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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th April 2024) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
Mabel's Tavern, WC1
WC1
WC1H 9AZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Mabel's Tavern
Since my last review some 11 years ago now Mabels Tavern has become our defacto goto pub when our teams are playing in the early kick off European mid-week games. It gives the advantages of a sports pub but in the skin of a normal city boozer.
Yes, there are quite a few screens dotted about the place, including a couple in the tucked away seating areas which can be pre booked if there is enough of you, which gives the advantage that the pub can show multiple parallel games, meaning that they can show your team even if it’s not on the lead Sky channel. But the screens are always muted, and the pub is always lively with the after-work crowd who are just in for a drink, so it’s easy to ignore the screens if you are not interested. And there is usually a reliable selection of Sheps ales available, always kept in good nick.
Now there’s no reason for us Spurs supporters to visit this season, but our West Ham supporting mate insisted we met up at a pub where he could watch his beloved ‘Ammers in action so here we came. Fortunately for the rest of us all five hand pumps were in operation with the usual Spitfire Bishops Finger and Master Brew alongside Whitstable Bay and the seasonal Late Red. As we were here for the session we stayed on the Whitstable Bay and Late Red, both of which went down well throughout the evening.
And on a personal note, this is another of my favourite pubs with a North London post code where I am guaranteed not to bump into Tris.
On 27th October 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2109 recommendations about 1991 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Mabel's Tavern
Just far enough off the Euston Road to mean that most customers make a specific effort to visit rather than the place having to rely on passing trade. The interior has been partially opened out, but raised seating areas are retained at both ends. Furniture and decor slighly more fancy than one might expect from the plain-ish facade. There are also a few patio tables out front. It has five handpumps, and on this visit I found Master Brew, Spitfire (£5.45), Whitstable Bay Pale and Bishops Finger available from four of them.
On 18th December 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Mabel's Tavern
My first visit for 10 years, having come here to drown my sorrows after Luton Town lost a play-off final in 2012 to a goal that was about two metres offside, as I explained to the lass who was serving on this occasion. Luckily she was a football fan herself, so knew what I was talking about. A mentioned below, there has been a substantial refurbishment in the intervening years, but the place looks and feels the better for it. I wish I could say the same for Shepherd Neame beers, which I remember enjoying in the early 1980s but now find fairly unpleasant. But "à chacun son goût", so someone must like them, and they are kept in very good condition here. This is a good place to come with time to kill before a train from any of the three railway stations nearby, or as good a place as any to watch your team get battered 7-0, in my case.
On 13th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3724 recommendations about 3461 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Mabel's Tavern
Not visited for a number of years and pleasantly surprised. The interior has been successfully opened out and tarted up, with a good mixture of table sizes and a sort of snug area at one end by the window. All draught beers from Shepherd Neame of course, with Spitfire, Spitfire Gold, Whitstable Bay, Bishops Finger and New Dawn on at time of visit and in very drinkable form. Food is fairly standard pub fare but quite adequate.
On 4th June 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Mabel's Tavern
plenty of positives for this shiny open plan pub just off Euston. A concise well priced food menu that strikes a good balance of tradition and invention, Bishops Finger on cask, decent bar service. it’s a little bright inside for me and the waitress was aloof to say the least but otherwise I found this a pleasant place - certainly better than most.
On 12th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Mabel's Tavern
I have always liked this place and yesterday was no different. Not that heaving on a Tuesday and the Bishop's Finger was as welcome as ever. Definitely revisit (as I have done).
On 25th January 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Mabel's Tavern
Shepherds Neame House - I tried a first Spitfire Gold, which like all of their beers, can be filed under inoffensive. £4.30.
Very typical London Pub, although this is geared up fro showing sport - which is something to keep in the back on my mind should I ever be looking in the future.
On 21st October 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Mabel's Tavern
A first time in what was originally a Whitbread pub called The Kentish Arms, in the middle of last week and it was rammed, dangerously so in my opinion. It was so full that we had to virtually fight to get out. That said, it's always rammed. There are so many TVs in here that it's like drinking in a branch of Dixons. Four Neame ales on as well as Whitstable Bay's Pale Ale; a half of Spitfire was fine and cost £2.15.
I do not like sport being shown in pubs and this place is just a banging sports bar which I dislike the most. Needless to say I shan't be coming here again. Ever.
On 30th April 2016
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Mabel's Tavern
The pub wasn't very busy on our Sunday eve visit. Walked past on Monday eve and the place was jammed. I am not a great fan of Shepherd Neame Brewery, but I did give it a go and the Spitfire wasn't too bad. The staff in here are friendly and welcoming and the pub also serves food.
On 25th February 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Mabel's Tavern
Sheps pub over three rooms, two main bar areas separated by a large square archway with a cosier lounge room up a step off left. The main rooms are decently decorated with the usual Farrow & Ball shades along with some nice framed prints and breweriana. Muted TVs here tuned to different channels. The smaller lounge room is carpeted with button back banquettes, three quarter length wood panelling and is a nice area to drink in. Five Sheps ales on; Spitfire, Spitfire Gold, Bishops Finger, Whitstable Bay and Late Red. My Gold was in good shape though came in at a wallet-busting £2.20 a half. Not bad overall, if it weren’t so expensive it’d be a decent seek-out. 6.5
On 1st December 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]