two pool tables, and they live in the Greenhouse function room rather than the main bar. That room is more tucked away and also gets booked for private hire, with a DJ setup and vinyl decks, so on busy nights it can be in use for an event. On a normal evening you can wander in and grab a frame between drinks. It's a beer-led taproom, not a pool club, so treat the tables as a fun extra rather than the main reason to come. No published table rate, so check on arrival.

Good to know

Walk-ins are welcome and there's no door charge. The catch is the early-week hours: Monday and Tuesday are private hire only, and Wednesday and Thursday open at 17:00. Friday and Saturday are the big ones, open from noon through to 02:00, with Sunday running 17:00 to 23:00. So for a casual game, aim Wednesday onward and ideally the weekend. The kitchen, Ta-ko, does Asian-inspired tacos to soak up the beer, and there's a large south-facing beer garden with heated seating for warmer nights.

Getting there

It sits in the railway arches on Westgate Street in Hackney, postcode E8 3RL. The nearest station is London Fields on the Overground, a short walk away, and Hackney Central is also close. It's an independent, dive-bar-leaning taproom rather than a polished chain venue, so expect an industrial arch feel with the brewery's own beers on a rotating draft line.

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Common questions

What is Forest Road Taproom?
It's the Hackney taproom and bar of Forest Road Brewing Co., set in a railway arch on Westgate Street. It pours the brewery's own craft beers, has a south-facing beer garden, and keeps two pool tables in its Greenhouse function room.
Does Forest Road Taproom have pool tables?
Yes. There are two pool tables, housed in the Greenhouse function room rather than the main bar. That room is also used for private hire, so on event nights the tables may not be free to use.
Is it free to play pool there?
There's no entry charge to the taproom, but the price to play the pool tables is not published online. Check at the bar when you arrive.
Can you just walk in, or do you need to book?
Walk-ins are welcome for drinks and a casual game. Note that Monday and Tuesday are private hire only, so the venue is open to the public from Wednesday onward.
What are the opening hours?
Wednesday and Thursday 17:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday noon to 02:00, and Sunday 17:00 to 23:00. Monday and Tuesday are private hire only.
What's the nearest station?
London Fields Overground is the closest, with Hackney Central also within walking distance. The taproom is at 355 Westgate Street, E8 3RL.

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