Crowning glory

Pub 229, The Crown. 13th August 2013.

Good old Sammy Smiths - you know exactly where you are with Samuel. Even when the OBB is electrically dispensed the quiet and calm surroundings of a Smith's pub are always very pleasant.
The only annoying thing was the fellow who decided to wander off from his friends and stand right by me to make his phone call. Why don't you just go outside to the huge drinking area??? 

Half a Crown

Pub 228, The Old Crown. 13th August 2013.

 What an awful place. Tediously over-styled. Surly barman. The McMullen's AK was undrinkable. It was even an effort just to figure out what it was called.

Whippet out

Pub 227, The Holborn Whippet. 13th August 2013.

I'd never even seen this place before... it's one of those trendy new craft ale places. I can't remember what a chose from the blackboard now but it was nice enough. The barmaid was also very nice. Important to note the niceness of the barstaff I think.

I nipped to the loo and asked a chap next to me to watch my beer, and it just happened to be at the same time a WPC came in to chat to said barmaid. I wonder if I looked suspicous like an Arfur Daley type sloping off at the first glimpse of a copper? Probably not.

A Machiavellian treat

Pub 226, Old Nick. 13th August 2013.

A hidden gem if ever there was one! Seemingly only known to the legal eagles of the nearby Inns of Court everyone else is missing out on a right treat.

The Badger beer was lovely - I sampled the Hoppy Hare on the recommendation of the barmaid. And then found myself in such engaging conversation with other barmaid, working only her 2nd shift, that I stayed for another two. Although why the place is named after Niccolò Machiavelli no-one seemed to know. Nor why the alley next door was called Three Cups Yard. So many mysteries!

Load of bull

Pub no. 225, The Bountiful Cow. 13th August 2013.

What an awful place. Anywhere that has to remind you on the outside that it is really a pub doesn't really deserve to be called a pub. The Hophead was past its best, the barmaid's manners were perfunctory and the loud chat of the go-getter businessman to his mate at the bar incredibly annoying. I'm sure their steaks are lovely though.

But what annoyed me most was this sign.

The police do not enforce NO DRINKING OUTSIDE. A controlled drinking zone means that they can ask you not drink if they want and take your booze off you if they want and arrest you if you don't comply if they want. This is not the same as NO DRINKING OUTSIDE. If the proprietors of the Bountiful Cow should read this, they may wish to also read this page which explains it in very simple terms. And perhaps ask themselves why they are telling their punters NO DRINKING OUTSIDE while at the same time providing tables & chairs outside. So the smokers can sit down and enjoy their ciggie - or are they for people consuming lemonade...? Stupid pub.

Square pig

Pub 224, The Square Pig. 13th August 2013.

 The Square Pig or the Square Pig and Pen - I'm not quite sure it is or which they prefer. I thought I wasn't really going to like it, mainly because it looks nothing like a pub. And I didn't really, although just for that reason. The barmaid was charming, and the beer was nice. I can't remember what it was but it wasn't their own brew "Trotter Ale" as they'd not put the ABV on the pump clip so I was registering my annoyance by avoiding it.

A lady came in with a huge bunch of flowers that apparently her son and daughter had just got because they'd just got engaged, and didn't want them. So she gave them to the barmaid. For a giggle I insisted that she hand them over to me so I could give them back with a bashful "For you...!". And oh how we giggled.

A porpoise in life

Pub 223, The Dolphin Tavern. 13th August 2013.

A lovely pub - quite a rarity to find something completely unspoilt in the middle of town like this.
It was nice and quiet, just me and the landlord, when I went in - very relaxing. Until a load of Scottish football fans piled in with their own personal little music player and shattered the peace with Runrig and Big County or Simple Minds or some such "pish" as I believe their vernacular would have it.

The Woodford's Wherry was obviously the first of the day, I don't think it could normally taste like it did.

Pendrell's Oak

Pub no. 222, Pendrell's Oak. 12th August 2013.
 

It's big crowded busy Wetherspoons, so you know exactly what to expect. Named after the oak tree where James I hid, it could well be the only pub so named that isn't called the Royal Oak, certainly round here it is.

It also has the most heavily laden bookshelves of any Camden boozer.

A grand Knight out

Pub 221, The Knights Templar. 12th August 2013.

 

It's a big, grand, Wetherspoons so you know exactly what you're getting. It is very big and very grand though.

Flashes & Ashes

Pub 220, The Griffin. 12th August 2013.

 

The Griffin with its blacked out windows... what secrets can possibly be within?! 

With an exciting day's cricket from Chester-le-Street in the offing I was tempted by the "Sky Sports - 4 screens" board outside. And it was even happy hour. This will do for me I thought. Just a quick pint and I'll watch a wicket or two and that will do me for the day.

Well, 2 hours later and Australia on 104-0 my plan was not going well. I was rapidly running out of pound coins for the lady's pint pots and had lost count of the number of private dances I'd had to turn down.

Everyone was nice and friendly, Cleo was my favourite, but eventually I had to make my excuses and leave. 

I think this is Camden's only pub where such pleasures of the flesh are on offer - so bear that in mind if that's your cup of  tea.

Enterprising

Pub 219, The Enterprise. 12th August 2013.

 

Nice and quiet on a Monday afternoon is a good thing. Even when it's in a place that's aimlessly meandering down the border of old-style boozer and dismally-self-aware hip chic.

But it is one of rare pubs that has a working water tap on the bar (perhaps just 3 others on the manor?) and an old Gypsy Moth hovering over head.

Queen's Head

Pub 218, The Queen's Head, 12th August 2013.

 Or as it likes to style itself, The Coco Momo Holborn Cafe Bar and Queen's Head Bar. I think the Queen's Head bar was actually downstairs and not open, but it's still just about a pubby type place to pop into for a drink.

The beers were all lagers and keggy-bubbly stuff - or craft beer as we must call it now. So a Redemption Pale Ale was ordered and fizzingly refreshing it was too. Some nice bantery chit chat was had with the barmaid and a girl ordering a 'ginger zing' or some such. A quick browse of the complimentary newspaper table, and that was that.

Twice as nice

Pub 217, The Two Brewers. 8th August 2013.

They sell charity post-cards here of the pub in aid Great Ormond Street - a worthier cause I can't think of - but on enquiring how much they were (the way they were displayed suggested they might be free) I was told they 50p each. Obviously see my shocked reaction when I said that I didn't want one, and on being told the cause and then remembering that I couldn't think of a worthier cause, gave her ten-bob anyways. But declined on taking a post-card as I couldn't think of what I'd do with it, and therefore actually doing a little bit more for this worthy cause.

 Anyways, when I went back for my 2nd pint of rather nice Wainwright's, she insisted I take a post-card. How nice. And here it is: