From Village Voice

Getting to Lockinn was quite the trek. Sort of. One could easily take the L to the Grand stop and be there in a flash. Or they could forget the address at home, as we did, and rely on their dyslexic inner compass to lead them to 494 Grand Street instead of 949 Grand Street. Regardless, Lockinn was well worth the avoidably lengthy walk from Williamsburg. Will most non-locals make a special trip through the industrial ghost-town neighborhood just to check it out? Probably not. Is that the whole point of living in East Williamsburg? You bet. The name is a nod to owner Lisa Buono's Newcastle, England, roots and the U.K. pub practice of locking up and sipping on past last call. Decorated with antique keys, a creepy chastity belt, and tables with built-in boards from rainy-day favorites like Scrabble and chess, the space is a good exercise in the subtlety of theme decor that lots of bars miss the boat on. Locals in Mets jerseys shot pool next to the dormant fireplace, while most of the action, thanks to a beautiful night, was happening in the tree-canopied back garden. Unfortunately the only table open was next to a group of obnoxious boys who, despite being well over 21, were acting like it was their first time ever drinking, one of them booming at one point "I love Chinese people!" and then singing the opening riff to the Vapors' "Turning Japanese." Our refreshing pint of white sangria, made of white wine, ginger ale, and peach slices ($5), was too good, though, to keep us from throwing it on him.

From PaperMag

If you like your watering holes cute and out of the way but well worth the trek, then you should stop by Lockinn, a quaint hole-in-the-wall space off a bleak stretch of Grand Street. The bar's name pays homage to the after-hours English pub tradition of locking the doors, shutting the blinds and drinking into the wee hours of the morning. While no locking in actually takes place at Lockinn, we actually wouldn't mind being locked in Lockinn. The former abandoned mechanic's shop, with its exposed brick and high ceiling, is a recent addition to East Williamsburg, the type of place where the bartenders ask how you're doing and the patrons ask what you're doing here. ("Whatchyou doing here?" we asked back. Turned out they were thinking of moving to the area.) Since its opening Lockinn has been attracting a mostly mixed crowd, according to owner Lisa Buono -- workers in the neighborhood and artists who live in the nearby studio lofts. Draws include coziness, a fine selection of beers on tap, built-in Scrabble tables, and in warmer months, an enormous garden with a grill (we hear it's totally cool to bring a slab of meat by and just cook it up yourself). When you're in the mood to gentrify outer Brooklyn and perhaps have a drink or two while doing so, know that Lockinn's got your back.

From L Magazine

Venturing into East Williamsburg, I couldn't believe that somebody had actually bothered to open any kind of business along the forlorn stretch of industrial filth near the grimy Newtown Creek. Amongst tombs of garages and tire shops, the Lockinn is a delightful little secret — diamond in a disappearing rough.

A 'lock-in' in England refers to the practice of cheating the draconian mandate that pubs close at 11pm, in which the publican covers the window with an opaque curtain and locks the door so that his "friends" can stay later. As far as achieving the cozy, centuries-old British pub aesthetic goes, this place comes pretty close -- just without the centuries-old punters reeking of Benson and Hedges. Along with the worn-in church pew style benches and chairs, exposed brick, and an antique statue of Winston Churchill, candles, disco ball, and local artists' sculptures and paintings add a "Williamsburg" touch. Also in true British fashion, the draft beer roster is more than plentiful. Apart from the usual classy imports, you can find some more obscure domestic, local and seasonal brews here. Though this place is the unrivaled habitat of strict beer drinkers, Hanna, the veteran tapster recommends a Jameson and Ginger Ale. I declined on that in favor of an Octoberfest, followed by the Lockinn's special "Just Beer," which most people are content to refer to as Bud Light.

The most charming features of Lockinn are the odd little gimmicks and non-booze/human interaction type entertainment. In a place like this, one can embrace one's inner trainspotter and try to beat the high scores on the addictive little trivia machine or play any of the myriad games available, which include Scrabble and everything else short of shuffleboard and tetherball. The jukebox is more diverse than even the best mix tapes. A shift from Frank Sinatra to Modest Mouse is not uncommon. My favorite little stunt they pull is gastronomical: Lockinn regularly has cookies, cupcakes, popcorn and pizza for grabs at the bar. That's a third grade birthday party buffet right there! Sweet! Why doesn't anyone else do that?

If you are one of the many who've outgrown the Bedford scene, this Brooklyn-meets-Brixton watering hole is a great place to get pissed.

From CitySearch

This pubby bar accommodates East Williamsburg wayfarers with dark wood, pew-style booths, candles in goblets, and tables inlaid with chess, checker and Scrabble boards. Gamers can also go for pool and darts, as well as a bocce ball court and horseshoes in the back garden. Due to the industrial location the crowd can be sparse, but themed parties and monthly art openings tend to fill the house.

From NY MAG

Even if it doesn't stay open past the legal drinking curfew as it's name might imply, this British-owned bar provides a quaint sanctuary for consuming alcohol into the wee hours. Dark-stained, rustic woods meld with deep red walls to create a warm, affable milieu that's clinched by tall ceilings, dim lights, and scattered antiques. In a nod to its name, vintage skeleton keys and padlocks hang on the wall behind the bar—the piece de resistance being the iron chastity belt poised above the tall chalkboard list of beers (about 15 in all). After a happy hour that pairs bowls of BBQ-flavored Utz with cheap brews, the all-night drink specials might include discounted Dark & Stormies (ginger beer and rum). Low-key locals pop in just before dinnertime to snatch some of the owner's delivery pizza and participate in her nightly game of Scrabble, or entertain themselves with billiards, darts, wobbly checker-board tables, and an indie rock-filled jukebox.