Welcome to the Hop Inn Micropub in Hornchurch.

Our Micropub is part of a movement aiming to create independent small spaces, free from brewery tie, where local people can enjoy Fresh Ale and wine in a venue with no lager, no slot machines, TV’s or beeping and ringing mobiles. We want it to be a welcoming, relaxed and friendly place for locals and visitors.

We are passionate about sourcing quality fresh beer from local breweries, microbreweries, great proper ciders and some exciting ales from further away.

We are a neighbourhood micropub and we have had to follow some rules to fit with the terms of our licence; we are not allowed anyone under 18 in the pub, and we have to limit people smoking outside after 9pm to make sure we don’t disturb our neighbours in the evening.

We will also offer real cider and perry made from whole fruit, to show the huge possibilities of this traditional drink with it’s wonderful history.
We believe that cider should be made with real apple juice, and perry from perry pears, and aim to showcase some of the delicious and complex flavours that are possible.

We are passionate about wine and will offer decent wines, prosecco, interesting gins and soft drinks for our customers.

We will showcase English wines; we are huge fans of Chapel Down’s refreshing Bacchus, Albourne Estate, and one of the greats of English Wine, Will Davenport from the Davenport Winery, who champions sustainability, making spectacular organic reds, whites and bubbles from about 55 miles from us, in Sussex,

If you love your delicious wines, fine and rare spirits and whisky, then ask to see our Black Book, where you can read all about and order some special things to sip and savour.

Our aim is to provide somewhere the local community can meet each other for a drink and a chat. It’s great to see people sharing tables and meeting at the start of the evening, leading to chatting and buying each other drinks and leaving as friends.

Our fabulous crisp menu will offer something for everyone and we dabble in simple bar snacks on occasion.

We support three local charities

  *   Havering Talking Newspaper: Recording local news for visually impaired people whose sight is too poor to read
  *   First Step in Hornchurch: Supports youngsters with disabilities and special needs
  *   The Friends of Upminster Windmill : Supporting our local heritage icon

Micropubs and the Micropub Movement

The micropub movement was initially spearheaded by the Micropub Association which was co-founded by Stu Hirst and Martyn Hillier back in 2012. Martyn Hillier, the founder of the micropub concept led the way for others to follow when he opened up the very first micropub in Herne, Kent, way back in 2005. At the time, the Micropub Association set out to build a community of like-minded real ale pioneers willing and able to share their experiences on all matters relating to opening and running a micropub. This is taken from the website of the Micropub Association.

Phil Cooke

Owner of the Hop Inn

Phil started life by the sea in Bangor near Belfast in Northern Ireland, he has made his home in England since he was 18 and discovered the delights of drinking.

He has sold and bought most kinds of food and drink in more than 30 years of experience in hospitality. He has worked in restaurants, bars and late night venues, buying everything from duck legs to plum tomatoes and Champagne to gin.

He met Alison when they selected wines together for a company with 300-odd restaurants, and they travelled in France and Italy blending wines with native wine makers for the customers back home.

He loves potato, beer, delicious Burgundies and so many more things it’s almost impossible to choose.

Alison Taffs

Co-owner of The Hop Inn and Drinks Educator

Alison is born and bred in Hornchurch. Always keen to try something new, Alison has had a brilliant time learning to be a beer sommelier with over 100 beers for the largest Belgium beer restaurant in London, and revitalising tired lists with new beers from the burgeoning London craft beer scene.

She was one of the early female members of the Soho Malt Whisky Society. She loves malt so much, she has a share in two casks of baby scotch that she visits in Scotland as often as possible.

A hugely enthusiastic and inclusive drinks educator, Alison co-runs her own drinks education company, The Grape Society,  and leads training and tastings on everything from Champagne and gin to whisky and Sherry for London restaurants and bars.

She has run regular drinks clubs and events for places like; The National CafĂ© at The National Gallery; The British Library, The Royal Academy. She runs regular drinks and supper clubs for Home House in Portman Square and Home Grown Club. She also works for Decanter Magazine’s Wine Encounters at The Landmark Hotel.

Alison is a qualified pommelier and founded The London Cider and Perry Club in 2022, she is passionate about real cider and perry and advocates for them at all opportunities.

She is a regular host of the CAMRA podcast; Pubs, Pints, People and contributes to the CAMRA Learning and Discovery website.

Alison is a trustee for the Upminster Windmill and likes nothing better than drinking real beer, real cider and proper perry by windmills!

Andrew Conway

Bar Team and Photographer

Andrew lives within a 5-minute walk of the Hop Inn, so counts as a super-local, and has lived in Havering all his life.

He loves beer and will extol the virtues of whisky with you (his tipple of choice is Caol Ila 12yr old malt from Islay – oily, smokey, nutty with a subtly sweet finish).

He takes photographs for fun and money, with a particular passion for whisky distilleries, Scottish landscapes and architecture.  See his website for more info.

He is currently documenting the restoration of Upminster Windmill in images, and is a trustee and volunteer alongside Alison there.

We have an amazing team of local talented people who love hospitality and beer and cider. They have helped us win the CAMRA Pub of the Year for London in 2021 and 2022 and UK National Cider Pub of the Year in 2022

Landlord Phil, Alison, Bev, Andrew, Abi and Danny