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The Grafton, Kentish Town, NW5
NW5
NW5 3LG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
hondo . left this review about The Grafton
Central island bar serving 2 real ales & numerous keg.
On 5th October 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Grafton
On route to a tour of the Camden Hells original brewery thought I’d take a look at the Grafton to see if, post Covid, it remains a pub with a good range of ales. If this visit was anything to go by then the answer would be no. There’s still two banks of three pumps on the bar but only one of these was badged with Fullers London Pride. There was some interesting craft options on the banks of keg taps and the pub is still as described below and a comfortable place to have a beer, especially the upstairs covered terrace if you are lucky enough to get a seat on a fine weather day as we were. I just hope we caught it on a bad day ale wise.
On 11th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Grafton
The Grafton is a decent looking corner pub painted in the usual London black colour outside.
Once inside there is a single room with a large bar in the middle area,the floor is bare boarded,the seating is normal tables and chairs.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Sambrooks Wandle,which went down well,the other real ales were Purity Mad Goose,Hammerton N1 and one from Twickenham Brewery that i could not read my notes of.
Food was being served and the prices in the modern way of not putting a £ sign on them.
Background music was playing.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub.
Pub visited 2/6/2017
On 7th August 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Grafton
I've passed this pub many times over the decades and it was a gloomy locals' boozer; no longer. It has recently undergone a very sympathetic makeover that preserves the feel of a traditional pub coupled with a contemporary twist. There's a large central bar with quite an impressive metal helical staircase up to further seating and a covered roof terrace. Lighting is moody without being overly dark and music was discreet. I don't know if my server was the same landlord who served Mr. Mapp, but I agree that he did look to be reasonably buff.
There's a large choice of wines, 9 real ales as well as a selection of premium lagers and cider; service was efficient and friendly whilst prices were very reasonable. I don't know what my Purity's Mad Goose cost as I was in a round, but it was very good.
It's good to see some imagination applied to a once down at heel pub rather than just surrender to the developers and the Tapping the Admiral (NW1) is just around the corner. I would certainly come here again if I were in the area but I'll bet it gets very crowded on a Friday or Saturday.
On 15th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Grafton
Big imposing corner pub.Spacious high ceilinged interior.Busy.Comfortable warm pub.Mad Goose,Landlord and Wandle on cask.
On 4th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Grafton
Great pub - loads of room, loads of beer choice and the landlord was wonderfully kept.
Recommended.
Photos at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/21Jz75P
On 4th March 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Grafton
A fine Victorian building,the open plan interior winds around a huge island bar.The high ceiling,wooden floor and loud muzak means that noise reverberates around but the lighting and use of tea lights did create a decent pub atmosphere with a few original features dotted about.There was a mixed crowd in afterwork on my Friday visit,with quite a bit of bar blocking but the 8 handpumps were offering a real cider,Hammertons N1 (in good nick),West Berkshire Good Old Boy alongside regulars TT Landlord,Purity Mad Goose and Sambrooks Wandle with two pumps unused.
The tables around the interior were traditional wooden oblong or square and food is served.Looking at the dinner menu ,the median main was around £11 for what appeared standard pub grub and £4.50 for a scotch egg was taking the mick.There were small plate options but generally around £7,this may reflect the gentrification of the area.
Upstairs is signed to another bar,a roof terrace and a board room but I didnt investigate that far.Monday night is Pie Night at £12 for two while there is a quiz on Tuesday .
It's in the 2016 GBG and is worth a visit if in the area with the ale probably better value than the food.
On 27th February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Grafton
First time to visit since the makeover and like other I have to say I like what they have done with the place. The beer choice has certainly improved from my last visit many moons ago and the same TT Landlord, Sambrook Wandel and Purity Mad Goose on for my visit and the one each from Hackney and ELB and the couple of halves I tried were in good nick. Well worth a visit and glad I dropped in here because I initially was going to walk straight past heading for the Camden Town Brewery
On 17th January 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Grafton
There was an impressive range of real ales on in here – Timothy Taylor Landlord; Purity Mad Goose; Sambrook Wandle; Hackney Best Bitter; and By The Horns Stiff Upper Lip. A good selection indeed. All of the pump clips bear tasting notes and ABVs - but not prices for some reason. I was given the choice of a mug or straight glass. There were single sheet menus on all the tables - sandwiches are 6.8 to 8.9 (no unnecessary £s here); The Grafton Burger is 8.5, with chips an extra 2.5. Not cheap, but par for the course in this area I suppose.
This old Victorian pub is now completely opened up, but somehow has retained a vestibule in the corner with some nice etched and cut glass, as well as a complete large window at the back on the right with green banding (ex-Charrington perhaps) and some delicate stained glass panels in the upper sections. It's got a bit of the gastropub about it, with wine racks in the bar back, and no TVs or fruit machines that I could see. Furnishings are essentially normal tables and chairs, and the floor's bare boarded with what look like the original boards.
There are a few benches at the front on the pavement, and in addition there's a a roof terrace (not investigated). I saw a quiz night and live entertainment both advertised which to some extent gives the lie to the gastropub. Anyway, I reckon there's nothing wrong with a pub appealing to different kinds of customers. It certainly appeals to a real ale drinker. This pub has certainly improved a lot since since its refurbishment two or three years ago, and I would be happy to visit again.
On 8th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grafton
Attractive Enterprise Inns pub, albeit having a bit of an odd layout with a narrow single-storey extension on the Grafton Road side and ceilings at different heights as you go around what has effectively become an island bar. The main entrance is quite interesting, with a couple of columns and a nice tiled step. Also has other notable features such as the bold tiling below one part of the bar counter. Thoroughly refurbished, with well-spaced traditional furniture, and restrained dark decor. There is another bar upstairs, along with the Boardroom and a roof terrace (not visited). Reasonable selection of real ales and ciders from eight handpumps, including Moncada Notting Hill Amber (£3.95, served in a jug, but slightly out of condition which was disappointing since the place is a local Camra award winner and Sky Great British Pub of the Year 2014). However, compared to my last visit four years ago when the only bitter you could get was John Smiths, a vast improvement.
On 22nd October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]