Black sheep?

Pub 48. The Sheephaven Bay, 4th April 2012.

I wish I'd gone in this place a few years back when it was the much more meaningful Mornington Arms, and if I remember correctly it was red. But now it's the meaningless Sheephaven Bay, which I assume is the boss's Donegal hometown. Good for him.

So in we went, and not immediately spying any handpumps I asked the French barmaid if they had any ales... "Hmmmm yes" she said "we have Fosters, Stella, Guiness, Carlsberg" or words to that effect, gesturing towards the little electric pumps. Oh well, not her fault. A pint of John Smith's kreamy-keg was ordered.

 

My drinking buddy is French so she was chatting to barmaid quite happily, but then disaster stuck!! She was called away  to work! Drat it. And then annoying behind a jar of silly gaily coloured drinking straws I saw the handpump I was looking for earlier!!

Timmy Taylor's Landlord and London Pride were on offer. Nothing special but still better than my keggy machine beer. How annoying! I thought about telling the barmaid... but thought twice. I guess I should've looked more earnestly. It's all my fault right? Then the other barmaid, Spanish I think, put a settling pint of Guinness on a funny little stand that lit up. She couldn't explain why though, other than that's what people like to see. Do they?? We were the only people that could have seen it anyways.

From the outside it looked like it might be dead inside, and perhps a bit rough and scary. I'd only been once before after the grand re-opening, and wasn't particularly taken by it so have never been back. But it's actually quite cosy and friendly. I must remember to look for the ales though next time I'm there.

Speed the Plough

Pub 47. The Plough, 4th April 2012.

A very handsome building is the Plough, well on the outside at least. I bet once upon a time it was gorgeous inside too. But some bright spark must have decided it need a spruce up, so now the interior is a bit plain. Not unpleasant mind you, but you can imagine how it might have been once.

The beers are decent enough, my London Gold was very nice. And after a bit of confusion of whether ID was going to be needed - my drinking partner's youthful beauty to blame - she had a white wine. The barman was very nice and engaged in a bit of banter, which is always nice.

The big windows are good for looking out of, which is handy as there's not really much to look inside. There were a few tourists - in fact I think everyone was a tourist of some description - excitedly trying some English ale and famous fish and chips. A lady smashed a huge glass, and she was very emabarrassed, I pulled her an 'oops' face. We drank up and left.  The Plough is ok.

Old and new

Pub 46. The Museum Tavern. 4th April 2012

After a couple of hours dodging tourists and trying not to be flustered with all hubbub in the British Museum, what better way to relax than in an even older institution just across the road. The Museum Tavern used to be called the Dog & Duck, when it was all fields and swamps round here apparently. And presumably changed its name to cash in on the big new thing at the time.

 

The beers are nice here. I once had a Tribute Black Prince here, it was delicious but I've never seen it anywhere else sadly. I'm sure I've just been unlucky. Today I had a Woodford's Wherry at 3.8%. It was very nice. My lovely companion for the day had a large white wine, which went down well, so I guess the wine is nice here too.

Even though it was pretty busy - it was still quite quiet and relaxing inside. The grub was typical pub grub and looked very nice, and thankfully wasn't intrusive. The Victorian interior is wonderful, lots of original wood. The bar and ceiling are very nice. You could very comfy here, especially with the company I was with. But we had other pubs to see...

Not a nag

Pub 45. The White Horse, 29th March 2012.

South End Green is a busy bustling little self-contained bit of Hampstead, lots of people going about their business, tourists off to the heath, ill-people going to the hospital, and drinkers going... well possibly to the White Horse. It's not tacky, it's not gastro. It's a proper pub. And sitting in the middle of a busy junction, once you've scampered over a couple of zebra crossings to get there it's a vertible oasis.

 

The beer choice was just about a choice. Doom Bar was the one that was off, but if there's one decent beer on that's enough for me - not every pub can be a beer festival can it? I had a pint of the Black Sheepat 3.8% for £3.80 I think it was. It went down very well. A local at the bar was talking to the barmaid, and wondering out loud what the wood was called that inspired Winnie the Pooh. "Ashdown Forest!" I proffered up. Down in Kent somewhere... "Ashdown Forest!"... on the Kent / Sussex borders... "Ashdown Forest!"... they've got a souviner shop there and a tea-room..."Ashdown Forest!".... oh, what was it?? "hmm... Ashdown Forest?" says the barmaid. "Yes - Ashdow Forest!! that's it!!". I won't bother next time.

 

The interior of this pub is lovely. I'd say it has best ceiling of any Camden pub. Please show me a better one. The big windows make it seem light and airy, and it all seems very calm and peaceful. I like looking from relative tranquility through big old windows to relative hustle. Makes me feel a bit better than those outside. 

A lovely pub, although it was mid-afternoon and therefore bound to quiet - I wouldn't know what it's like on a Saturday night or when there's football on. But do risk it, I think you'll like it - but I'm won't nag you. 

PS. The Victorian public loos across the road are also rather grand, should there be a queue inside...

Good mourning

Pub 44. The Prince of Wales, 28th March 2012.

A mate of mine died the other week. Not a really close mate or someone I knew incredibly well, but still a mate. I hadn't seen him for a while, but it's still a shock. We're used to old folks dying, and that's upsetting enough. We even expect to bury our parents one day. It's how things happen. But when a young man dies, a young talented man with a new-born baby, well it's just not right.

The wake was in the Prince of Wales in Highgate - he was a local lad. I sampled much of Red Stag Bitter, which was a good proper tasty bitter. Given the occasion I didn't let the pompous burk at the bar annoy me who was holding court and ranting about mobile phones, the Duckworth-Lewis method and accusing someone of taking his pint when his was behind him. Well, annoy me too much anyways. Nor did I get annoying by the mouth-watering but all-invasive aromatic pong of the Thai food.

The Prince of Wales is a lovely pub. And we have him a lovely send off. Lots of lovely people, and lots of lovely love for Nick. We gave him a good send off, but it's never really why you want to be in a pub. RIP mate.

If you're curious about the talent I mentioned, check Nick out here, singing and playing guitar with his band the Dirty Feel. I don't want to sound wishy-washy romantic or melodramatic, but he'll live on.

Lock out

Pub 43. The Lock Tavern, 25th March 2012.

Another one nicked off Streetview. Thanks Google Corp!

You're young, trendy and hip, so therefore want be seen in dark, shabby-chic, noisy pubs staffed by wannebe models. I'm not young, trendy or hop and therefore don't want to be seen in somewhere both loud and gloomy. Or rather, not so much not wanting to be seen here - just not wanting to go.

The Lock Tavern is not really near Hampstead Road Lock, (or Camden Lock at the marketeers are trying - and succeding - in re-christening it), they should have kept it as the Railway Tavern in honour of the Borough's first passenger rail terminus just across the road.
But when I got a call on the Bat-phone that two of my lovely young Italian pals were there, who aren't quite so grumpy about such places, off I went to meet them. A pint of Southwold bitter was perfectly drinkable. But I've never liked the place - to me it just always seems dirty, noisy and crowded - crowded with posers who think they're too cool even for the Hawley Arms. And while not doubting their cellar-skills for a moment I've definitely had some very odd pints in here - without even a second glance given to a pint served looking like lumpy-latte. As for trying to get into the beer garden or roof-terrace in the summer. Don't bother!I remember the days a few years back when they hadn't rammed it so full of benches that the only other company in the back was dog-dirt.

So I drank my pint, caught up with my pals, and then we went out seperate way, leaving loads of people loving the place and having fun. Those young 'uns!

Washington De.Cent.

Pub 42. The Washington, 24rd March 2012.

I remember when I was nipper being quite amused by a little cartoon of a chap nailing a sign to the his guest-house saying "George Washington slept here!", and turning to his dog and saying "What do you think of that, George?!". I think I liked it because I got it, not that it was actually very funny. But to the pub. I don't get why this place is called The Washington, perhaps the internet knows? But it it is quite likeable, although it was getting late so my recollections maybe hazey.

Decent beers available - I'm pretty sure I had one of each, and they all went down fine. I can't remember how much any of the cost, but given the locale I don't they would've been cheap. So just as well I can't remember...

The Washington is a big, grand old pub. A bit tarted up but unspoiled. What I guess is the original interior, or at least pretty old, is lovely but sadly seemed on the whole unappreciated by most of the clientele. But there again it was a Saturday night so I guess these young uns have better things on their minds.
It was busy but not rammed or unpleasant.  A very nice pub, it could so easily have been gastroey and terrible, but perhaps people are finding out that there's money to made be in running a good boozer, and what I guess is good food. No need to go all fancy schmancy if you're in it for the long haul! A decent pub. All very decent indeed. Do call again!

Quiet Queens?

Pub 41. The Queens, 24th March 2012.

Thanks Streetview!

 The trouble with going to the park on a sunny day in March is that as soon as the sun goes down it gets rather chilly. So having gone to the park about 20 minutes before the sun went down we found ourselves in the pub. We weren't the only ones. And not being the only ones in Primrose Hill can be a bit of a drag.

The beer was fine, the full range of Youngs this and that. I had a pint of ordinary bitter and a pint of Special. The food was nice, my friend has a burger and chips and she scoffed the lot. We watched the football. The service was fine. Had some pleasant chat with the people sat nearby.
But this pub is tiny - it looks quite big on the outside but it isn't. The first time you go in you may well find yourself looking around for the rest of the pub, but it's not there. This is it. And it was rammed, which isn't a problem, but it only takes a couple of hooray-henrys to start to get annoying.

We didn't hang around for too long. The Queens would be nice if it was quiet, but because it's near the park and the only pub on a busy boutique and coffee-shop street, it's probably rarely quiet. And the people round here aren't the quiet type, so when it's not quiet it is definitely not quiet.

Man of Mamalia?

Pub 40. The Mamelon Tower, 23rd March 2012.

This has been closed for a little while now, but I when last went in it was ok. It looked scary, with scary people but as it happens it was fine. Much like Queen's Crescent really. Pleasant enough, one chap even struck one of those half conversations about nothing you get in pubs, pubs where despite not being a local they don't mind your face being in there. No ale though as I recall.

I was also never quite sure what it was called, as it seems to have two names - I'm sure it was the Man of Aran when I went in. Google tells me that 'mamelon' is French for nipple. Hmmmm. 

But it's all over now. Start saving if you want a luxury flat or cross everything and start praying if you want a pub back.

Self assembly

The Assembly House, 23rd March 2012.

The Assembly House is like a few of the other boozers along Kentish Town Road and up to Highgate, namely very old. The lovely follying Victorian building isn't, but you've been able to booze on this site since, well Dick Whittington may have quenched his returning thirst on this site... possibly. I should really do at least a little bit of research. Nah! 

Big, loud, brash contrived and show-offy but tasteful at the same time on the outside, it's much the same on the inside. And it is very loud on the inside. I always feel a bit exposed and agoraphobic inside. Big pubs like this get me a bit disorientated. But I managed to find my way to the bar.

A pleasing choice, I went for 1/2 a Lees for a taste of Macunia, for £1.70. This choice seemed to confuse or confuse the barmaid as she pulled a funny face, as if Lees was causing her some awful rigmarole and she was thinking "Oh no... not another Lees!". Or maybe I glanced at her for at the wrong millisecond.

The interior is very smart, very trendy, very fancy. And therefore will look awful, tatty and dated in 10 years time. Lots of bare wood - fancy people like bare wood. Fake flock wallpaper, which I assume only fancy-schmancy people would like. I like the big old mirrors and the lovely ceiling. With ceilings like this, I think they look amazing when they've painted the embossed bits (I'm sure there's a proper word for them... but hey - research!?) a different colour. A bit of faff, but the results are amazing.

That's pretty much all I like really. Except the trains carry commuters back off to the home counties rumbling underneath. I like it when trains rattle buildings, it's quite reassuring in an odd way.

The Assembly House is very nice to look at, but not quite so nice to be in. But as it is very, very nice to look at, take that how you like it.

By George!

Pub 38. The George IV, 23rd March 2012.

My grasp of history is not the best I admit, but George IV was not a hugely popular king was he? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do wonder why he is such a popular chap when it comes to naming pubs. I'd hazard a guess that after Victoria, GR IV is the most common monarch specified to by pub nomenclature. As if King's Cross wasn't enough of a naming shame!

This George IV is tucked 'round the back' of Kentish Town, between a college and a school, and although it's a busy little area with a flats, shops, cafes and even industry (!) you could spend years in the borough and never encounter the place. Which would be a shame, as in the summer it literally really is a blooming marvel. The flowers and foliage are so lush, gay & bright they almost look fake - but they're not. It's a toss-up between here and the Exmouth Arms as to whose pub sports the most growth. 

Inside the George IV is rather lovely too. Carpets, flock wallpaper, velvet upholestry - all things a nice proper should have. Lots of art on the wall, both anciet and modern. But the nicest touch were the little modest, tasteful lamps on the tables. Why don't more pubs have these instead of those awful stupid little candles? Because idiots think stupid little candles are posh, sophisicated and fancy. Agh! Yesterday's necessecities are today's luxuries etc. mentality. Anyways, no such posturing or pandering to fanciness here results in a really nice pub. You could happily spend all day in here. Except there was no ale. There were two pumps on the back bar, but they weren't doing much. So I had to settle for a glass of John Smith's Smooth-o-keg for £1.85. Hardly a session beer!

The George IV gets a thumbs up from me, and it would get two thumbs up too if those two hand-pumps were brought out of retirement. Some Flowers inside too would be great!

Pass the parcel?

Pub 37, The Parcel Yard, 19th March 2012.

A new station, and a pub or so they might say. But station pubs can get the alarm bells ringing. They can be awful like the Britannia at Euston or gastro-ey like the Betjeman's at St Pancras. Word on the rails had it that The Parcel Yard is the biggest station pub in Britain. Eek. A cavernous, cacophonous, warehouse-like pub, stuck unimaginatively in the corner of an old engine shed? It wouldn't really matter - station pubs are just somewhere to sit while waiting for your train, right? Let's see.

Entering via a modern version of a grand staircase - or a lift (disabled people need beer too!) what greets you looks rather nice. Ignore what looks like a matre d's lecturn by the door and carry on walking. And walk... and walk... and walk... past rooms and windows and rooms and more windows, or so it seems, and you get to the bar. This is a good thing. I like a bar buried away at the back of a pub. And I like lots of rooms. This pub immediately feels very nice, and doesn't smell new... well, it does, but a kind of 'oldy-new'. I guess because of all the reclaimed timber they've used?

A good selection of well know Fullers names. I settled for half a Chiswick bitter, 3.6% at £1.78. And went to explore! For this a pub for exploring. There's probably at least 6 seperate areas, and despite some (quiet) piped music it was very quiet. There were a few people in, but you get the feeling that even when very busy this place would still be tolerable. Amazing what a few interior walls - ie. rooms! can do. Why didn't they think of this before... oh, they did. 

There's an also an upstairs bit too, that you might miss as the stairs are just to the right of the entrance. There's a whole new world up there! Well, more seating. It looks like upstairs is more for eating. And for looking down into the 'atrium'. There's a weird indoor-outdoor bit, where it looks like you might be able to smoke but you can't. A sign proclaims that there's a 65 person capacity for this bit. No other areas have their capacities announced - I wonder why this bit is different.

There's not much to be seen of the outside world, which is fine. Especially as the whole place is pretty light and airy anyways. What windows there are either look out over the train sheds upstairs, or into the train sheds downstairs. Both fine views! Especially the latter when they've finished doing whatever work they're doing. Too bad the old bridge is gone. 

It might actually be handy to peer inside the station if you're waiting for a train, as there's only one departures board in here. Something to watch if awaiting a departure, but the rest of the pub is free from distractions. Or they trust you to be able to use a watch.

For a brand new pub, they've done a really good job here. It even has lovely toilets - not many pubs have Crappers in the crapper. It just all feels nice. It feels welcoming and enveloping. And I think it owes a lot to the Victorian grade I listed building that it sits in. A Fullers brew a good pint. Well worth a visit. Even if you're not leaving the smoke, don't pass the Parcel Yard.