The Oxford Arms, Camden Town, NW1

In some ways my least favourite of the three corner pubs on this stretch of Camden High Street, it only manages to score a 3 because the beer was drinkable. The décor and the service have something of a take-it-or-leave-it attitude, and the fairly anonymous music was at that music-is-only-for-background volume that annoys me. I asked for a half of London Pride, and was surprised to be asked to pay £3.75 - the bar person had not heard me properly and poured me a pint. The amended price for a half was £2 - and it wasn't even a half, when the huge frothy head is taken into account. However, it was at least in good condition. Though not good enough to have me coming back for another.

The Oxford Arms is little more than a basic Victorian boozer that has been stripped back to the basics taking its heart and soul with it. The beer range is limited and expensive (London Pride £3 a pint on my last visit) and you would need to plant a forest the size of Brazil to offset the carbon footprint left by the multiple plasma screens. There is some nice original tiling in the entrance that the builders must have missed this as they tore away at the pubs innards. The décor is plain and unfussy with bare floors, large plain windows and dull cream walls and ceilings. On a positive note there are some nice old b/w pics of Camden and the music is generally a bit quieter than some of its neighbours and there is beer garden at the rear although this is little more than a paved area with a few benches. The Oxford is perfectly adequate and functional but quite dull even by Camden standards.

The staff in here were certainly in no rush to serve the 3 deep queue of customers whilst I waited for my turn at the bar. There are 3 pumps with 2 Prides and 1 not used. Hoegarden and standard lagers are also available. I counted 4 plasma screens whilst I endured my hellish wait at the bar. I'll probably not go here again as it is nothing special and I had no service problems in the Elephant's Head opposite even though it was busier.