A £1.35 pint of bitter in 'Spoons on a Friday night is a (secretly) wonderful thing, but if you're looking to impress your pals, a date or merely widen your beer horizons, then you'll want to know about taprooms: pubs and breweries that cut out the middle man and serve the good stuff straight from the source.

To help you on your way, we've compiled a list of our eight favourite spots in London, from gleaming, high-tech warehouses to local, small-batch boozers.

Meantime Brewery Tasting Rooms - Greenwich

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One of the first names on the London craft beer team sheet, Meantime's slightly out of the way Tasting Rooms are absolutely worth the pilgrimage. 

The bar is set beside the real-life actual brewery, which stocks all the brand's staples, as well as fresh from the tank specials like their limited-run Pilot Series of speciality beers, including Meantime Brewmaster, Ciaran Gilbert's favourite: Sunset, a destructive (but very delicious) 9% IPA. 

You can also book tours through the brewery, and buy merchandise; in case you've ever had a hankering for beer soap.

Lawrence Trading Estate,Blackwall Lane, London SE10 0AR

Dragonfly Brewery At The George & Dragon - Acton

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Perfect for those of you who want on-site brewed beer in an actual pub (lots of mahogany), Dragonfly in Acton is represents the West London beer scene with aplomb, producing a range of solid, simple brews at questionably reasonable prices - either £3.70 or £4 a pint...don't worry, it's all good stuff.

Try the 2 O'Clock Ordinary best bitter, a pint specifically designed for the lunch-time beer drinker; if you're lucky enough to be one of them.

183 High Street, Acton, W3 9DJ

Wild Card Brewery Tap Bar - Walthamstow

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A relative newcomer on the scene, only moving into their own premises in 2014, Wild Card produce great tasting beer in even better looking bottles - because that's important nowadays. 

The Tap Bar is open Friday - Sunday and stocks all of the brewery's creations, as well as other small brands' fare and local street food. It is in east London after all.

Try the Jack of Clubs, a strong and spicy ruby ale. It's really nice.

Unit 7, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HQ

Late Knights London Beer Dispensary - Brockley

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Started by friends Martyn, Mik, Steve and Sam, Late Knights now has five locations in London and one in Brighton, but it's their flagship Beer Dispensary that you're going to want to visit first.

With eight ales, five ciders, six regularly changing keg lines, whisky, gin, wine and a killer Sunday roast, you'll probably never want to leave.

389 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2PH

Caps And Taps - Kentish Town

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Ok, this one isn't strictly a taproom, as they don't have a license for permanent on-site drinking yet, but this north London bottle shop makes up for it with a huge selection of rotating world beers, as well as a 'Growler' station where you can fill up your own bottle of craft ale to take home. 

Caps and Taps also run regular events, tastings and brewer introductions, which allow you to drink inside the shop in peace, without worrying about those pesky authorities. 

Try the Alesmith Speedway Stout, brewed with coffee and sitting heavy at a head-pounding 12%.

130, Kentish Town Road, NW1 9QB

The Bull - Highgate

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From the outside it might look like just another leafy, North London pub - complete with men in gilets and children with long hair and longer names - but The Bull is packing heat, in the form of 21 carefully curated taps and its own little microbrewery nestled inside. There's a fish and chip night too, just for good measure.

Whether you're in the area for a swift pint or a session, The Bull's Manager, Mitch suggests the  house best-seller: Beer Street, a classic bitter.

13 North Hill, N6 4AB

Brixton Brewery - Brixton

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Tucked into those famous south London railway arches, Brixton Brewery was founded in 2013 by four locals who wanted to start a local brewery that sells fresh, unpasturised beer.

The brewery opens its doors to the public from 12-5pm every Saturday, where co-founder Jez recommends you try the Electric IPA, named after Brixton's famous Electric Avenue. 

Howling Hops Tank Bar - Hackney Wick

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If you're into symmetry then you'll love Hackney's Tank Bar, which shuns traditional kegs, casks and bottles for 10 tanks that serve 10 beers across a 10 metre-long bar, with simple, utilitarian benches dotted throughout the purposely sparse interior for you to sit and drink at.

The beers themselves range from smoky porters to punchy IPAs, and there's also some meat, sandwiches and coffee up for grabs too.

Queens Yard, White post lane, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN