"At weekends, there are DJs spinning and a party feel at Crate Brewery. The canal-side spot in Hackney Wick is a longtime favourite for herds of friends needing somewhere comfortable and inoffensive for a few drinks and thin-crust sourdough pizzas. There are a load of house-brewed beers and ciders on tap and while it’s not the most groundbreaking place to eat and drink, it’s a big warehouse that’s tailor-made for even bigger groups." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna