CRATE Bar & Pizzeria
Hackney Wick, London
Bar in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlWhy go
CRATE Bar & Pizzeria is a canal-side brewery bar in Hackney Wick that works best for casual evenings, group drinks, or a relaxed East London date. Walk-ins are easy most nights. Come for the house-brewed beer and wood-fired pizza rather than a serious wine or cocktail program; and grab outdoor terrace space early when the weather is good.
About CRATE Bar & Pizzeria
Worth the Trip to Hackney Wick?
Yes; if you are already heading east for the evening. CRATE Bar & Pizzeria in Queen's Yard, Hackney Wick is one of the few spots in London where the casual bar format genuinely earns its reputation rather than coasting on industrial-chic aesthetics. The canal-side setting gives it a character most Shoreditch venues spend a lot of money trying to fake. For a date, a loose group dinner, or a low-key Friday wind-down, it delivers without demanding much planning on your part.
The atmosphere here leans relaxed rather than refined. Expect noise, open space, a crowd that skews creative-industry and local rather than tourist or destination-diner. That energy works in your favour earlier in the evening; the outdoor terrace alongside the canal is your leading option when the weather cooperates, it fills up faster than the indoor space. If atmosphere matters to you, aim for a weekday evening or early weekend arrival before the post-9 PM volume takes over.
On the drinks side, CRATE built its name around its in-house brewery, which means the beer list is the draw rather than a curated wine or cocktail program. If you are coming specifically for a by-the-glass wine experience comparable to what you would find at Amaro or 69 Colebrooke Row, recalibrate. CRATE is a brewery bar first. The pizza is solid and well-suited to the format, easy to share, priced accessibly, built for a round-of-drinks context rather than a serious food occasion.
Booking here is easy. Walk-ins are generally viable, especially midweek, making it a reliable option when you want somewhere in East London without committing days in advance. For groups, the open layout and communal vibe make it more accommodating than tighter venues like A Bar with Shapes For a Name or Academy. If your party is four or more and wants a relaxed setting rather than a cocktail-forward experience, CRATE is one of the more practical calls in the area.
It is not the right call for a formal celebration or a serious food night. But for an easy East London evening with a strong sense of place, it holds up well against flashier alternatives further west. See our full London bars guide and full London restaurants guide for how it fits into the broader picture.
Planning details
- Location
- Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on SevenRooms
- Website
- cratebrewery.com
- Phone
- +44 7547 695841
The take
The Take
The Vibe
CRATE reads like an honest extension of Hackney Wick’s canal-side warehouses: exposed brick, raw steel, and large windows that open onto the water shape the room as much as the drinks list. The bar tilts toward the looser, more industrial end of London’s craft-beer-and-casual-dining spectrum, trading polish for atmosphere and volume. Service is informal and social—walk-in culture and a pitch-up-and-find-a-table approach keep the energy communal rather than curated. Overall the place feels relaxed, scenic in parts thanks to the canal, and unapologetically casual in a way that reflects its neighborhood roots.
Best For
CRATE is best for informal gatherings where the emphasis is on conviviality rather than formality. Its combination of bar and pizzeria suits after-work groups, casual hangouts and people who want drinks and pizza without reservations—guests are expected to arrive and find their own spot in the social room. The canal-side location also makes it appealing for groups that want something characterful and a little scenic while they drink. It’s not a destination for a formal tasting or a quiet dinner; it’s about buzzy, shared evenings in a neighborhood context.
Ordering Tips
Treat CRATE like a true walk-in spot: arrive ready to queue or find a seat without a booking, especially on evenings and weekends. The description emphasizes a "pitch-up-and-find-a-table" social contract, so be prepared to share space and move with the flow of the room. Access is easiest from Hackney Wick Overground via the canal path if you’re coming from central London. Expect casual service and an industrial, lively atmosphere—plan for a sociable, unstructured night rather than a formal dining experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Industrial chic with whitewashed interiors, reclaimed materials, and a relaxed lively atmosphere overlooking the canal.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Beer Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Background Music with Djs on Weekends
Planning details
Location
Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Bar Termini; Notable alternative
- Callooh Callay; Notable alternative
- Happiness Forgets; Notable alternative
- Nightjar; Notable alternative
- Quo Vadis; Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
Against the main bar destinations in London, CRATE sits in a different bracket to most of its peers. Nightjar and Happiness Forgets both require advance booking and deliver a tighter, more technically focused cocktail experience; if a crafted drink in a considered room is what you are after, either of those wins on quality. CRATE wins on accessibility: no reservation anxiety, no dress calculus, a more forgiving price point across the board.
Bar Termini and Callooh Callay are both better calls if you want a cocktail-led evening in a more central location. Quo Vadis is the clear choice if the meal itself needs to carry the night; the food and wine program there operates at a different level. CRATE is not competing in that tier, it does not try to. It competes on atmosphere, ease, the specific appeal of a canal-side East London evening with house-brewed beer and shared pizza.
For visitors staying centrally or coming from outside London, CRATE requires a deliberate trip east; roughly 30 minutes from Zone 1. That travel overhead is only worth it if the Hackney Wick setting is part of the appeal. If you want a reliable, no-fuss bar with character and you are already in the area, it is the right call. If you need to be convinced to make the journey, Bramble in Edinburgh or Bar Kismet in Halifax show how much personality a well-run independent bar can pack in when the format is right; CRATE delivers a version of that for East London.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full CRATE Bar & Pizzeria guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare CRATE Bar & Pizzeria
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| CRATE Bar & Pizzeria | No published awards |
| Bar Termini | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #8Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1302018 World's 50 Best Bars · #62017 World's 50 Best Bars · #92016 World's 50 Best Bars · #30 |
| Callooh Callay | No published awards |
| Happiness Forgets | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #44Top 500 Bars 2026 · #3102019 World's 50 Best Bars · #402018 World's 50 Best Bars · #352017 World's 50 Best Bars · #122016 World's 50 Best Bars · #102015 World's 50 Best Bars · #82014 World's 50 Best Bars · #122013 World's 50 Best Bars · #6 |
| Nightjar | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #712026 Pinnacle Guide2017 World's 50 Best Bars · #432016 World's 50 Best Bars · #192015 World's 50 Best Bars · #32014 World's 50 Best Bars · #32013 World's 50 Best Bars · #22012 World's 50 Best Bars · #32011 World's 50 Best Bars · #18 |
| Quo Vadis | No published awards |
What to weigh when choosing between CRATE Bar & Pizzeria and alternatives.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at CRATE Bar & Pizzeria?
Expect a mix of local creatives, east London regulars, people who've made the trip out to Queen's Yard specifically. The Hackney Wick location filters for a younger, arts-adjacent crowd rather than a City or tourist spillover. Weekends skew busier and louder, weeknights are more relaxed.
Is the food good at CRATE Bar & Pizzeria?
The pizza holds up well for a bar-first venue; it's the kind of food that works with a beer in hand rather than demanding your full attention. Don't arrive expecting a dedicated pizzeria experience on par with somewhere like Franco Manca or Voodoo Ray's, but as bar food goes in east London, it earns its keep.
Does CRATE Bar & Pizzeria have outdoor seating?
Yes, it's one of the main reasons to come. The canalside setting at Queen's Yard, E9 gives CRATE a strong edge in summer; outdoor space by the water is genuinely hard to find at this scale in London. In colder months, check conditions before making it the sole reason for the trip.
Is CRATE Bar & Pizzeria good for a date?
It works well for an early-stage, low-pressure date; the setting does the heavy lifting and the format is relaxed enough to talk. If you want somewhere with more theatre or a fixed dining experience, look elsewhere. For a casual evening with drinks, a shared pizza, canal views, it's a solid call in east London.
What's the signature drink at CRATE Bar & Pizzeria?
CRATE is primarily known as a craft beer venue; the bar leans into that identity. Specific tap listings change, so check closer to your visit, but beer is the drink to order here rather than a cocktail programme. If cocktails are a priority for your group, pair the trip with a nearby bar rather than relying on CRATE alone.
Is CRATE Bar & Pizzeria good for groups?
Yes, more so than many east London spots. The Queen's Yard site has enough space to absorb a group without feeling cramped, shared pizza and pints is a format that scales. For large groups of 8 or more, it's worth contacting them in advance given the venue's popularity on weekends.
Do I need a reservation at CRATE Bar & Pizzeria?
Walk-ins are generally possible on weeknights, but weekend afternoons and evenings fill up fast; especially when the outdoor space is in play during warmer months. For groups, or if the canalside terrace is the point of the visit, booking ahead removes the risk. Check their current booking process directly via Queen's Yard, E9 5EN.
