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Detail Pages
The Doric Arch, NW1
Somers Town
NW1
NW1 2DN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Doric Arch
Being a Fuller’s pub you obviously get their ales on, but on my visit they also had Kelham Island Pale Rider on as a guest. This seems as if it might be a (very welcome) regular guest as I see that it’s been available earlier in the year.
There’s no need for me to repeat the descriptions already provided. For a station pub it’s well above average, being comfortably furnished and, as you would expect, masses of railway memorabilia and prints decorating the place. I’m afraid that I didn’t make a note of the beer price, but I did note the code number for the gents, which all things considered was more useful. Free wifi is advertised for those interested in that sort of thing, with the passcode on the wall. Bit of a passcode pub then. You could do a lot worse than stopping off here for a pint or two.
On 22nd December 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Doric Arch
Fuller's Euston station pub housed in the not-so-great modern Euston station complex, almost opposite the green and overlooking the bus station. Entering means you have to yomp up many stairs to the bar, working up a bigger thirst. There's a good selection of ales (at least four Fuller's plus at least two guests) and quality is usually fairly good. The pub interior is a little dark and full of old railway memorabilia – a seat by the large glass windows overlooking the station entrance is good for people-watching if you're bored. The wing-back chairs by the fire are also a good place to relax. The interior could perhaps do with some redecoration, it seems rather tired. Sports TV is always on and often unnecessarily so when the football fans aren’t attendance. The toilets are down two flights of stairs and you need a code from behind the bar to get in them – presumably to keep the local dregs out - best take a pen if you're planning to have a few and write it on the back of your hand. Worth a stop, though the last two visits have lacked a little atmosphere – I suspect that Fuller’s dumb-ass policy of charging extortionate amounts for their own beer (ESB came out over £3.60!) brewed a couple of miles away is pushing their previous punter-base towards the (newishly) opened Bree Louise and the shiny new Euston Tap. It’s not 2005 any more, chaps!
On 26th May 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Doric Arch
This is a Fullers pub situated on the first floor of what appears to be an office block on the concourse outside the front of Euston station. The interior is split level with the raised area at one end set up with a good selection of seating which looks out over the bus station and the site of the former arch after which the pub is named. There is more seating on the lower level, mostly opposite the bar, as well as one or two cosy little nooks for those wanting a bit more privacy. The room is notable for its collection of railway memorabilia – an obvious theme for a station pub, but I thought it was well presented and the station name signs in particular looked good hung from the walls and beams.
There were six Fullers beers available with London Pride, ESB, Bengal Lancer and HSB on pump and Honeydew and London Porter in keg form, and these were complimented by guests in the shape of Kelham Island Pale Rider (£3.45), Butcombe Bitter and Timothy Taylor Landlord. My pint of Pale Rider was in top condition and was served by a very attentive barmaid. A decent crowd was in on my Saturday evening visit with Premier League football showing on one of the TV screens and Total Wipeout on the other – I’ll let you guess which screen was proving more popular.
As mentioned by Hondo below, the Euston Tap and Bree Louise are nearby and would make up a fine crawl, but with the other two being very much specialist pubs, this is perhaps the one which will appeal to a wider range of customers. Well worth a look.
On 13th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Doric Arch
Great fullers pub close to Euston station. Usual fullers selection plus guests. The pub makes a good tripleheader with the euston tap & the bree louise.
On 22nd February 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Doric Arch
Was a good pub in it's Head of Steam days but now called the Doric Arch it's just as good as not only are there the Fullers ales but also a good range of guest ales on. Despite it's modern exterior it's a v nice pleasant bar that doesn't get as crowded as the nearby Bree Louise does on a Friday night. on our latest visit we were fortunate enough to try the Redemption London Brewer Collaboration Porter which was superb. The Adnams Ghost was also in top condition. well worth visiting this place even if you are not going by train to or from Euston. it's a long walk down to the toilets in the basement and you will need to ask for the entry code that keeps undesirables out of them.
On 29th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Doric Arch
Standing outside the Doric Arch (formerly the Head Of Steam), it would be easy to initially dismiss it as a drab, modern station pub as there are few clues as to the delights of within. If you are a railway enthusiast or an ale drinker (or both), the place has plenty to offer and is probably the finest of the pubs and bars within the borders of any of the major London terminals. Whilst it is essentially a Fullers pub, numerically the guest beers at least equal the Fullers ales with plenty of good options across the 10 hand pumps. My latest vist saw 4 Fullers (Pride, Discovery, ESB and HSB) and 5 guests (Phoenix St Georges Flag, Butcombe Bitter, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted and Timothy Taylor Landlord). Quality has always been very good although prices probably reflect the usual increased station rent so expect to pay a bit over the odds.
The pub itself is on the first floor and from the staircases to the ceilings the place is packed with a large collection of railway themed memorabilia harking back to the golden days of steam; maps, timetables, adverts, model locomotives, nameplates and numerous station signs that take you from Deptford to Dumbarton via Dalmuir Park and back again.
The main bar is quite long given the size of the pub making it relatively easy to claw your way through the crowds for service although finding a seat is a lucky dip at peak times. The furnishings are solid and sturdy with a bare floor main bar and a few pew benches. Among the modern trappings are a plasma screen and a few games / quiz / fruit machines and it is also worth mentioning that entry to the loos (downstairs) are by pin number from the bar staff.
A small snug recess can be found at one end of the bar and there is a carpeted raised area at the front with a glass front overlooking the station forecourt where the original Doric Arch stood before demolition in 1962. There are several photo’s of the Arch within the pub and there is a strong campaign to have the Arch rebuilt (much of the the remains were recently found in the River Lee during work on the Olympic site) so one day we may have the bizarre option of the pub overlooking the very structure that was knocked down and replaced with the pub that bears it’s name. Have a pint and think about it.
On 28th April 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Doric Arch
Had heard good things about this pub and was pleased to stumble in following tins on the train back to Euston. Plumped for a very good pint of Kelham Island Easy Rider, and enjoyed the range of railway memorabilia on the walls which gives the place a more homely feel than the nondescript boozer within the station concourse. I can't see myself becoming a regular here by any stretch, but if pre- or post- train beers are your bag then this is a good place to have up your sleeve.
On 16th April 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Doric Arch
Another bus to Doric Arch. This was a Fullers House, and we hoped to get their new beer Bengal Lancer, but it had gone just before we got there. Had the Kelham Island Pale Rider and chatted with a couple who knew a lot of the Midland pubs we get around to. We had to go upstairs to get to this one which was a bit off putting, but it was a vibrant pub. Maybe we had gone in the back door, but if so it was well lit up. Loved the steam engine above the bar. Friendly bar staff able to chat even though they were busy.
On 24th March 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Castro-Garcia left this review about The Doric Arch
Nice Fullers pub next to Euston with plenty of train memorabilia and loads of ales!
ESB, Porter, Discovery, George Gale HSB, Honeydew, Landlord, Pride, Pale Rider (guest, off), Chiswick (bottle), Old Winter Ale (bottle), 1845 (bottle)
On 5th November 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 22 recommendations about 22 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Doric Arch
I really liked it in here as they show Sky and Setanta on a plasma screen, it is relaxed and the staff are very friendly. There is plenty of railway and London Underground paraphernalia on the walls, but this is the only giveaway that you are drinking in a station.
A full Fullers range was available on my visit along with 4 guest beers, but two were off. There are 70 ales written on some chalk boards behind the bar and the pub is asking visitors to vote for their favourites and the top three will feature in February.
I would definitely go back to this pub if passing.
On 20th January 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]