Intrigue and rumour surrounded Stormbird before it opened, taking over from the "Aargh, it's too late to go anywhere else, we might as well" Funky Munky. Enigmatically, it had no name for several weeks, just a "Brooklyn Lager" neon sign on the window. It's run by the same people as the Hermits' across the road, which means they know what they're doing. You'll get most of the same bar staff as well, and they're just as amicable and efficient as they are over the road. So basically, it's a Hermits' Cave pitched more squarely at a younger generation (students? Though students must have more money than I remember, if they can afford to drink in here!) as well as drinkers with a taste for cask ales, Belgian ales and craft beers. Beers with names like Kwak, Lindeboom, Dalston Black, Arrogant Bastard, and so on. You can get these in thirds as well as halves, which is the kind of thing that will either strike you as deeply cool, sensible and novel, or infuriatingly modish, depending on your perspective. They take their beers seriously at Stormbird, and rotate them regularly, so don't get too hung up on any particular favourites. However, if you don't want to drink beer, well then you're probably best off going somewhere else. read more