The Assembly House, Kentish Town, NW5

It looks like the previous reviewer was unlucky with the toilets, which were fine when I was here two nights ago - or maybe they took his criticism to heart? There was Greene King IPA and Abbot Reserve, which I was surprised to find was only £3.20 (for a 6.5% beer), cheaper than other weaker beers I had in this area. It may be that they are reacting to the low price policy of the Southampton Arms just along the road (Highgate Road, that is). The Assembly House is a very impressive building, with an airy feel to it, though if you're at all sensitive to being "seen" when drinking, you might not appreciate the goldfish bowl effect of the large and slightly curved windows. The station is a stone's throw away (don't try it!) and the rumble of mainline trains can be felt from time to time. These small quibbles apart, I found this a very pleasant drinking experience, though I might have felt differently on a busy Friday.

Visited in May 2010 Large imposing roadhouse situated on a busy prominent street corner just outside Kentish Town tube station. Once inside the pub, we learn that it was a traditional meeting place for ladies and gentlemen who wished to travel north in the safety of a group to avoid highwaymen and brigands. In the 1970's it became a film set in the Richard Burton film "Villain" and it is rumoured that Elizabeth Taylor pulled pints for the cast between shots. Despite much evident modernisation, the pub still retains some semblance of its obvious earlier Victorian grandeur. There's a fine high moulded ceiling, some Corinthian columns and some internal etched glasswork. However much of the glass is now plain glass and the obvious separate bar layout has been knocked through. The pub is however listed in CAMRA's London Inventory of Heritage Pubs. Apart from the surviving features, it now has a rather typical bare-boarded interior with some long wooden tables and chairs. There's a clear emphasis on food and wine and, with something of an All Bar One feel to the place, it's clearly pitching for the local professional thirty somethings. Although it's not badged externally as such, it's a Greene King pub which, on my recent visit, was offering only the standard IPA and Abbott. The IPA - £ 2.75p - was in good condition and perhaps cheaper than I might have expected given earlier postings. There is now a visible price list displayed. I didn't have any issue with the staff, but scuzzy toilets say a lot about a pub's management - and these here were the worst I've come across in a long while ( graffiti, wet floor, smelly etc ). This is not a drinker's pub and, taking the experience as a whole, I don't envisage a return visit.

Randomness Guide to London - Assembly House entry

Randomness Guide to London - Assembly House entry

I went in the Assembly House 9 January saturday night the photo was taken in the morning.This pub looks really grand and ornate from the outside once inside i was dissapointed that it had been knocked into one large room and it also seemed to be a Greene King tied house with the bland IPA on which i tried and there was also a seasonal beer on which i car'nt remember the name of ive been in better but it is very handy if you want a drink when you get off the tube.

This is a large corner pub that has been opened up to form a very large drinking area. It is bare-boarded throughout and has a few sofas at the back. Because of its height, size and being uncarpeted, voices can echo a bit when it's really empty - as it was when I was in there at early lunchtime during the week. However, some impressive late Victorian features remain, and these are worth a good look if you do drop in. The only ales on were GKIPA and Abbott. The IPA was £3 a pint, which is pretty expensive for a very ordinary beer. It tasted like it was supposed to. The food prices were quite expensive as well. It is probably a very different place with a few more people in, although I would expect the noise level to increase dramatically in that case. I suppose it's alright, but it's not really my type of place.

It was busy, but not heaving, during my visit here and I had to wait ages to be served. All but one of the staff seemed to have done a disappearing act. The Abbot was ok and I enjoyed watching the football on the large projector screen at the rear of the pub. The front still has public bar characteristics even though the pub has effectively been knocked through in to one large drinking hall. This is the sort of pub I would pop into for a quick pint on the way home from work, but as I neither work nor live anywhere near here I can't see myself returning.

The Assembly House near Kentish Town tube station has a 300 year old history as a coaching inn. The quite grand exterior dates from the late 19th/early 20th century and its majestic spires (not captured in the photo above) make an unmissable landmark. The interior still retains traces of its original opulence even though it is certainly not as grand as it would have been in its heyday. The front bar is a bit dim despite the almost floor to ceiling windows and was originally several smaller rooms if the old wall lines in the ceiling are anything to go by. Many of the old etched windows have sadly been replaced with plain glass which rather spoils the symmetry. The more lavish bar at the rear contains a wonderful ceiling and some spectacular glass work and mirrors that provide a glimpse of its original opulence. Beyond is an old ballroom with portraits, bookshelves and a skylight. It is not hard to conjure up images of many an elegant ball or celebration that may have taken place here. Whilst the pub certainly has more character that many other pubs in the area, the beers are a bit of a let down with the ubiquitous Green King dominating albeit the prices are reasonable for the area. The pub generally attracts a good mix of people and I have never encountered any hassle in the 20 odd years I have been using the place. Service has always been good even though it can get busy when there is anything on at the Forum 200 yards down the road. Whilst it may not be anything near its original grandeur, it has served me well as a meeting place (after all, that is what the name implies) over the years and will hopefully continue to do so.